PAST TOURS

PINOT NOIR TOUR
OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

February 1 to February 12 2004

Dr Richard Smart of Smart Viticulture will personally lead a tour to New Zealand and Australia with a Pinot Noir theme. The tour will begin in Wellington New Zealand and end in Melbourne Australia. It will include all of the famous Pinot Noir producers of the two countries, and offer opportunities to meet the persons responsible for the wines.

Each visit typically includes a vineyard and winery inspection followed by a tasting. As well there will be 8 lunches and 6 dinners, featuring local food and wines. We will use local guest speakers at several dinners.

The tour will begin with a get together, dinner, wine tasting and guest speaker in Wellington on Sunday 1 February. The following day will be spent in the famous Martinborough (Wairapa) region to the east of Wellington. The next day we will take offer a fast ferry trip to Picton on the South Island, where the inspection of South Island producers begins in the famous Marlborough region. We might let our attention be diverted from Pinot Noir momentarily to take in stunning Sauvignon Blancs!

The tour then swings west, passing through the beautiful Nelson wine region. One day is spent traveling along the scenic West Coast of the South Island, where tourism stops will be made at Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. We enter wine country again at Lake Wanaka, where we will visit one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards. We then visit vineyards and wineries of Central Otago, the world’s most southerly wine region. A rest day in beautiful Queenstown is included.

We then continue our coach journey northward to visit the wine region around Christchurch. From there we fly the following day to Melbourne, where we will stay downtown in this lovely and cosmopolitan city. The next two days conclude with day visits to the nearby Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula, Australia’s most celebrated Pinot Noir regions. A final dinner will be held in Melbourne on Thursday 12 February. The tour will use 3 to 4 star accommodation with cooked breakfasts and a luxury coach. Dr Smart will lead the tour. Pricing is currently being completed. The tour will follow immediately after the International Pinot Noir Conference, held in Wellington on 28 to 31 January. Note that separate registration for the tour will be required.

The tour will be advertised in USA (especially Oregon, California and New York, in Europe and Australia). Normally grape and wine producers make up the majority of participants. There will be a maximum limit of 35 persons. Tour Cost NZ$6370 per person twin share (approximately USD $3,440 depending on exchange rate) single supplement NZ$1140 (approximately US$615). This does not include any airfares. (price subject to exchange rate fluctuations). It is necessary for participants to make their own travel arrangements including Christchurch to Melbourne. More Information C contact Judy Court at Calder and Lawson Travel, Hamilton, New Zealand, Phone: (+64 7 856 9009) Fax: (+64 7 856 2333) email:judyc@hot.co.nz   www.cnl.co.nz/specials.cfm

DRAFT ITINERARY

Sunday 1 February
Breakfast at hotel on arrival in Wellington. rest day. Dinner with fellow tour participants.
Overnight Wellington

Monday 2 February (200kms) BL
After breakfast, head for Martinborough wine region. History of winemaking in this area goes back to 1883 when William Beetham planted Pinot Meunier and Hermitage grapes at his Landsdowne Vineyard. Approximately 800 hectares of grapes are now planted in this area. Most of the vineyards are small and Wairarapa vineyards comprise just 3% of the total vineyard area of New Zealand. Lunch will be provided at the historic Martinborough Hotel, established in 1882, and recently refurbished to its former colonial elegance. Return to Wellington for free evening.
Overnight Wellington

Tuesday 3 February (ferry crossing and 30kms) BLD
Early breakfast then catch the fast catamaran - the Lynx - across the Cook Strait to Picton at the top of the South Island. Sail through beautiful Marlborough Sounds on a journey that takes about 2 hours. On arrival in Picton, you will be met by a coach and driven to Blenheim - the heart of the Marlborough wine region. The high annual sunshine, long summers and low autumn rainfall lead to the planting of the first vines in the 1970s. Many fine wines are now produced here and grapes are also "exported" to the North Island wineries from this region. Vineyards range from the country's biggest producers to small "boutique" vineyards.
Overnight Blenheim

Wednesday 4 February BL
Blenheim regions - vineyard and winery visits
Overnight Blenheim

Thursday 5 February (330kms) BLD
A beautiful scenic drive through Nelson - an area with many boutique wineries - and head south and across the West Coast to overnight in Greymouth. the West Coast is a narrow strip of land hemmed in on one side by the Tasman Sea and on the other side by the Southern Alps. The area is characterised by wild, magnificant scenery and has several national parks.
Overnight Greymouth

Friday 6 February (480kms) BLD
Continue the journey down the west Coast passing the spectacular Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Nowhere else in the world do glaciers descend as far down as these glaciers into temperate zones until they are a mere 12 kms from the sea. Enroute through Hokitika visit the famous jade factories. Journey through the Haast Pass - the most extensive wetlands in NZ - with coastal lagoons and swamps dominated by giant kahikatea and rimu forests. Destination is Lake Wanaka, backed by the peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Overnight Lake Wanaka

Saturday 7 February (70kms) BL
Today, journey to the adventure capital of NZ - Queenstown. It is alos the home of the most southern vineyard in the world. Queenstown is a year-round resort with winter skiing and a host of summer activities focusing on the mountains, lakes and river.
Overnight Queenstown

Sunday 8 February B
Rest day - plenty of optional sightseeing including Milford Sound, jet boating, whitewater rafting, golf (the very course played by President Clinton), Skyline Gondola and restaurant, cruising on Lake Wakatipu - the list is endless.
Overnight Queenstown

Monday 9 February (490kms) B
After breakfast journey north to Christchurch in the centre of the South Island and the garden city of NZ. Pass beautiful turquoise glacial lakes and drive through MacKenzie Country - a vast basin of tawny tussock grass with the glacier-fed Lake Tekapo at the north end. Dinner tonight is aboard a beautifully restored tram that trundles its way through the tree-lined streets of Christchurch.
Overnight Christchurch

Tuesday 10 February BL
Vineyard visits today before transferring to the airport for an afternoon flight to Melbourne Australia.
Overnight Melbourne

Wednesday 11 February BL
Yarra Valley winery and vineyard visits
Overnight Melbourne

Thursday 12 February BD
Mornington Peninsula winery and vineyard visits
Overnight Melbourne

Friday 13 February B
Transfer to airport for flight to Sydney where you can stay for a few days or continue your journey home

VINEYARDS AND WINERIES OF THE WARMER SOUTHERN REGIONS OF FRANCE

August 20-31st 2002

The tour commenced in Paris on 20 August and proceeded through the wine regions of Cote Rotie, Tain L’Hermitage, Crozes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Languedoc, Minervois, Corbieres and Cahors to Bordeaux. Regions to visited around Bordeaux included Medoc, Pauillac, St Estephe, St Emilion, Pomerol, Sauternes and Graves.

We visited famous wineries and vineyards, including large and small producers, both traditional and modern. Overnight stays were in Paris, Condrieu, Valence, Avignon, Montpellier, Toulouse, Agen and Bordeaux, with opportunities for sightseeing in both Paris and Montpellier.

The tour price included accommodation in 3 star hotels, luxury coach travel , 5 dinners and 10 lunches featuring local cuisine and wines.

Itinerary

Day 2 Wednesday August 21
Depart Gare de Lyon. TGV for Lyon approx. 9h30. Arrive Lyon to join the bus. En route, we will have lunch, followed by a visit to Phillipe Faury, the President of the Condrieu Vignerons, and a tour of his vineyard and winery. Our hotel is in St Galmiers where we will enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 3 Thursday August 22
The home of syrah, (proven with DNA testing according to Michel Chapoutier) we begin the day with one of the famous traditional Rhone producers, Paul Jaboulet Aine in Tain L’Hermitage, (La Chapelle) followed by another famous producer, Michel Chapoutier. You will be interested in the height of the vines and the terrain of the vineyards. Lunch is nearby, followed by a visit to Cave de Tain L’Hermitage. We will meet some of the staff and taste representative samples of the northern Rhone producers. Many favourites are amongst these. Overnight in Tain L’Hermitage. Dinner at leisure.

Day 4 Friday August 23
A very early start, through beautiful Rhone countryside. We first visit a new producer, using some traditional and new methods, with a small gravity fed winery in the village of Seguret, Domain de Mourchon (Cote de Rhone Appellation). Lunch with spectacular views across the Rhone valley. Next, the famous appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, first at Chateau Mont Redon. Here on the plateau, you will see "les galets", (the rocks famous in this appellation), then a visit to one of the most beautiful vineyards in southern France, Chateau La Nerthe, with wines to equal the setting, produced from the traditional Chateauneuf varieties of grenache, syrah, mouvedre and cinsault. Roussane, clairette, bourboulenc and grenache blanc represent some of the white varieties used. We will split the groups between vineyard and winery to allow better presentation of the property. We stay in the ancient city of Nimes overnight. Lunch/Dinner

Day 5 Saturday August 24
We visit the eastern Languedoc region where we can see a mix of traditional and more innovative, non-traditional methods employed in the vineyards and wineries. Languedoc is one of the biggest wine regions in the world, with over 298,000 hectares of planted vines. Many of the properties do not have AC status, and some of these wines are the best in the region. The producers we visit are in the Pic-Saint-Loup appellation and Languedoc, Domaine de Cazeneuve and Domaine Hortus. Wine is produced mainly from syrah, mouvedre, grenache, carignan, cinsault for the reds, and viognier, chardonnay, grenache blanc and rolle for the whites. Overnight in Montpellier. Lunch. Dinner at leisure

Day 6 Sunday August 25
Never on a Sunday….so we must take time to relax in this beautiful southern city. A free day with much to do if you wish, so please ask if you have interests here. There are many historical sights, as well as great restaurants and shopping.

Day 7 Monday August 26
We set out early today to see two of the biggest producers in this region, and perhaps France. Our first stop is at a new vineyard, Domaine du Silene des Peyrals owned by Robert Skalli, followed by a tasting in Sete. Skalli’s annual production is 30 million bottles. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, grenache, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and viognier are produced. Lunch near Beziers and then on to Michel Laroche’s property, Mas la Chevaliere. A new and very innovative winery, incredible to see. If time allows, we will drop into a small producer in Corbieres. Overnight in Toulouse. Dinner together.

Day 8 Tuesday August 27
North to Cahors, the home of the "black wine" (locally known as auxerrois and cot). These wines are full and vigorous in style and made predominantly from malbec. Our hosts are M. Verheaghe, at Chateau du Cedre, M. Perin at Chateau Lagrezette and M. Baldes at Clos Triguenda. Along with malbec, merlot, chardonnay, muscadelle and viognier, these producers also grow tannat, an interesting variety. We will enjoy a traditional lunch of the region selected by Jean-Luc Baldes. Overnight is in Cahors. Dinner at leisure

Day 9 Wednesday August 28
We make our way to the famous region of Sauternes, in southern Bordeaux. We will see a Sauternais producer, Chateau Suduiraut, and Denis Dudourdieu, a Barsac producer at Chateau Reynon. After lunch, we head to the Graves region where we will visit two of the best known French wine producers at Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau Pape-Clement (established by Pope Clement V in C.1300). We are forced to split the groups here also, but the properties are of equal interest and it will be good to make comparisons. Haut-Brion reds are some of the best, as are the whites from Pape-Clement. We make our way to Bordeaux, where we are based until the end of our tour. No more unpacking! Lunch/Dinner

Day 10 Thursday August 29
The producers over the next few days are all traditional Bordeaux producers. The first, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, a 2^nd growth vineyard with exceptional wines in Pauillac. Leoville-Barton, a St. Julien appellation, is regarded among the finest of clarets made in the traditional manner. After lunch, we make a visit to Tonnellerie Ludonnaise, owned by Jean-Jacques Nadalie. We will see the traditional methods of barrel making first hand. Jean-Jacques has organised lunch for our group. The afternoon also includes the visit to the first growth property of Chateau Margaux. The soil of the Margaux region is the thinnest in the Medoc, with a lot of gravel content, resulting in low nutrition to the vines, but exceptional drainage. Good years result in the exquisite claret that makes the name so famous. An exceptional AC white is produced here as well, although not well known. Dinner at leisure.

Day 11 Friday August 30
Visits begin today in the sandy, gravelly soil of the Pomerol where, gentle, yet richly appealing wines are produced. This is the home of the great Petrus. Predominantly merlot and cabernet franc, the consensus is that these are the gentlest, richest and most appealing reds of Bordeaux. The Chateaux are mainly family affairs, and the style of the Chateau will change when the families change. One of the Chateaux we visit is among the best in the region and contests the notoriety of the bigger named ones. In the afternoon, we tour St. Emilion, with mainly cabernet franc and merlot, with some proportions of cabernet sauvignon, although the latter preferring the moderating influence of the maritime climate in the Medoc. Chateau Figeac is on the Pomerol border, yet the influence of the terroir is evident in the wines. Lunch/Dinner. Our dinner will be a farewell event at a fun restaurant in Bordeaux.

Day 12 Saturday August 31
A later start, but none the less serious….we will visit two small Bordeaux producers, just to bring us back to earth and see how it is done on a smaller scale. Then, a simple lunch before we take the TGV at 16h30 to Paris to catch our flights home.

Tour Cost

A$9,755 ex Sydney including airfare and taxes, twin share
A$1,040 single supplement; A$7,075 land content only
US$570 single supplement; US$3,890 land content only

 WINERIES AND VINEYARDS OF SPAIN
14 –29 July 2001

A 13 day guided tour of Spanish wine regions with Richard Smart and Joaquin Galvez

• Visit traditional and modern wineries and vineyards. 

• Meet the most famous producers of the Spanish wine industry. 

• Travel to Jerez, La Mancha, Madrid, Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Priorato and Penedes.  

• Enjoy regional wines and cuisine (lunch included each day plus five group dinners in leading restaurants)

• Play tourist in Seville, Toledo, Madrid, Bilbao (Guggenheim Museum), La Guardia and Barcelona

AUD$7,895 ex Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth; AUD$5,150 land content only (US$2,830); 

The cost of the tour includes 13 nights twin share accommodation in 3-4 star hotels with breakfast, five group dinners featuring regional cuisine and wines, 11 lunches, luxury coach, expert guides and translation, Joaquin Galvez and Richard Smart as tour leaders

ITINERARY

July 14
Depart Australia for London QF31  10.15pm

July 15
Arrive Heathrow Airport London, transfer Gatwick Airport, BA6972 to Seville 4.45pm. Evening free

July 16
Explore Seville: Evening group dinner at Patio Sevillano, spectacular flamenco dancing

July 17
Coach to Jerez and Sanlucar (90km), Osborne and Barbadillo wineries and vineyards in famous Sherry area, also table wines, afternoon return to Seville: Evening free

July 18
AVA (very fast train) to Ciudad Real (320km)
La Mancha (world's largest vineyard region), visit Felix Solis winery (immense modern winery), Valdepenas, also Campo de Criptana (small family owned winery)
Overnight Alcazar, see famous windmills at Molinas (164km): Evening free

July 19
Drive to Malpica (156kn), visit vineyard and winery Carlos Falco, Marquis of Grinon, also Comida winery, to Toledo overnight: Group dinner, Alfonso restaurant

July 20
Explore Toledo, travel to Madrid (70km), explore Madrid and relax: Evening free

July 21
Madrid to Toro (213kn), Dos Victorias vineyard and winery, to Retuerta winery and vineyard, Roa, then Capellanes winery at Penafiel (130km) visiting vineyards and wineries of famous Ribera del Duero.  Overnight Penefiel: Group dinner, El Molino restaurant.

July 22
Penefiel to Burgis, Catedral winery, then to Bilbao.  Guggenheim Museum (275km).  Overnight Bilbao. Evening free

July 23
Bilbao to Haro (90km), visit famous Rioja region vineyards and wineries.  Lopez de Heridia, Roda wineries and vineyard, drive to La Guardia, overnight in Parador (restored castle), Olite (142km). Group dinner

July 24
Olite to Alfara (60km), Rioja vineyards and wineries, Herencia Remondo, Dominio de Pusar vineyards and winery, to Lerida (250km) overnight: Evening free

July 25
Lerida to Priorato region, famous for Garanacha (Gratallops 75km) Alvara Palacios, Rene Barbier, Jose Luis Perez Verdu, overnight Barcelona: Evening free

July 26
Vineyards and wineries, Valdosera Penedes region, overnight Barcelona (155km) Evening free

July 27
Penedes region, Cava production, Codorniu, Torella,also small producer, overnight Barcelona. Final group dinner

July 28
Free day, flight to Heathrow London BA477 8.55am connecting with QF32 to Singapore

July 29
Singapore to Melbourne QF124 arr 6.20pm OR Singapore to Sydney QF32 arr 6.26pm 

Joaquin Galvez

Joaquin is a respected Spanish wine authority in the final stages of preparation for his MW examination.

Born in Chile, he has had extensive experience with Spanish wine regions, and knows most producers personally. He has worked in wineries in Spain and abroad. He conducts wine courses across the country and internationally, and acts as a wine judge both in Spain and abroad.

Joaquin is a wine writer, contributing articles to both Spanish and international journals. He also makes and sells his own wine "Don Pella".

Joaquin has an excellent palate, and an outstanding ability to describe wines. He is fluent in English and has a ready wit.

California and Oregon
July 2000

An educational tour for grape and wine producers, wine merchants, wine writers and wine enthusiasts

Beginning in Los Angeles, ending in Portland Oregon, and to include CALIFORNIA, South Coast, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria. Central Coast, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay, Napa Valley, Russian River, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, OREGON, Umpqus Valley, Willamete Valley. 

Personally arranged and escorted by International viticultural consultant
Dr Richard Smart "the flying vine –doctor"

About tour leader Dr Richard Smart
Richard Smart, the "flying vine-doctor" operates an international viticultural consultancy from Australia, with clients throughout Europe, the Middle East, North and South America as well as Australasia. Richard is best known for his expertise in canopy management and other methods of manipulating wine quality in the vineyard. His clients in California and Oregon have used his advice with great success, and he will be pleased to introduce them and other industry friends and associates to the tour party.

About the tour co-leader Hilary Graves
Hilary Graves is a librarian whose fascination with viticulture began during her employment at the Viticulture and Enology Research Center at California State University, Fresno. During her two years at the Vincent E. Petrucci Library, Hilary worked with many influential people in the California grape and wine industry, and made valuable industry contacts in grape growing areas throughout the United States. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Fresno State, and her Master’s degree in Library Science at Texas Woman’s University.

Hilary’s husband, Simon, holds a degree in Enology from Fresno State and currently works as a Field Representative for Duarte Nursery, one of the largest grapevine nurseries in the United States. After graduating from Fresno State’s Enology program, Simon and Hilary moved from Fresno to California’s beautiful Central Coast region, one of the fastest growing viticultural areas in the state.

Hilary is currently working at the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association. Hilary and Simon enjoy growing grapes and making wine, and are planning to plant a vineyard on their ten-acre parcel of land in the spring of 2001.

About the Californian and Oregon Wine industries
The Californian wine industry is more than three times the size of Australia’s. During the post-war period, it set the standard for New World viticulture and wine making, and for education. Recently, the Californian industry has been enjoying rapid growth, more so than in Australia, and is once again utilising world best technologies.

California enjoys a range of climates, varying from the coolest in the south of the state in Santa Ynez and Santa Maria, to the hottest in the San Joaquin Valley. Summers are typically dry, and downy mildew was until recently unknown. While the Californian industry is planting rapidly to meet growth in the local market, there is increasing penetration of export markets, where the total volume exported is greater than for Australia.This figure is planned to increase even more.

The Californian vineyard industry relies heavily on Mexican labour, but is increasingly becoming mechanised. Features are the size of some of the operations and skilled management, plus of course the Californian speciality grape Zinfandel. The Napa and Sonoma Valleys have some of the most sophisticated wine tourism in the world, and facilities are marvellous to behold.

The Oregon industry on the other hand is much smaller, with the speciality being premium quality Pinot Noir. The climate is cooler than most of California, and rainfall higher. This cool climate industry has recently also seen dramatic expansion.

The tour will be a unique educational experience. Richard Smart knows personally most of the operations we will visit, and can provide expert commentary. The famous American hospitality is guaranteed.

Itinerary

Friday
Depart Sydney on United Airlines, arrive Los Angeles same day. Overnight– Los Angeles

Saturday
To Temecula, visit the devastation caused by Pierce’s Disease, and new vector, the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter. This disease has the potential to destroy Californian viticulture. Lunch Callaway Vineyards. Overnight – Los Angeles

Sunday
To Santa Ynez Valley. Visit the famous Santa Ynez valley, and 2 of its most famous producers. Firestone has a major reputation for Riesling and Pinot Noir, also a microbrewery in the vineyard. Also visit Fess Parker’s Winery; name should be familiar to movie buffs! Group dinner together. Overnight Santa Maria.

Monday
Continue tour of California’s emerging South Coast region, beginning with a visit to a modern custom crush facility, Central Coast Wine Warehouse, well known for Rhone style blends from Craig Jaffurs and Pinot Noir from Lane Tanner. Next visit is to famous Bien Nacido vineyards producing fruit for the cult wines Au Bon Climat and Qupe. Visits to Byron Winery and vineyards and White Hills Vineyard follow, then we continue north to Paso Robles to overnight.

Tuesday
Paso Robles is one of the fastest growing wine regions of California. We will see examples of vineyards and wineries using very modern techniques. This region likely has the most Smart Dyson trellis of any in the world. Visit the vineyards of Bob Smith and Phil Christensen and Meridian winery and vineyard. Tonight second group dinner. Overnight Paso Robles.

Wednesday
Morning visit the world’s largest vineyard at San Bernabe. Have you seen harvesters for 3 rows at once before? After a hosted lunch we visit John Dyson’s Mistral Vineyard in Gilroy, and the site of the first Smart Dyson trellis. Then north to Livermore, to see how Wente Vineyards have used viticulture to enhance an urban environment! Overnight Livermore.

Thursday
Visit Duarte nursery, home to one of the world’s most modern nursery facilities, and tissue propagation research facilities. After hosted lunch we go to Gallo’s vineyards and winery at Livingston, arguably the world’s largest table wine processing facility. Overnight Lodi.

Friday
Spend today in the Lodi region, in the cooler part of the San Joaquin Valley, and another emerging wine area. We will visit modern vineyards and wineries of the Lange Twins, John Kautz and Frank Olgary. Overnight San Francisco.

Saturday/Sunday
These two days are for tourism and a break from vineyards and wineries. Enjoy the many pleasures of San Francisco!

Monday
Head north of San Francisco to visit cool Carneros region, and Saintsbury vineyard, renowned for Pinot Noir. North to warmer Napa Valley proper, visit one of the world’s most unusual wineries, two concentric circles carved inside a mountain, where we will be hosted for lunch at the Jarvis winery. Then visit two of the famous vineyards and wineries on the Silverado Trail, Chimney Rock and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. Tonight group dinner in t Napa Valley

Tuesday
Spend day in Napa Valley, visits to vineyards and wineries. Highlights will be world famous large wineries, Mondavi and Beringer. Not to forget important small producers like Cardinale Estates and Rudd Estate. End of day cross to Sonoma, visit Hafner vineyards, one of the first North Coast vineyards to use Smart Dyson trellis, with great results! Overnight Healdsburg.

Wednesday
Sonoma Valley day. We take in Lytton Springs winery and vineyard, then Geyser Peak, and see how Roseworthy-trained Darryl Groom is making Shiraz famous in the USA. Our final visit is to Kenwood Winery and Vineyards, then back to San Francisco where we stay near the airport.

Thursday
To Oregon, flying to Eugene. Oregon is home of the celebrated Pinot Noirs! First visit is to Scott and Sylvia Henry of Henry Estate, originator of the famous trellis! We also visit Benton Lane vineyards and winery, a great producer of Pinot Noir, then to Salem for the evening.

Friday
Last day of the tour. But what a way to finish! Visits to four of the most celebrated Oregon producers, including the Witness Tree, Cameron Winery, Erath and Adelsheim. Then to Portland for the Last Supper together. Overnight Portland.

Saturday
Free morning in Portland, transfer to airport for homeward flights.

Tour Cost 
Twin Share: AUD $ 4,705 ex Los Angeles, land content only, or AUD $ 6,310 including economy air fare Australia (East Coast) to USA, return. Other fare supplements are available on request.   Single Supplement: AUD $ 1,360
Tour costs include internal air fares San Francisco- Eugene, and Portland-San Francisco, air conditioned coach, 15 nights in 3-4 star hotels, airport transfers, all vineyard and winery visits, , expert commentary from Richard Smart and Hilary Graves, 8 lunches and 4 dinners, with wine

ITALY STUDY TOUR
22 May - 6 June 1999

Two week tour of Italy following the London Wine Trade Fair. This tour will be escorted by Dr Smart, Alberto Antonini and Federico Curtaz. The tour will visit the major grape growing regions of Italy, including Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria and Sicily, concentrating on varieties discussed at the seminars.

The tour will visit among the most famous vineyards and wineries, and will also feature regional cuisine. There will be opportunities for tourism in Florence, Siena and Pisa. The tour will begin in Milan and finish in Rome.