A quiet cellar, a conversation with the winemaker, and a glass poured from a vintage that rarely leaves the estate
Private wine tasting is at its best when it feels like a visit rather than a tour. A quiet cellar, a conversation with the winemaker, and a glass poured from a vintage that rarely leaves the estate: these are the moments most travellers remember long after the trip.
Many celebrated estates welcome visitors only by appointment, and some open their doors only to guests introduced through trade or personal connections. Luxury winery tours focus on these visits, often with the owner or cellar master, and allow time to taste older vintages, walk the vineyards, and understand how each wine is made.
Every wine region offers a different rhythm.
For current vintages and producer profiles, many collectors follow Decanter before planning a visit.
Rather than a fixed package, each itinerary shapes the wine tasting experience around your interests and pace. A typical journey might combine two or three estate visits a day with a long lunch, a private dinner paired by a sommelier, and a night at a château or country hotel. Transfers are handled by a dedicated driver, so there is no need to choose between tasting and travelling.
Itineraries can also follow a theme: a single grape across regions, a focus on a particular vintage, or a celebration timed with harvest in September and October.
Spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable weather and the liveliest vineyards. Harvest brings energy and activity, though some estates limit visits during the busiest weeks. Winter tastings are quieter and more intimate, with cellars and winemakers more available.
Wine regions rarely stand alone. Bordeaux pairs naturally with the Atlantic coast and Biarritz, Champagne with a few days in Paris, Tuscany with Florence and the Mediterranean, and the Douro with Porto. A wine journey can also be timed around a cultural or sporting event, from a summer festival to the Grand Prix, so the tasting becomes part of a larger trip rather than a separate one.
Your wine journey, planned around the estates you want to see
Share the regions you are drawn to, the wines you enjoy, and how many days you have. For sommeliers at home and help with your cellar, read about our private sommelier service, and for the wider journey, explore our Travel service.
A private itinerary of estate visits and cellar tastings, often hosted by winemakers or owners, with accommodation, dining, and transfers arranged around it.
Some estates receive visitors by appointment or through introductions. Visits are requested on your behalf, and availability depends on each estate.
Spring and early autumn are ideal. Harvest, usually in September and October in Europe, is lively, while winter tastings are quieter and more personal.
Yes. Purchases can be shipped to your home or cellar, subject to import rules in your country.
