Wine Tours 2012

We're delighted to bring you details of our very exciting wine holidays for 2012. We hope they'll appeal whether you're a novice or a well seasoned wine buff.

You'll see that we have managed to keep our prices low, but have added even more into our packages, and the bus tour is the same price as last year. On the two shorter breaks to Hungary and Gascony all costs are included, once you've landed in either Budapest or Toulouse. And although we cannot book your flights for you, we are happy, of course, to advise which flight to choose.

And do remember that in addition to these holidays, we are always pleased to arrange a special wine holiday - long or short - for you and your friends, with or without a specialist guide.

To book any of our holidays or for further information about any of our offers, please contact Elizabeth Brown:

Hungary

Monday 23 to Friday 27 April (4 nights)

£949

Full board (accommodation in twin/double room); price includes all meals (lunch and dinner with wine); tastings and transport within Hungary excluding air travel to and from Budapest.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to visit the magical vineyards of southern Hungary in the districts of Villany and Szekszard as well as a chance to spend a little while in Budapest. Apart from the first night in Budapest, accommodation will be in winery guest houses, which offer a superb standard of comfort. The programme offers a privileged introduction to some of the best Hungarian wine and includes all meals and tastings in Hungary. The tastings will introduce you to the exceptionally fine red wines and fragrant dry whites of the south and a cross section of wines from other parts of the country.

We will arrange all transport within Hungary including airport transfers at Budapest. There are regular flights to the UK including a wide choice of affordable links from Newcastle with KLM/Air France and British Airways and cheap flights with Wizz Air from Luton.

What you can look forward to in Hungary

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Forgotten vineyards of Central France and the Northern Rhône

Saturday 26 May to Sunday 3 June (8 nights)

£1299

Half board (accommodation in twin/double room); dinner (with wine), tastings and travel by coach from Tynemouth/ Newcastle/Durham.

This is an exciting and hugely varied holiday which will explore some of the loveliest parts of France and offer a superb range of wines to taste. You'll start with the white and red classics of Sancerre and then get to know the rarely-exported but worthwhile wines of Central France - fragrant dry whites and juicy reds. You'll then get a taste of some classics of the northern Rhône, with an emphasis on the top red wines; and on your way home, via the old champagne capital of France at Troyes, taste superb red and white wines on the way at the Domaine Ninot in Rully, one of the brightest rising stars of Burgundy. Travel by Durham City coach will enable you to buy wine and bring it home with you.

What you can look forward to in France

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Gascony

Monday 17 to Friday 21 September (4 nights)

£899

Full board (accommodation in twin/double room); all meals (lunch and dinner with wine); tastings and transport within France, excluding air or rail travel to and from Toulouse airport.

Gascony not only offers magnificent scenery, France's answer to Tuscany with the backdrop of the Pyrenees, but it is home to some of the country's finest and most exciting wine traditions. The holiday will introduce you to the appellations of Madiran, Jurançcon, St-Mont and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh where you will taste stunning dry whites, superb sweet whites and rich, fruity reds. You will stay at the lovely Château d'Arlens at Plaisance in the heart of the Gascon countryside - old-style and very comfortable Country House living.

What you can look forward to in Gascony

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