4 irresistible wine tours to tantalise those taste buds

Red, white, sparkling, rose. Big glass, small glass, as a compliment to dinner or a tipple to have with dessert... Everyone has their wine preferences. Getting to know your wines and grapes and learning to distinguish between different notes and flavours is a genuine skill (and can provide an ice breaker at parties!).

So why not take the time to visit some of the finest wineries and vineyards in the world during your visit to the lakes and mountains this summer? Inghams have compiled this nifty little guide to some of the loveliest, most unique and traditional wine tours around Europe.

The Ugolini family have owned the land and the vineyards in the Lake Garda area for many years. It was roughly 10 years ago when Giambattista, the latest member of the family to take over the business, saw the potential the grounds had to make some remarkable wines.

They now produce a variety of Valpolicella wines made up of a variety of grapes including Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta, depending on the wine.

The Amarone Della Valpolicella is a firm favourite, ruby in colour and you should be able to pick up cherry notes with a slight cinnamon spice. This wine can be paired with red meats and game or alternatively it can be enjoyed on its own as the sun goes down.

You can also visit the Bardolino Wine Festival which is an annual event in October where you can sample an array of local wines and cuisine alongside live music and other festivities.

Inghams recommends: You will find the Hotel Bologna in the heart of the Bardolino. 

Less a wine tour and more a celebration of all thing's vino. Nonetheless, this is a necessary experience for all wine connoisseurs.

The Bardolino Wine Festival, which takes place in late September and occasionally early October, celebrates the local grape harvest. The celebration includes the Enoteca, where expert sommeliers introduce visitors to the best Italian wines.

The festivities which take place along the magnificent Bardolino lakeside promenade includes music, dancing and fireworks. Not only does it provide ample opportunity to sample the many delightful, local wines, such as the award-winning Bardolino Superiore, but you can also try the many fabulous regional dishes.

Inghams recommends: The San Pietro Hotel is close the lakeside promenade. 

This vineyard is located in the Morenici hills. It was founded in 1959, but production of these high-quality wines didn’t start until 1963.

The wines produced here benefit from the Mediterranean micro-climate found on Lake Garda, therefore the quality of the grapes is very high which is something the owners and producers are keen to keep as a focus.

This makes the wines more special as they selectively pick grapes to create a more superior flavour. The wines created at the Cantina are typically light and fresh and should be drunk young, they also offer a great range of sparkling wines to enjoy on a hot summer's evening.

The wines produced in the Merano area have often been described as unique. This is mainly due to the northern alpine range mixed with the southern Mediterranean temperatures. The height of the surrounding mountains protects the vineyards from the cold winds whereas the valley allows access for warmer temperatures to push through, it’s like a giant wind breaker!

It is believed the wine reflects the attitudes and personalities of the local people, it’s the elegance of the north mixed with the vigour of the south, described as “the wisdom of mountain folk and the passion of the dolce vita.”

What does this mean for the wines? Well, it means you get some really strong, full bodied red wines and then some more fun and fresh white wines. Best of both worlds!

Inghams recommends: The fabulous five-star Mignon Park Hotel is run by the Amort family, and they are very proud of the establishment they manage and rightly so. The hotel has a lovely rooftop terrace with spa pool!