Relax - Top 5 travel picks: Wine hotels

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SINGAPORE, Dec 25 (Reuters Life!) - Whether you’re an old-world aficionado or new-world evangelist, there’s a vineyard hotel out there for you.

Boutique hotel website Mr & Mrs Smith (http: www.mrandmrssmith.com) lists the world’s best hotels for wine lovers. This list is not endorsed by Reuters.

1. Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, United States
California’s Napa Valley is the heartland of U.S. winemaking: an easygoing, river-run pocket of rolling greenery that revels in a sun-kissed climate. Calistoga Ranch, a collection of 48 wooden lodges woven into a forest of pines and oaks, is a supremely romantic embodiment of the valley’s welcoming, informal atmosphere. The ranch has its own vineyard,label and tasting cave. Visiting vintners from all around pop in with their wares throughout the year, and the wine list in the restaurant could take a week to read, let alone sample.

Furthermore, guests who want to get their hands juicy can join in harvesting, pruning and crushing. The hotel’s Bathhouse spa uses Calistoga’s mineral waters, offering numerous soaking treatments, scrubs and massages, and the exclusive Lakehouse restaurant is one of Napa’s most celebrated.

2. Hawksmoor House, Cape Winelands, South Africa
A one-of-a-kind guesthouse on the Matjieskuil wine farmhalf an hour outside Cape Town, Hawksmoor House allows you anostalgic glimpse into South Africa’s vintage Winelands world:lingering breakfasts on the veranda, vineyard walks, sundownerson the stoop and indulgent dinners in an 18th-century diningroom. Don’t expect five-star flourishes - this is aboutunpolished home-grown perfection washed down with a spectacularsunset. The estate grows its own grapes, and provides its ownlabel wines to help stock its cavernous cellar, but there arethat many vineyards nearby (Stellenbosch, for starters) thatyou can take a tasting tour of the Winelands without leavingyour armchair.

3. Villa Bordoni, Tuscany, Italy This 10-roomed restored villa may well be the best spot inthe world to secret yourself if you’ve a taste for Chianti. Setamid the inimitable Tuscan countryside of cypress trees, olivegroves and, of course, rolling vineyards, the rustic-luxehideaway is perfectly positioned for strolling among the vinesor exploring the wine towns of the region, such asMontepulciano and Montalcino, or gastronomic, cultural hotspotssuch as Siena and Florence. The restaurant is the jewel inBordoni’s crown, and there’s an excellent selection of ChiantiClassico from local winemakers – the Montrachet-alike 2001vintage from Querciabella is liquid heaven.

4. Le Relais du Franc Mayne, Bordeaux, France Surrounded by seven acres of lush St-Emilion vineyard, this16th-century chateau is at the heart of southern France’s winecountry. This is a hip hybrid of working winery and boutiquehotel, with barrel-loads of charm and style. Outside is classic16th-century Girondine style; inside, the hotel’s nine bedroomsshare space with the trappings of viticulture, the eye-catchingrenovated vat room where guests can learn about wine-makingfrom experts, and the underground caverns where barrel uponbarrel of the lush liquid is stored. The hotel offers freewine-tasting sessions and, for the more determined, the nearbyVignobles & Chateaux runs a daily wine school.

5. The Louise, Barossa Valley, Australia
Rivalling Hunter Valley for the title of Australia’s winecapital, Barossa is a place of pilgrimage for wine-lovers andfoodies alike. The Louise is where the really discerning onesend up, a bastion of urban slickness in a profoundly rusticregion, with 15 marvellous modern suites and an almost monasticsense of reverence when conversation moves wine-wards. Withmore than 100 wine-makers within spitting (and swilling)distance, you could easily spend your entire stay careeningaround the countryside sampling Barossa’s bolshy reds. Wherethere’s wonderful wine, fabulous food is never far behind: thehotel restaurant is a booking-essential destination in itself,with a ‘locavorous’ seasonal menu that sources 90 percent ofits produce from within 30 km of the hotel. As you’d expectfrom the restaurant’s name - Appellation - the wine list is oneto remember.

Top 5 travel picks: Wine hotels

Reuters | Mon, Dec 28 2009

Whether you’re an old-world aficionado or new-world evangelist, there’s a vineyard hotel out there for you.

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SINGAPORE, Dec 25 (Reuters Life!) - Whether you’re an old-world aficionado or new-world evangelist, there’s a vineyard hotel out there for you.

Boutique hotel website Mr & Mrs Smith (http: www.mrandmrssmith.com) lists the world’s best hotels for wine lovers. This list is not endorsed by Reuters.