Wine tasting is a lovely way to spend a day or a weekend. So enjoyable, in fact, that wine tasting has become a vacation in itself. Wine tourism has grown in the last 10 years and many wineries around the world now provide exquisite tasting rooms with vineyard views, wine tasting dinners, and tours of the vineyards and cellars. An oeno-experience, one might say.

And wine is a beautiful thing. It’s a perfect complement to a meal, and pleasant way to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Imagine lingering over a glass while looking at the sun dip below rolling hills of vineyards. Now imagine doing it every day for a week or longer. Wine regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy in France and Napa and Sonoma counties in California are well-known tasting destinations. More recently, however, areas around the States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia have come into their own as wine tasting destinations. That being, check our list of the Top 10 Wine Destinations Around the World.

1. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

From the Canada/U.S. border, Highway 97 winds its way north from the summer vacation hotspot of Osoyoos, through the region’s viticulture center in Penticton, and past the mountain-framed shores of Okanagan Lake to Vernon. More than 60 grape varietals are grown here, including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, as well as a variety of fruit wines. Okanagan wines are truly exceptional, and Penticton is an excellent place to start a tasting tour of the more than 100 wineries in the region.

2. Bordeaux, France

Find lots of wine in Bordeaux!

Bordeaux is one of the most respected wine producing regions in the world, producing everything from delicious table wines to some of the world’s most expensive and prestigious bottles. You’ll need to head out of this elegant town with its Gothic churches and 18^th-century mansion for tastings, but you’ll be rewarded with wines from the verdant vineyards of such fine chateaus as St-Emilion, Graves, and Médoc. Tasting rooms are exquisite, as are the grand estates which hold them. You can indulge in some of the country’s finest cuisine here, as well. Try a Bordeaux wine tour to get a “taste” of the region.

3. Finger Lakes, New York

New York’s largest producing wine region, the Finger Lakes has more than 100 wineries dotting the panoramic hills around the lakes. Tasting rooms and tours abound, and you’ll be able to sample such varietals as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Vidal Blank, and Riesling. Start your tour of the region with a stop at the New York Wine & Culinary Center, which offers wine tastings and information on the region. Two popular wine routes to check out are the Cayuga Wine Trail and the Seneca Wine Trail. Both showcase the region’s finest wineries.

4. Mendoza, Argentina

In recent years, Argentina has established itself as top wine-producing region, known for its exceptional Malbec, as well as decent Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Many wineries offer tastings, tasting dinners, and tours; however, you must book in advance, as nearly all the wineries require reservations. For the spontaneous wine taster, visit Vines of Mendoza off the main square for information, reservations, and tastings. For a great introduction, try our half-day wine tasting tour of Mendoza.

5. Willamette Valley, Oregon

More than 200 large and small wineries populate this fertile region, which runs south from Portland along Highway 99. Much more down to earth than its California neighbor, the Willamette Valley grows mostly cooler-climate varietals, similar to those produced in Alsace and Burgundy. The region is best known for its outstanding Pinot Noir, but you’ll also taste some flavorful Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. Many of the wineries have picnic tables, so pack a picnic basket and pick up a bottle of wine and enjoy a picnic with Cascade Mountain views.

6. Tuscany, Italy

Wine + snacks in Tuscany = the perfect combination!

Ah Tuscany! Chianti is the first word that comes to mind, the ever-pleasing red wine that pairs so perfectly with meats and pastas. Amid the gently sloping hills of Tuscany, filled with medieval houses and castles, are acres of grape vines with wineries open for tours and tastings. This is Old World wine culture at its finest; wine-makers still crush the grapes with their feet here, and wine is stored in long, vaulted basement cellars carved right out of the rock. Try a Tuscany wine tour or zip through countryside on Vespa wine tour.

7. Cape Town, South Africa

Just outside of Cape Town is South Africa’s world-renown Cape Winelands, where fertile soil and a moderate climate enables growers to produce fine Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir. South African wines have grown in popularity over the last decades, and the region is well-prepared for a wine-tasting holiday. Visit Groot Constantia, one of the most famous and oldest wine farms in the region; the wines here are stellar, and the views are breathtaking. Other wine routes to visit are Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek. Try a wine tour in a chauffered sidecar or indulge your palette on a 3-day tour in the Cape Winelands.

8. Napa & Sonoma, California

See the famous grapes of Napa!

Napa Valley has long been the most popular wine tasting region in the United States, drawing more than 4 million visitors each year. The region’s world-class wines garner international praise, and most of its more than 450 wineries are open for tastings. The region produces a variety of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. You’ll also find charming towns, superb restaurants, hotels, spas, wine tours, and plenty of outdoor activities.

Next to Napa Valley is Sonoma, the second most popular region in the United States, producing a bounty of similar grapes that are grown in Napa. Like Napa, you’ll find hundreds of wineries open for tastings, and quaint little towns with wine bars, restaurants, and boutique hotels. Taste and tour as much as you like with Napa Valley 2-day Explorer Pass or a custom wine tour from San Francisco.

9. Barcelona, Spain

Bordering the Mediterranean Sea, cosmopolitan Barcelona teems with gastronomic discoveries, among its blend of Gothic and modern architecture. The city is also the capital of Catalonia, a region not only famous for its Catalan cuisine but also for its dry white wines, meaty and ruby reds, and sparkling Cava. Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes dominate the reds, Macabeo and Parellada for whites. Nine different regions make up Catalonia, and you can arrange a wine or cava tour from Barcelona to discover some of the region’s finest wineries.

10. Yarra Valley, Australia

Sit back, relax, and sip wine in Yarra Valley.

An hour outside of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is rolling landscape filled with cute villages, crafts shops, restaurants, and a lot of wineries. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah are the main varietals here, but the area is also known for its classic sparkling wines. Tasting rooms abound, and you can also partake in some the region’s finest restaurants and accommodations. The major towns in the region are Yarra Glen, Healesville, and Warburton. In between tasting stops, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic scenery. Discover the region on a wine tour from Melbourne or fly over Yarra Valley in a hot-air balloon.

- William Travis

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s USA Wine Tours, South Africa Wine Tours, Wine Tours in Australia, and Wine Tours in Europe, or book a private guide in Bordeaux for a customized wine tour!

Top 10 Wine Destinations Around the World by William Travis from Viator Travel Blog

Everyone raves about Scotland’s alternative capital, Glasgow – its down-to-earth locals, grand civic buildings from the days of the British Empire and tucked-away inner-city squares and gardens. Let’s put this city on the Clyde to the test and see what it has to offer during a day out on the town.

Morning

We’ve put on our shiniest walking shoes to explore the Merchant City – better still, we might buy a brand-new pair while we’re walking through this revamped district of shops and restaurants. Just entering Merchant City is a grandiose affair, as we walk under grand classical archways east of Buchanan Street. The imposing city chambers, former Royal Exchange (now the Gallery of Modern Art – pop inside to see the latest installation of kinetic sculptures), Robert Adam’s Trades Hall, the statue-bedecked Italian Centre – this affluent area makes surrounding parts of Glasgow look decidedly shabby.

Glasgow School of Art - photo courtesy of Steve Cadman via Flickr

The Glasgow School of Art restores our faith in Glasgow’s glory. To get to this Art Nouveau masterpiece by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, we first head west up Sauchiehall Street to Number 217 and stop off for tea and cakes at the Willow Tea Rooms.

Feeling sustained and relaxed by the café’s cool white interior of purple and white stripes, we continue up Sauchiehall to the art school at 167 Renfrew Street. We’ve timed our visit for the morning tour of the buildings and their Mackintosh-designed furnishings. The tour is led by the students who study here, so the feeling of visiting a living and breathing youthful institution is quite thrilling. It almost makes me wish I could start over again and relive those student years. Almost.

Afternoon

After grabbing a bite to eat at a high street sandwich bar, we jump on a city bus heading east to visit Glasgow’s historic cathedral precinct. Some of the city’s oldest buildings are preserved here, most famously the quaint stone house called Provand’s Lordship opposite the cathedral. It was built back in 1471, and Mary Queen of Scots and several King Jameses have been said to have visited. It’s closed when we pop our heads in, but we peer into the rear of the property to glimpse the medieval-themed herb garden and a ginger cat washing its whiskers.

Provand's Lordship - photo courtesy of LordHorst via Flickr

Then it’s into the cathedral, the only Scottish cathedral on the mainland to have survived the Reformation intact. We visit St Mungo’s Tomb, which is surrounded by sturdy squat pillars in the 13th-century lower church, then return upstairs to admire the cathedral’s timber roof and stone choir screen, a real rarity apparently. It’s interesting reading the plaques lining the cathedral’s walls, tracing the lives of former Glaswegians who led imperial troops to battle in colonial India, South Africa and the Crimea.

More gravestones lie at an angle in the churchyard outside, but for the mother lode of tombs and memorials we take a walk up to the hilltop Necropolis overlooking the cathedral. It’s like a treeless Highgate Cemetery, with crumbling but still grandiose Victorian-era crypts built into the rock and lines of impressive monuments to famous Glaswegians from the past. There’s a monument on a column to Scottish Protestant John Knox, and poignant epitaphs for the too-brief lives of children amongst the carved stone memorials.

As it’s summer, and the sun doesn’t go down till after 10pm, we’ve still got time to visit one of Glasgow’s highest-scoring gems, the Burrell Collection. The bus takes us through Glasgow’s inner-southern suburbs, past local shops, streets of terrace houses and public parks. The thing that astounds us about the Burrell Collection is its eclectic exhibits – there’s everything here from reconstructed doorways from Romanesque castles, paintings of ballerinas by Degas, Restoration-era needlework and Georgian glassware to Chinese sculptures, ancient Egyptian funerary figures and stained-glass windows from long-gone European churches.

Burrell Collection - photo courtesy of dalbera via Flickr

The collection of Sir William Burrell is housed in a specially constructed gallery in Pollok Country Park, where auburn-furred highland cattle graze in paddocks shaded by oak trees. We found it well worth detouring along a country lane to nearby Pollok House, a Georgian mansion with clipped lawns overlooking a tumbling stream. There’s more art inside this imposing grey-stone manor, including paintings by El Greco, Goya and Murillo, but we enjoyed the surrounding park and gardens where local families come to picnic and walk their dogs on these long summer evenings.

Evening

We’ve admired the looming classical columns and arches of the Merchant City by day, but come nightfall the area morphs into a night-time hub of restaurants and bars. We’ve booked into the Italian Café on Albion Street in the Merchant City, an authentic enoteca style restaurant serving a must-share tasting menu of tapas-like nibbles such as creamy mozzarella and basil-infused tomatoes, mushroom penne and marinated artichokes.

Fully refueled, we’re off to end our long day in Glasgow at Arta with some Spanish-style salsa dancing in the Mediterranean-themed Hacienda Bar, staying refreshed with fruity sangria and sparkling cava wine.

- Janet Austin

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Scotland tours and things to do, Scotland attractions, and Scotland travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in the United Kingdom for a customized tour!

A Day in Glasgow by Janet Austin from Viator Travel Blog

Somebody handed me a Mai Tai as soon as we sat down on the Maui Sunset Dinner Cruise. I think I could get used to this! Later I even succeed in convincing my darling to dance to “Easy Like Sunday Morning”. Yes, it’s all very easy. Our hotel had a shuttle that dropped us off just ten minutes away from the harbor. We found the check-in spot and had a few spare minutes for postcard shopping in the nearby souvenir shops.

The waiters and bartenders were all charming and helpful. Our dinner arrived promptly – even the requested non-dairy option was not a difficulty. We both had salad and the mahi-mahi – (when in Maui, mahi-mahi). And the Dairy Queen in our group was happy with her New York Cheesecake to finish it off.

After the aforementioned Mai Tai, we were on our own to choose two other drinks whenever it suited us. I went for a margarita (salt on the rim) and a Bloody Mary (research purposes only of course). There were soft drinks available as well, although I didn’t test those.

The Maui Sunset Dinner cruise glides along beside the Maui coastline giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy the scenery on the way out and the stars and sparkly lights on the way back. We spent all of our time on the top deck as it was a lovely evening.

The music was a little on the cheesy side but well played and enthusiastically enjoyed by all. There was a fun range of classic dance tunes and old favorites. Lots of toes were tapping and several of the songs inspired a rush to the dance floor.
All in all, a little bit of romance in beautiful Hawaii. Dinner, Drinks, Maui and music – now that’s a vacation.

Getting ready!

Sunset

Salad

Food!

Sunset from the boat

Sunset

Enjoying the nice views

View of Maui

View of Maui

View of Maui

Waiter

- Melinda

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Hawaii tours and things to do, Hawaii attractions, and Hawaii recommendations, or book a private guide in Hawaii for a customized tour!

[PHOTOS] Maui Sunset Dinner Cruise by Melinda Harrington from Viator Travel Blog

Be warned - this post might make you hungry!

Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Viator Travel Awards, an annual awards competition where we let our travelers select the top things to do and see in each of the major regions we serve, as well as the top things to do in our most popular tour categories. The awards culminate in the Viator Top Travel Destinations and our annual list of the world’s most travel-inspiring attractions.

* * * * * *

Welcome to the 2011 Viator Travel Awards: Food Edition! We’ve combined input from traveler reviews and photos, data from the millions of travelers who visit Viator.com each year, plus data on which dining tours generated the most bookings in 2011, in order to crown the Top 10 Dining Experiences Around the World in 2011!

Our dining experiences combine our two great loves: food and travel. Ranging from romantic to unique, our dining tours aim to give you everything that you might expect from a high-end restaurant plus a memorable experience that is unique to the destination. These food tours are guaranteed to give you an appetite and make you hungry for more!

#10. Traditional English Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House

Taking afternoon tea is a quintessentially English custom that has been adopted and popularized worldwide and it doesn’t get more English than enjoying a London Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House. On this tour you’ll nibble on cucumber sandwiches and cakes and sip tea from your bone china cup as you enjoy the strains of the resident pianist. Grosvenor House is one of London’s most exclusive addresses and commands fabulous views of Hyde Park and bustling Park Lane below. It’s the perfect way to begin or end a trip to London.

Treats at the London Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House

#9. Dinner overlooking the Grand Prix circuit

You’ll feel like a secret agent or a VIP on the Small-Group Evening Tour and Dinner in Monte Carlo from Nice experience. Enjoy a scenic coastal drive and panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea as you are driven from your Nice hotel to Monte Carlo. After a tour of the Formula One Grand Prix circuit, you’ll sit down to a leisurely three-course dinner. Having a flutter at the casino is optional!

#8. Skip the Line at Hard Rock Cafe

Why wait in line when you can skip it altogether? Our Skip the Line: Hard Rock Cafe tours are a great way to secure your seat and skip to the front of the queue. Sit down to a pre-ordered menu at London’s original Hard Rock Cafe (1971) and see Eric Clapton’s Lead II Fender as well as heaps more rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia here and at the Hard Rock Cafes in Rome and Paris too.

#7. Disney Character Breakfast at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Want some one-on-one time with Mickey? Care to get cozy with Daisy Duck? Or maybe you’d like to debate the advantages of waffles over pancakes with a Disney Princess? The Disney Character Breakfast at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort gives you the opportunity to do just that: enjoy breakfast with the Disney characters, away from the crowds. It’s guaranteed to keep the kids smiling for weeks!

Catch great views at the Revoloving 66 Restaurant in Hong Kong

#6. Revolving 66 Restaurant in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s famous skyline and harbor has to be one of the world’s most photographed and admired images. On the Hong Kong Harbor Night Cruise and Dinner at Revolving 66 Restaurant you’ll be able to see it for yourself from up high in the city’s only revolving restaurant. This popular tour also includes a short walking tour through the Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon and a relaxing harbor cruise onboard a Chinese junk!

#5. Singapore Flyer Sky Dining

Dine on board the world’s largest observation wheel in Singapore

And for something a little different… The Singapore Flyer Sky Dining experience treats you to a full butler dinner service on the world’s largest observation wheel. Enjoy a welcome drink and a three-course meal as you rotate slowly above Singapore’s iconic landmarks. The Singapore Flyer is a masterpiece of engineering that stands at 165 meters (541 feet) tall close to the Singapore River.

#4. Sounds of Silence Restaurant

Be seduced by an endless outback sky and the sounds of didgeridoo as you kick back and enjoy a gourmet Aussie barbecue on the Sounds of Silence Restaurant tour. Nibble canapés and bush tucker with native meats such as kangaroo, barramundi, crocodile and emu as you watch the sun go down over Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Olgas (Kata Tjuta). Spend the rest of the evening star gazing under the expert guidance of the outback’s resident astronomer.

#3. Dinner on the Eiffel Tower

Enjoy a three-course dinner and great views of Paris at the Eiffel Tower

What could be more romantic than dining at the Eiffel Tower and cruising along the Seine in the City of Love? This highly rated Eiffel Tower Dinner and Seine River Cruise includes a three-course dinner in the Eiffel Tower complete with fabulous views of Paris. And if that wasn’t enough, you’ll be ushered aboard a boat for a guided cruise down the Seine where you’ll take in the sights and twinkling lights of this seductive city.

#2. Sydney Tower Restaurant Buffet

Enjoy panoramic views of Sydney as you enjoy a tasty all-you-can-eat meal at the Sydney Tower Restaurant Buffet. This tour is an opportunity to get a birds-eye-view of the city’s famous sights including Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Hyde Park and more. Formerly known as Centrepoint Tower, the Tower Restaurant is Sydney’s tallest building and the highest revolving restaurant in the Southern Hemisphere.

#1. Colonial Tramcar Restaurant in Melbourne

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Tour of Melbourne is our No.1 dining experience. A huge hit with locals and tourists alike, this top-voted tour takes you on a tram ride along the city’s main thoroughfares as you sit back and relax, dine on a choice of lunch or dinner and gaze contentedly out of the window at Melbourne’s best sights. Expect to see Queen Victoria Market, Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, the Yarra River and Southbank, St Kilda and more as you enjoy free flowing drinks and a delicious meal of your choosing.

Feeling hungry yet? We are. We hope you enjoyed Viator’s list of the Top 10 Dining Experiences Around the World in 2011. Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. Let us know what you think, tell us about your own travel experiences, and most important of all – happy travels in 2012!

- Viator Travel Team

Top 10 Dining Experiences Around the World: 2011 Viator Travel Awards by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

The Moulin Rouge – just the name conjures up a wonderful image of Paris at its most elegant, scandalous and entertaining. These days it is a magnet for travellers to Paris just as it was a magnet for the rich and cultured of the city when it first opened during the Belle Epoque in 1889.

Situated in the Pigalle district near Montmartre, back then it offered a place that people from all walks of society could meet for some song and dance. Cabaret really had its birth here in the dancing girls and singing – light operetta and showgirls. In 1915 it was destroyed by fire and in 1921 it was rebuilt. After the second world war when Paris was liberated, Edith Piaf sang there. The Moulin Rouge has a long and wonderful history and is deservedly a Paris icon.

These days, with its distinctive red windmill on the roof and the richly elegant turn-of-the-century decor, it’s the perfect place for a night’s entertainment. And right now, it has the extra attraction of a new, special menu until the end of March 2012.

Elegant dining at Moulin Rouge

The kitchens have been put in the safe hands of an equally historic gastronomic house famous in France called Maison Dalloyau. Established in 1682, Dalloyou is known throughout France for its pastries, chocolates and dinners and has been in the same family for its whole 300-plus year history, and they used to prepare banquets for Louis XIV. Because Dalloyau are joining forces with the Moulin Rouge for these special few months it is causing quite a stir in Paris and makes a visit during this time even more special.

There are several menus available including the ‘Toulouse-Lautrec’, the ‘Mistinguett’, and the ‘Belle Epoque’ involving duck, lobster, steak and wonderful desserts. Make sure you book well in advance. And leave room for the chocolate wings or crispy chocolate pearls – Maison Dalloyau’s sweet treats are not to be missed.

New menus at the Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge Dinner Menu Options:

MISTINGUETT MENU:

• Terrine of duck foie gras Montmartre with fruit chutney OR Mistinguett king prawns with smoked spices, vegetable vartar, vinaigrette with herbs
• Sauteed corn-fed Chicken Supreme, morel cream and fresh pasta OR Cabaret baked salmon fillet, french white butter, boiled potatoes and grape Tomatoes on the Vine
• Tendresse of red berries, fruity marshmallows and raspberry sauce OR Gourmandise of three chocolates Echiquier pastry and crispy chocolate pearls

TOULOUSE LAUTREC MENU:

• Festival of Norwegian smoked salmon, Tarama, Trout Roe and Avruga, grilled toast OR Stuffed dover sole, tangy cream and young shoots in salad
• Steamed gilt head sea bream, Champagne sauce, creamed potatoes OR Valentin” Sauté of Veal, white Supreme sauce, Pilaf rice and small white onions
• Moulin Rouge Opera pastry, chocolate wings, chocolate hazelnut sauce OR Tendresse of red berries, fruity marshmallows and raspberry sauce

Watch a show & enjoy the new menu!

BELLE EPOQUE MENU:

• Mise en Bouche
• Duck foie gras with sea salt, mango vinaigrette, “Roquette” salad and grilled toast OR Lobster thin Pie à la Parisienne, crushed tomato and lobster chiboust cream, herbs salad
• Fried sea bass fillet, creamy risotto with wood mushrooms, Meadow mushroom cream OR Sirloin steak, small fried potatoes with thyme, French Beans with fresh butter, pepper sauce
• Saint Honoré with raspberries, light whipped cream, crunchy caramel pastry
• Moulin Rouge Opera pastry, chocolate wings, chocolate hazelnut sauce OR Gourmandise of three chocolates Echiquier pastry and crispy chocolate pearls

5-COURSE CHRISTMAS MENU:

• Kir Royal
• Mise en Bouche
• Duck foie gras with sea salt, mango vinaigrette, Roquette salad and grilled toast
• Christmas Turkey, Chestnut Jus, creamed potatoes and celeriac
• Bûche de Noël Dalloyau (Traditional Yule-Log cake)

5-COURSE NEW YEAR’S EVE MENU:

• Carrés feuilletés Pastry Starters
• Scrambled egg cup with black truffle and bread fingers
• Spit-roasted lobster and scallops, polenta finger, bisque mousse with olive oil drops
• Duck foie gras with sea salt and golden flakes, mango vinaigrette and French toasts
• Roasted veal medallion with fried foie gras, roasted potatoes and green beans in a Veal Jus
• Ripened Saint Marcellin cheese, young shoots mesclun salad with crispy nut bread
• The Moulin Rouge Golden Star: Caramel sweetness and traditional chocolate mousse, vanilla and orange cream, Golden Stars and Pearls
• Mignardises petit fours

MATINEE MENU:
Kir Royal

• Delight of foie gras and dry ham
• Leg of young rabbit “Grand-Mère”, potatoes gnocchi
• Meringue cake filled with ice cream

Cancan!

Green lady

Red ladies

Dance!

Moulin Rouge!

Find Moulin Rouge show and dinner tickets at Viator.com.

- Philippa Burne

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Paris tours and things to do, Paris attractions, and Paris travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Paris for a customized tour!

New Menu at Moulin Rouge by Philippa Burne from Viator Travel Blog

Grab your favorite drinking glass - it's time to toast the Top 10 Wine Tasting Tours of 2011!

Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Viator Travel Awards, an annual awards competition where we let our travelers select the top things to do and see in each of the major regions we serve, as well as the top things to do in our most popular tour categories. The awards culminate in the Viator Top Travel Destinations and our annual list of the world’s most travel-inspiring attractions.

* * * * * *

Welcome to the 2011 Viator Travel Awards: Wine Tasting Edition! We’ve combined input from traveler reviews and photos, data from the millions of travelers who visit Viator.com each year, plus data on which Wine Tasting tours generated the most bookings in 2011, in order to crown the Top 10 Wine Tasting Tours in 2011!

Want to know the best way to get inside a country’s culture? By sampling its wine and food, that’s how! Whether it’s French Champagne, Italian Chianti or Californian Zinfandel, a wine tasting tour reveals the traditions and history of both people and place, and whisks you on a road trip through stunning rural countryside. Designed for both wine novices and experts, wine tasting tours are hugely informative and entertaining.

Here are this year’s picks for the Top 10 Wine Tours of 2011!

#10. Wine Tasting inNemea Vineyard

Combine traditional Greek wine with a little history of Ancient Greece on a Wine Tasting and Ancient Corinth Day Trip from Athens. Driving along the coastal road, there will be a short stop at the Corinth canal before continuing to Ancient Corinth where St Paul lived and preached. You will visit the Agora and one of the most outstanding monuments of the pre-Roman period, the Temple of Apollo. Arriving at Nemea, you will learn everything there is to know about the production of Greek red wine before proceeding underground to the cellars containing more than 1,000 French oak barriques – and you get to sample all the goods!

When in Greece, do as the Ancient Greeks did. Although a wine glass might be preferable.

#9. Wine Tasting in Margaret River

Discover the natural beauty and charm of southwest Australia on this full-day tour of  Margaret River and the Mammoth Cave. Sample the produce of the local artisans, be amazed at the grandeur of the Karri forests, and see where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. This is a perfect introduction to the southwest for those short on time.

#8. Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley

Beer? Wine? It's all good on the Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour from Sydney!

Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s prime wine-growing and gourmet-food producing regions. Lushly carpeted with vineyards and dotted with historic country towns, it’s a popular tourist region attracting holidaying families, gourmet food and wine lovers, and Sydneysiders wanting a relaxing weekend break from the big-city hustle-bustle. The Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour from Sydney was our most popular Hunter Valley wine tour in 2011. On this full day tour you’ll enjoy private vineyard inspections, gain insights into the wine making process, purchase premium Hunter Valley wines and enjoy the beautiful Australian countryside.

#7. Wine Tasting in Florence

Gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike, lap up an afternoon in Florence tasting an assortment of cheeses and Tuscan favorites on this Florence Cheese and Wine Tasting tour. Set in a Florentine wine bar, this small-group tour (maximum 12 people) offers the ideal opportunity to taste locally sourced cheeses accompanied by the many flavors of figs, truffle honey and aromatic strawberry vinegar. With your distinguished sommelier to guide you, you’ll match four traditional Tuscan wines with a luscious spread of locally sourced produce.

#6. Wine Tasting in Frascati

Taste the nectar of the gods on a Frascati Wine Tasting Tour from Rome. Visit one of the oldest and most beautiful vineyards in the Frascati region and enjoy a scenic drive through the famed Castelli Romani region surrounding Rome.

#5. French Wine Tasting in Paris

There are not many better places to learn about wine and cheese than Paris, non?!

It doesn’t take a wine expert to know that French Wine Tasting in Paris is not only a culturally fulfilling experience, but a palate-enriching one as well. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced wine drinker, there is a place for everybody in this highly educational and informative wine tour.

#4. Wine Tasting in Yarra Valley

As one of Australia’s prime wine-growing regions, Yarra Valley is a must for any wine-lover.  On the Yarra Valley Wine and Winery Tour from Melbourne, you’ll enjoy a full day of tasting at four of the region’s best known wineries. Combine wine tasting with other Melbourne highlights on our highly rated  Yarra Valley Wineries and Puffing Billy Steam Train Day Tour from Melbourne. Food lovers should also check out out our popular Yarra Valley Food and Wine Small Group Tour.

#3. Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona

Combine mountains, history and wine on the Montserrat and Cava Trail Small Group Day Trip from Barcelona.  Immerse yourself in sparkling wines and sandy beaches for a luxury trip of the highest standing.

#2. Wine Tasting in Italy’s Chianti Region

Try the eponymous wine of the Chianti region in Italy

Hopping around Italy is the perfect chance to access the abundance of options for wine touring. Travel the most popular parts of Tuscany and try the Chianti Region Wine Tasting Half-Day Trip from Florence. With unparalleled beauty in the Italian countryside and an unforgettably peaceful life that is distinctly Italian, you get the chance to try some of the world’s finest wines while enjoying the rich culture and history of a great country.

#1.  Wine Tasting in Napa and Sonoma

Our #1 wine tasting tour in 2011 was our Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour! The Napa and Sonoma wine country in California is perhaps the United States‘ most renowned spot for wine, not to mention perhaps the most beautiful. So it’s not a surprise Napa and Sonoma came out on top this year. With tons of wineries to choose from and tons of tour variations, you will not be disappointed in the coastal state’s plush selection of famous chardonnays and other whites. If you’re looking to combine wine tasting with other San Francisco attractions or looking for something a bit more exclusive, make sure you check out the San Francisco Supersaver: Muir Woods and Wine Country Tour, Napa Valley Wine Country Day Trip from San Francisco and the Customizable Wine Country Tour from San Francisco which also rated high in 2011.

All in all, when traveling through some of the most scenic and history-filled cities, a half-day or full-day winery tour is an excellent way to escape the tourist traps and immerse yourself in history. The local knowledge of all the artisans is always a rare insight into the origins of one of the most unanimously appreciated luxuries – wine!  Small groups allow you to mingle with other travelers and also get the most out of your tastings. So relax, sit back and let yourself be carried away on a wine tasting tour.

That’s Viator’s list of the Top 10 Wine Tasting Tours in 2011. Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. Let us know what you think, tell us about your own travel experiences, and most important of all – happy travels in 2012!

- Viator Travel Team

Top 10 Wine Tasting Tours: 2011 Viator Travel Awards by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

Editor’s Note: This contest is currently closed. Stay tuned for the winner!

For the ninth week of our Viator’s 2011 Ultimate Holiday Giveaway, we’re giving away tickets to one of our most popular Dublin tours!

About the Tour

No trip to Dublin is complete without a tour of the Guinness Storehouse, and a Skip the Line: Guinness Storehouse Entrance Ticket allows you to get in hassle-free without waiting in long lines.

Located in the heart of the legendary St James’s Gate brewery, this production site has been home to the “Black Stuff” since 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a lease for 9,000 years. The Storehouse, a former fermentation plant, has now been remodeled into a visitor center dedicated to the history of Guinness. Ireland’s number one visitor attraction unfolds its tale across seven floors shaped around a giant pint glass which, if full, would contain 14.3 million pints of Guinness.

The highlight of the visit for many is the Gravity Bar, symbolically the “head of the pint”, where one can enjoy 360 degree views across Dublin while savoring a complimentary pint of Guinness.

How to Enter

To enter to win two free tickets to our Skip the Line: Guinness Storehouse tour:

1. Go to YouTube
2. Comment on this video telling us, “Why you want to go on this tour” (Note: you must have a YouTube account to comment on a video. If you don’t have one, you can create a YouTube account here for free.)

The Skip the Line: Guinness Storehouse Entrance Ticket contest will close on December 12, 2011 and a new Holiday Giveaway Video will be posted on December 13, 2011.

Week #9: Win a Skip the Line: Guinness Storehouse Tour

- Viator Travel Team

Terms & Conditions: This contest is part of Viator’s Ultimate Holiday Giveaway and is subject to the same terms and conditions. Our staff will pick the entry that we think best answers the question above. We are giving away 2 free tickets for the Skip the Line: Guinness Storehouse Entrance Ticket for use before December 2013. Airfare, taxes and any other expenses not specifically listed above are not included. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be sold or redeemed for any cash value.

Week 9: Win Tickets to a Skip the Line: Guinness Storehouse Tour by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

Before I arrived in Seattle, the sum total of my knowledge about the city amounted to a handful of stereotypes. Plucking words at random, I could give you Starbucks, Microsoft and Nirvana. What I wasn’t expecting was a truly endearing city that ticks the right boxes on almost every level. It’s a chilled out, dressed-down place where the nerds outnumber the jocks, and people have a genuine enthusiasm for giving something a go.

It’s also rare to find a place with so many options for keeping yourself occupied. I had four days there and felt it wasn’t nearly enough – which says something  coming from someone who subscribes to the blitzkrieg model of travel. The other key point is that most of what I did see, I’d happily go back to.

Fish stall at Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market

Seattle’s unquestioned star is the Pike Place Market. I live in a city where the market is a grotty affair that makes you want to head in, get what you need and head out as quickly as possible. And frankly, everyone will quite rightly go to a supermarket instead. Pike Place Market pulls locals in as well as tourists, whilst the mix of history, charm and quality makes it the sort of place you want to hang around in all day.

It is something of a maze, sprawling over multiple levels and with no seemingly logical plan. This, of course, is part of the fun. One minute you can be looking at chocolate-dipped cherries, the next watching fishmongers theatrically throwing salmon around and the next looking at locally-made glassware. There are many food specialists here – some focus on truffles, others on fruit, others on naughty sweet things that will send your waistline ballooning. But it’s incredibly rare to find anything that’s poor quality, and the exploration proves to be a gourmet dream.

Beer and wine

One key part of the Pike Place Market is the Pike Pub. Like the market itself, it seems to sprawl over many levels, containing various nooks and crannies. But the most important of these levels is at the bottom – as this is where the beer is brewed. The Pike Pub does what Seattle and the Pacific Northwest do exceedingly well – craft beer. The city and surrounds have scores of small breweries – often started up by enthusiastic home brewers – and this makes Seattle a beer lover’s paradise. Most pubs will have at least one or two local microbrews on tap, and while the Pike Pub is the most famous example, there are plenty of other joints that you can rock up to where the beer is brewed on the premises. If heading to the Pike, the sampling paddles are a good idea, although the Kiltlifter and the IPA are the most sensational drops.

Seattle is also a surprise wine hotspot. Over the Cascade Mountains, the central and eastern parts of Washington state have an ideal climate for viticulture. Conditions are similar to those in Bordeaux, France, and some seriously good wines are being made there. There are a number of tasting rooms in Seattle where you can taste some of them – with 106 Pine and The Tasting Room being conveniently located in or near Pike Place Market.

Beer sampling paddle at Pike Pub

The music

For many people, Seattle equates to Nirvana and the grunge movement. Nevermind (see what I did there?) that Nirvana were actually from the small town of Aberdeen and they regarded themselves as punk rather than grunge, Kurt Cobain and co. are the band most associated with the city. Others are covered in the Experience Music Project – the baby of Microsoft founder Paul Allen – but it’s the exhibition on Nirvana that really captures the attention. It’s a big, flashy building featuring massive screens, an impressive guitar collection and huge banks of screens playing pre-recorded ‘oral histories’. The Nirvana exhibit has been timed to run in the same year as the breakthrough Nevermind album’s 20th anniversary. It’s a fascinating, detailed exploration of the Seattle scene and how Nirvana’s rise to global superstardom took everyone by surprise – not least the record label.

The Boeing Factory

Long before Microsoft, Starbucks and Amazon came to town, Boeing was the huge megacompany most associated with Seattle. It’s where the aviation giant was born, and most of the wide-bodied planes are still made in Everett, around 30 to 40 minutes north of Seattle by car or tour bus. Security is fairly tight at the massive Boeing Space and Flight Center complex – don’t even think of bringing cameras, phones or notepads on the tour with you – but it’s still possible to go behind the scenes. The Future of Flight exhibition is more hands-on – you can touch engines and measure yourself up against the tail fin of a 747 – but it’s the assembly building that’s most exciting. This is not only where most of the big planes are put together, it’s also the largest building by volume in the world. A walk from the entrance to the elevator is a long enough stretch, let alone a stroll around the perimeter.

Thousands of people are working in the building at any one time, and the sense of scale plays tricks on you. Because there’s so much going on, everything seems small – like you’re watching the inhabitants of a doll’s house.

Where to stay

Pike Place Market in the evening

The Scandinavian-influenced Hotel Andra gets that blend between style and practicality right, and its position on the cusp of Belltown, Downtown and Pike Place makes it an extremely solid choice. If it’s proximity to Pike Place Market and superb views out over Puget Sound you’re after, then try the Inn At The Market.

- David Whitley

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Seattle tours and things to do, Seattle attractions, and Seattle travel recommendations. Or book a private guide in Seattle for a customized tour!

The Best of Seattle and Washington State by David Whitley from Viator Travel Blog

Sardinia coastline and the Mediterranean Sea

Situated west of Italy, Sardinia boasts remarkable coastlines, picturesque beaches and a strong, yet varied, culture. When DH Lawrence travelled to the island, he wrote: “Sardinia, which has no history, no date, no race, no offering…Sure enough it is Italian now, but there is an uncaptured Sardinia still.”

We started our trip in the capital city, Cagliari. Our bus dropped us at the base of the Via Roma – the hub of the city. Essentially a wide a road that runs adjacent to the city’s port, the Via Roma is littered with upmarket roadside bars and shops, hidden by swooping arches.

Stop off the side of the road to see amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea

Cagliari is built around a large hill, so as you head inland the narrow streets meander up the incline. About half way up the slope is a large, flat strip of land called the bastions. From here, you can place the city in the context of its surroundings. To the south, the Mediterranean Sea sprawls out – uninterrupted until Africa.

Head to Il Bastione for fresh seafood, pizza & pasta

We headed west, to the botanical gardens. These display a beautiful array of flowers and shrubbery, while providing the foreground for the island’s amphitheatre. Carved out of the Cagliari hillside, the amphitheatre is an impressive reminder that Sardinia was once owned by the Romans. Built largely out of a complicated mainframe of wooden bars, the amphitheatre is a testament to the ingenuity of the Roman Empire.

As you snake up the hill you come across more designer shops, but it’s in the dark, residential side-streets that you encounter the true identity of the city – in the small restaurants and bars. Our favourite was the Il Bastione, where they make your food from scratch in front of you. Expect excellent seafood, as well as fresh pizza and pasta.

We hired a scooter for the rest of our trip and drove down the south coast. The drive from Cagliari to Villasimius should be compulsory for anyone travelling to Sardinia. The winding road weaves through the hills, showcasing picturesque countryside to the north and the twinkling Mediterranean Sea to the south.

Every cove that you encounter defies expectations to be more beautiful than the last, with sloping green hills, pale yellow rocky beaches and the clear turquoise sea gently lapping against the shore. Scattered around the island, you may notice a series of small stone huts, which are burial sites and are thought to be unique to Sardinia. These sites often boast some of the best views on the island, so its well-worth pulling over to take a better look.

With so much to offer – views, history, cuisine and weather – it’s no surprise that Sardinia has grown to become such a popular Mediterranean destination.

- Ben Ashwell

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Italy tours and things to do, Italy attractions, and Italy travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Cagliari for a customized tour!

The Sea and South Sardinia by Ben Ashwell from Viator Travel Blog

To me, Split, Croatia had always been a ferry terminal, a place to catch a boat over to one of the gorgeous Croatian islands: Hvar, Brač, Vis. But this year I decided to stay for a week, to actually slow down and stop, look around so that when people said: Have you been to Split? I could honestly say yes.

The short story is that I came for a week and I stayed for three.

The longer version is the coffee, the beaches, and the people.

Split is centered around the Diocletian Palace which was built around 300AD as a retirement villa for the Roman emperor Diocletian. Some believe he came here because he was born nearby, others think it was for the health giving sulphur in the waters that Croatian doctors still prescribe as a cure for elderly patients. Whatever the reason, he built an incredible palace and the remains of it are now the center of Split.

Diocletian Palace

The thing I love most about the Diocletian Palace, aside from the gorgeous white stone ruins of the gates, the carved ceiled inside Jupiter’s Temple, the Cathedral, the Bell Tower, and the narrow stone streets and high walls, is the way it has been absorbed into centuries of normal city life. This is not a museum or reconstruction of how a Roman emperor lived, but a place where people live and work right now. Sure, you go into the central Peristil outside the Cathedral and there are sometimes fake Roman soldiers selling a tour, and the underneath vaults are full of stalls selling tourist knickknacks.

See history and modernity collide at the Diocletian Palace

But once you head upstairs into the area that was the site of Diocletian’s own apartments, you’ll see washing hanging outside apartments built into the walls, you’ll see cats, gardens, crazy purple flowers climbing up millennia-old walls, and women sweeping their front steps while pushing the dust towards the remains of the palace cellars. This is not lack of respect, this is being part of an evolving city. These apartments would have been built in the palace structure centuries ago – they are as much a part of history as the Cathedral which incorporates many historic periods inside. The museum associated with the Cathedral is only one room but it’s worth visiting – there are the 304AD relics of martyred Saint Anastasia – Sveta Å taša – and a Bible dating from 500AD. Very few parts of the palace have an entrance price – only the Cathedral, the Bell Tower, the museum, Jupiter’s Temple, and the crypt (not much to see), but they are all very cheap. You can pick up a free map of the palace anywhere in town or take a walking tour.

Coffee on the Riva

Then you’ll need a coffee while you think about the beauty and age of where you’ve just been. The most popular place for this is the Riva, the long promenade stretched on the waterfront beside the palace walls. In summer it is lined by outdoor tables and chairs under awnings and umbrellas. Most places don’t sell food so they don’t mind if you bring your own sandwich or piece of pizza to have with your coffee. Many of them do serve ice cream, though, and Croatian ice cream (sladoled) is very yummy.

Coffee, coffee, coffee!

Definitely have a coffee on the Riva sometime during your visit and watch the people, the ferries, the Adriatic Sea and islands. And don’t be surprised by the size of the cup – coffees here are small but perfect. You can get a larger size latte style, but don’t expect any Starbucks supersizing; things here are still owner-run and traditional (bravo!).  Coffee on the Riva is more expensive, and I found a few slightly hidden favourites.

One was a little way off the Riva towards Marjan, the wooded hill promontory. Called Caffe Bar Teraza Bamba, it’s in a narrow street called Solurat, and it has a lovely hillside position overlooking the water. At the bottom of the street is a great little restaurant called Buffet Fife where we endured rain, hail, and flooding that stopped the whole city for about an hour but didn’t take away the sense of humour of the owner. Even as people climbed on top of tables to avoid the rising water and huge sharp-edge hailstones cut through his canvas awning roof, he served our food before hurrying to turn off the electricity. It was extremely dramatic all across town, but within hours it was like it had never happened; the sun was back out and as hot as ever, the broken branches and dirt the flood had left on the Riva had been hosed and swept away, and everyone was back drinking coffee and planning their nights out.

…And more coffee!

My other favourite coffee place is along the beach in the other direction. Around the headland at the end of the train tracks, there is a popular beach called Bačvice. It’s got some sand, not just pebbles, and the water is shallow well out so it’s great for kids and games. Along here there are cafés, bars, restaurants, and a gym. The idea is to sun, swim, then retire under the shade of a café for coffee before doing it all again.

I ate a couple of great meals here at Pizzeria Karaka. By day there are men playing chess by the waterside while others watch and sagely nod, and up under the trees others play boules. At night, this is a nightclubbing strip. Walking further along there are a few other beaches; the third one, Firule is my favourite. And just above it, on the cliff under the trees is a small café called Grand Slam. The view is great and the name is no lie – behind here are the tennis courts where Goran Ivanišević began his glorious career, and the next few generations are out on the courts trying to do the same.

Marjan

Heading the other way from the old town, there’s Marjan. On top of a high hill proudly flies a Croatian flag and a wealthy businessman has recently offered to pay for an enormous open-armed Christ statue to rival that of Rio. It’s currently being debated. Marjan has some lovely beaches too. The one just below the Mestrović Gallery is a favourite of mine, though it is pebbles and not sand. It’s called Ježinac on the maps but the locals call it by a new name (O Boja – literally meaning “of color”).

Take a break from all the caffeine on one of Split's beaches

While you’re there, visit the Mestrović Gallery. He was Croatia’s leading sculptor in the early 20th century and made monumental figures with flowing lines – really beautiful. A couple of his pieces are in the old town; there is one outside the Golden Gate, the other in a square of the father of Croatian literature Marko Marulić. To explore the beaches further around Marjan, you can take a taxi or the number 12 bus.

Split specialties

My top recommendations of things to buy, eat, drink: the local company Kraš make chocolates called Bajadera – they are heavenly. I have a fondness for a local liquor called Medinica – buy a good one and it’s smooth and honey-like (it’s a honey rakija), alternately try a homemade version… much stronger. And there are lovely peppery biscuits called Paprenjak. Also the olive oils and wines are famous. So is the lavender – a dollar spent on a lavender bag from an old lady outside the cathedral will make your luggage smell good and seriously help her financial survival. In restaurants ordering fish usually brings you delicious fresh whole fish, and the local sausages čevapči are hugely popular. Another useful local tip is to try cedevita, a powder of vitamins and minerals you mix with water – some cafes even offer a coffee and cedevita morning deal, which is perfect after a long night.

Croatia is a place where you don’t make plans. When a Croatian rings you they say, “Where are you?” This means, “Shall we meet for coffee right now?” If you try to organise to meet for drinks tomorrow night, you’ll end up spending the night drinking alone. If you plan a quiet night home with a DVD, you’ll end up in a club beside the beach until dawn having the best night of your life. Hence, planning to come for one week was naïve; I now know the people on the Croatia Airlines rebooking line very well.

For all of you who stop by on your yachts, cruise ships, or even by ferry, I say consider Split as a place to stop for a few days. You might never leave.  See you for coffee on the Riva.

- Philippa Burne

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Croatia tours and things to do, Croatia attractions, and Croatia travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Croatia for a customized tour!

Coffee & Beaches in Split, Croatia by Philippa Burne from Viator Travel Blog

HURRY! On sale for 3 days only! Book a Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour from San Francisco at a 50% discount! For this limited time only, you can save 50% on all available tour dates – including the weekends! This deal is only valid for 3 days – so hurry! You must book by October 27 to save 50%! This exclusive offer is available on departure times and scheduled departure dates through March 01, 2012 (excluding December 20, 2011 – January 1, 2012). *

Save 50% on a Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour!

If you love wine, you won’t want to miss the chance to visit the famous Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries on a day trip from San Francisco! You’ll taste wines from North America’s premium wine country, learn how the wines are made, and enjoy lovely vistas of rolling hills dotted with vineyards.

This tour is great for locals and visitors to San Francisco alike. We take driving out of the equation by including round-trip transportation from San Francisco. We also equip you with a knowledgeable guide to provide insight on the area and wine industry along the way, so don’t be shy about asking questions! Also included is the tasting fee at 3 top wineries in the region – the only decision you’ll have to make is about which bottles you want to bring home!

Sound like a great deal? Then be sure to book by October 27, 2011 to get 50% off this Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour!

*Please note that minimum age for wine tasting is 21. This offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

- Viator Travel Team

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s San Francisco tours and things to do, San Francisco attractions, and San Francisco travel recommendations.

Save 50% on a Napa Wine Country Tour! by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

Try this with your friends: say the name of a city they’ve been to and most likely they’ll come up with a one-word, sensory delight that sums the place up for them. For example, Lisbon – ‘oh, the fish; Munich – ‘ah, the beer’; Paris – ‘ooh, the croissants’. Well here are a few of my own favourites, in no particular order as television judges say. These are things that make me get dreamy eyed at the mere mention of that place’s name. And yes, they are all food-related, so… what of it?

High Tea in London

#6. Ice cream in Nice

Not the first thing I expected to find when I recently went to the south of France. And yes, the views are nice, the water really is very blue, the people are stylish, the city is pretty, there is art everywhere and so on and so on. But the real jewel we uncovered was Fenocchio, an ice cream place.

fenocchio ice cream nice france

We found two branches in the old town, one quite close to our apartment (luckily or unluckily, depending whether you side with saving shoe leather or calories: we would have walked a fair distance for this ice cream, I assure you). There were about 90 flavours, seriously. My first night I had a scoop of violet and one of jasmine. Yes, I ate flower flavoured, purple food. And wow!

After that we began referring to each day as either a one scoop or two scoop day, depending on how far we had walked so how much we thought we deserved. Most days, strangely, we deserved two scoops. In five days we worked our way through fig, cinnamon, chocolate peppermint, ginger, rose, lemon meringue… I have to stop before I book another trip to Nice. (One word of warning: avoid the crepes at Fennocio, definitely not their specialty.)

#5. Sachertorte in Salzburg

This world-famous chocolate cake was developed in Vienna in 1832 by the second-year apprentice chef Franz Sacher. He worked in the court kitchens of Prince Metternich and on the day of an important dinner the head chef was ill, so Sacher whipped up the first Sachertorte. In 1876, his son Eduard began the first Hotel Sacher and registered a trademark on the Sachertorte.

I visited Salzburg to indulge a childhood whim to be a von Trapp for a day and stumbled over the Hotel Sacher almost by accident: it had a nice terrace overlooking the river, the old town, and, oh, a bridge made famous in The Sound of Music. On the table was a history of the Sachertorte so we thought we’d best try it. Sublime! Truly amazing.

Even if you’re not a complete chocoholic. And the tea they served, simply named Sacher Tea, was also great. A combination of bergamot (earl grey), jasmine and black tea, it had me heading round to the hotel’s shop to buy a tin. Apart from the tea, the shop sold cake. Lots and lots of Sachertorte, shipping it all over the world.

When I was in there a girl was having a whole cake sent home to her family in the USA; that’s how good it is! I toyed with sending a couple of pieces to my chocolate addicted sister-in-law but really couldn’t afford it. I did send her a photo of the piece I ate though.

#4. Lokum (a.k.a. Turkish Delight) in Istanbul

I know it sounds really obvious. But Turkish Delight made properly is a completely different taste sensation to the overly sweet and cloying stuff I grew up with. I dragged my feet a little when my travel companion, Steven, wanted to find the original Turkish Delight shop opened in 1777 by Haci Bekir (on Hamidiye Caddesi, near the Egyptian Spice Market) but I gave in, I mean he had just made a full-day trip to Gallipoli with me (9 hours in the car), and the map assured us this shop was only two blocks away. Although two blocks in Istanbul can still be quite an adventure – the traffic!

We found the shop quite easily and it was a delight. The men in there gave us some samples to try and, more from a lack of language and inbuilt politeness than genuine desire, I stuck an apple-flavoured square in my mouth. Oh my! The taste sensation. It tasted like apples! Really! I bought a box. And the rose! Wow! Flavours derived from the real natural article – apples, rose petals etc – it can’t be beaten. Why have we put up with artificial flavouring for so long? Evil incarnate. Anyway, we ended up with about four boxes of Turkish Delight in our luggage and it’s not light. But I would almost have ditched a pair of shoes for it. Almost.

Yum!

#3. Apple Cake in Amsterdam

Apple Cake. High tinned, full of apple and cinnamon, thin cakey crust, served with lashings of cream – divine! And the best one is at the Noordermarkt on Prinsengracht. You can go there during the week and sit outside in summer or at a communal table inside during winter.

But the time all the Amsterdammers go is Saturday morning when the Noordermarkt is full of stalls selling organic food. It’s not a huge market but it is quality through and through and the place to be. The queue outside the café with the apple cake makes it easy to find, as do all the people with slices of apple cake in various stages of demolition. Do not eat breakfast: the slices are generous. And do not dare to order anything else but apple cake and a drink – the demand is so high, there are presliced apple cakes covering the counter and the staff run to keep up with the demand. Oh, and it’s counter-service, no table service at this time of day so join the queue. Then hop on your bike to ride off the excess you just gained – although with that much apple involved, can it really be bad for you?

#2. Hot chocolate in Venice

Yes, hot chocolate is available around the world and many countries stake a claim to it: Holland, Belgium, Switzerland. But No! Italy wins my vote. This hot chocolate is so thick, the spoon stands up in it, really!

The first one I had was in Calle Rasse, a small backstreet behind San Marco; a rainy day, the acqua alta threatening our ankles, we took refuge in one of those narrow sandwich bars the Italians do so well. We had no idea that life was about to change. But it did.

I have been back to this place every visit since and the quality is maintained. I have cheated on this, my first hot chocolate love, by dating a couple of others in Piazza San Marco itself but have only been disappointed. Once I tried the Caffe Florian. They’ve been making hot chocolate since 1720 so they should have it down to a fine art. And if it wasn’t for the Calle Rasse experience, I probably would have been impressed. Then I tried crossing the square to Quadri, but it was a similar experience. And eating or drinking anything on the Piazza San Marco is going to be a costly exercise: we’re talking a 10 euro hot chocolate as opposed to 4 euros in Calle Rasse. Besides, can anything really match the perfection of your first love?

#1. High tea at The Ritz Hotel in London

Elegant, calm in the midst of crazy London dirt and traffic. Established as a tradition during the Victorian era, high tea in London is not cheap but then you won’t need dinner afterwards so it’s totally practical: an elegant room, pages of tea choices, and three tiered towers of delicate sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and little cakes – yum.

There are other high teas in London but the Ritz has the history; it’s also the only one I’ve been to so I can’t bear witness to any others. (Editor’s note: also try high tea at the Grosvenor House.) And the Ritz on Piccadilly is just one of those must-have London experiences. High tea is served in the elegant Palm Court which is all columns and chandeliers and has a dress code that bans jeans and trainers; it really feels like London as it once was – or still is if you have money, a title or are Madonna. You do need to book well ahead if possible – they recommend six weeks – unless of course you are moneyed, titled or Madonna.

A couple of quickies to finish with: In Prague have a Budweiser beer – a completely different flavour to the Bud in the rest of the world. In Bratislava try Becherovka, a kind of herb-based liquor. Delicious but can prove potent. You were warned. In Zagreb try the Paprenjak, pepper flavoured biscuits. Sublime. Also the Bajadera chocolates made by local company Kras. Mmmm. And finally, a second bite at Istanbul: Fish in bread with onions, served directly from boats tied to the dock just under the Galata Bridge. Locals everywhere squatting on low, no frills plastic chairs. Cheap, delicious, authentic. Do it.

–Philippa Burne

Planning a trip? Check out top foodie tours around the world, especially Paris Chocolate and Pastry Food Tour, NYC East Village Food Tour and Best of Brooklyn Sightseeing, Food and Culture Tour.

Europe’s Top 6 Eating Experiences by Philippa Burne from Viator Travel Blog

A dinner cruise down Melbourne’s Yarra River is a novel way to dine and offers the opportunity to see this attractive city from the water.

Before you begin your evening cruise, work up an appetite wandering along Southbank, the arts and shopping precinct on the Yarra, directly opposite the city’s iconic Flinders Street train station. Southbank is a buzzing area with plenty of bars should you fancy a pre-dinner drink. This part of the city is particularly lovely at night, with light sculptures on the footbridge near the Crown Casino, lively Federation Square and the old-fashioned giant Ferris wheel that lights up Birrarung Marr.

I chose to go on the dinner cruise on a cold, winter evening. Probably not the season of choice for most diners, but the main deck of the boat was still almost full and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

We were served our first course and a drink of our choice straightaway before beginning our journey down the Yarra. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer clear views from both sides of the boat, and diners are free to walk around the vessel and take in the views from the upper deck.  Once past the city lights, however, there are few sights of interest on a dark winter’s night. Fortunately your attention is drawn to the food, which is well presented and delicious.

The entrée platter was particularly impressive with crepes, mussels, oysters and delicate spring rolls. I enjoyed the salmon for my main course while my husband had the prime eye fillet. They were both generous servings and cooked to perfection. The desserts also tasted as good as they looked. We had very little room left to do the cheese platter justice, and instead enjoyed a coffee and a digestif.

While I enjoyed the cruise, I think the experience would be enhanced during the warmer months of the year, particularly summer, when it doesn’t get dark until 9pm. That way, you can loll around on the boat’s upper deck between courses while enjoying the city sights in daylight and then see its twinkling lights on the way back.

- Emma McMahon

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Melbourne tours and things to do, Melbourne attractions, and Melbourne travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Melbourne for a customized tour!

[VIDEO] Spirit of Melbourne Cruise by Emma McMahon from Viator Travel Blog

Ever wanted to eat your way around the world? All diets are off on this no-limits top 10 list of iconic dishes from around the world. Try them at least once, before it’s too late!

1. China: Peking duck

The imperial dish Peking duck is synonymous with superior Chinese food of the non-takeaway variety. What makes this particular roast duck a standout ‘try before you die’ candidate is the garlicky sweet crispy skin. Plating up the dish is an event in itself: order the whole duck, and the bird will be carved in front of you.

Carving up a crispy Peking duck

First you’ll be served the famously crispy sweet skin. Next, juicy slivers of meat will be carved and served with steamed pancakes, spring onions and a sweet hoisin sauce so you can create your own Peking duck pancakes. If you’re still hungry, the remaining duck will be served as a stir fry or broth.

2. France: Escargots

You’ve got to try snails at least once in your life, if only to try to distinguish their flavour lurking beneath all that garlic butter. The ancient Romans ate snails, and they’re eaten across the globe from Morocco to Cambodia. However, it’s the French who are most readily identified with these tasty morsels, ideally sourced from Burgundy.

Escargots are generally eaten as an appetiser, served in the shell and cooked in a delicious melange of garlicky parsley butter. And what do they taste like? As you might expect, the texture is firm, but shouldn’t be chewy, and the flavour underneath all that garlic and butter is similar to mussels.

Look out for snails hidden among the many gems in French seafood markets

3. Greece: Moussaka

The Greek national casserole is a certain must-try dish, and these days there aren’t many of us who haven’t succumbed to this melting concoction. The Greek answer to the Italian lasagne, the dish is made by smothering layers of ingredients in a cheese béchamel sauce, and baking until creamily melted and golden.

Along with ground beef or lamb, the major ingredient in a traditional moussaka is eggplant; regional varieties might use other vegetables following this method, such as artichokes and potatoes. The salted and browned slices of eggplant are layered with meat stewed with onions, garlic, tomatoes and spices. Wherever you live, the resulting cheesy casserole is a heart-warming dish to serve in winter.

4. India: Masala dosa

If one subcontinental meal could persuade a committed carnivore to order vegetarian, my vote would go to a South Indian masala dosa. The plate-covering, paper-thin pancake is made from rice and lentils, cooked to lacy perfection on a hot griddle. What creates the more-ish flavour is a spiced concoction of mashed cooked potatoes and fried onions, served with a liberal dose of garlicky chutney.

5. Italy: Zucchini flowers

Everyone who’s eaten Tuscany‘s fiore di zucca, or deep-fried zucchini flowers, says they’re to die for, so it makes sense to add them to our list. The tender yellow zucchini flowers are stuffed with a delicious filling, maybe herbed ricotta or mozzarella, then dipped into a simple tempura-like batter and sizzled in olive oil. The result is a melt-in-the mouth, sweetly crisp sensation that must be eaten immediately.

The market: where every Italian food adventure begins

6. Japan: Teppanyaki

If you like a little theatre and audience participation with your food, don’t miss the experience of dining at a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. With much flame-fuelled drama, sometimes accompanied by juggling of utensils and flipping of ingredients, the skilled chefs grill your steak right in front of you, via a sizzling-hot gas-powered griddle.

Order grilled Kobe beef, seafood or chicken, or ask for a signature flaming volcano of onion rings, and get ready to be amazed by your teppanyaki chef’s superb knife skills.

7. Malaysia: Seafood curry laksa

Malaysia’s king of soups is a spicy, tangy, coconut-creamy soup packed full of noodles, seafood, fish sticks, puffed tofu, vegetables, a hard-boiled egg, coriander and chilli sambal.

The Chinese-Malay dish is a classic of Peranakan cuisine, merging elements from Malaysia and Singapore. There are heaps of regional variances, and some seafood laksas also include chicken. If you come across assam laksa, you’ll find it has a fish rather than coconut broth.

The general rule is the simpler the surroundings, the tastier the curry laksa, so pull up a stool at a streetside stall in a Penang backstreet or Singapore food court and tuck in. A curry laksa really is to die for!

8. Thailand: Som tam (green papaya salad)

To savour Thailand’s four essential flavours – sour, salt, sweet and chilli – in one dish, load up a bowl of som tam and prepare for sensory overload. The base ingredient of shredded unripened papaya is combined with any or all of the following: palm sugar, garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind juice, dried shrimp and, quite often, seafood, tomatoes, carrot, beans and peanuts. Simply add the ingredients to a mortar and start pounding.

Thai food: colorful, spicy, and delicious

A northern Thai dish from the Isan region, som tam is typically served with grilled chicken and sticky rice. If you’re making the dish at home, and can’t source a green papaya at your local supermarket, you can substitute unripe mangoes, apples or cucumbers for a similar, but not as authentic, result.

9. Australia and New Zealand: Pavlova

Fiercely competitive Australia and New Zealand vie for ownership of this iconic dessert. Currently the odds are on a hotel in Wellington, New Zealand as having invented this heavenly melange of meringue and cream.

The dish is named for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, and indeed the meltingly soft light-as-air meringue does bring to mind the fluffy tulle of a ballet tutu. A classic pavlova is topped with lashings of whipped cream daubed with passionfruit, strawberries and kiwi fruit.

10. USA: BBQ ribs

If there’s one US cuisine that has aficionados frothing at the mouth, it’s the holy grail of smoked pork ribs: the BBQ. Kansas City, Memphis and St. Louis are US BBQ capitals, not forgetting Texas, the Carolinas … hell, it seems everyone has their favourite local.

Memphis ribs get their extra belt of flavour from a dry rub made from garlic and spices, which is slapped on prior to smoking. The ribs are generally served with a tomato and vinegar BBQ sauce on the side.

Kansas City style ribs are prepared with a sweetly spiced rub before being extra slow-smoked, and sugar, honey and molasses add a sweet edge to the BBQ sauce served alongside.

St. Louis pork spare ribs are grilled, and served with lashings of tangy tomato-based BBQ sauce.

Whichever style of BBQ you choose, get ready to tuck in your bib for a messy feast.

- Viator Travel Team

Planning a trip?  Check out food tours around the world: France food tours, Italy food tours, Japan food tours and experiences, and USA food tours.

10 Foods to Try before You Die by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog

Every New Yorker has a strong opinion about where to find the best pizza in town. Although their answers may differ, few if any would deny that a trip to the borough of Brooklyn is an absolute must if you want to get a sampling of the best pies the region has to offer.

A born-and-bred tour guide will usher you over the historic Brooklyn Bridge and take you on a neighborhood tour that is both gastronomic and historic. Learn about the fascinating history of Brooklyn while taking in the slices and the sites, including Coney Island, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge and Brighton Beach.

New York Pizza Tour: Video

This video features glimpses of stops on the tour, starting with the world-famous Grimaldi’s, a favorite of the likes of Frank Sinatra, Michelle Obama, and many other familiar faces. Try a slice of their renowned thin-crust pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge. One of the perks is the opportunity to step right to the front of the queue, surpassing the infamous lines of hungry pizza-lovers waiting for a slice.

Your next stop is L&B Spumoni Gardens, a Brooklyn institution for over 70 years. In contrast to the Neopolitan-style thin-crust of Grimaldi’s, L&B offers thick slices of Sicilian-style pizza. The only challenge on this tour is choosing a favorite.

This fun and delicious tour includes four slices of authentic New York pizza and two beverages. For your convenience, the tour leaves from and returns to the same point in Manhattan. Work up an appetite for some of the world’s best pizza and the city’s most unique neighborhoods for this 4-hour tour. Once you have tried both styles of New York pizza, you be the judge in the battle of the pizzas and decide on your favorite – Neapolitan or Sicilian! Oh, and come hungry!

- Viator Travel Team

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s New York tours and activities, New York attractions, and treat yourself to gastronomic adventures with New York food, wine and nightlife tours.

[VIDEO] From Italy to Brooklyn: New York Pizza Tour – Mangia! by Viator Travel Team from Viator Travel Blog