There's something special about a weekend away in wine country staying amongst the vines. Waking at a vineyard retreat makes for a magical start to the day, sun dappled vine leaves, peaceful mornings and that feeling of glorious isolation. Then there's exploring nearby cellar doors during the day and retiring to your accommodation with a glass of wine by the fireplace at night – it's all very convivial!
As if you needed an excuse to pop a bottle of bubbles on Friday, it's also Global Champagne Day!
Dom Perignon knew a thing or two when he exclaimed 'Come quickly, I'm tasting the stars!' and our love affair continues to this day with the wonderful wine so inextricably linked with celebration.
Last month we attended Luxperience; an industry only event, for bespoke luxury and high-end experiential travel. If you follow our Instagram feed, you'd think it was all Champagne, canapés and fun in the harbour city and you'd be partly right, but there was a serious side to the event namely making meaningful connections.
We kickstarted the event with a Thought Leaders Forum held at The Star, which included an incredible keynote speech by James 'Cas' Castrisson. If you haven't heard his story, it's a wonderfully inspiring journey told by a modern day adventurer.
The sun is out, the birds are singing and the wineries are brimming with greenery - what better way to welcome Spring than to get out and explore the Mornington Peninsula. Just over an hour's drive from Melbourne, this scenic peninsula is home to some of the most beautiful wineries with stunning views and menus designed to showcase the delicious local produce.
Got kids? No problem! The kids will love exploring these kid friendly wineries on the Mornington Peninsula:
My family and I haven't holidayed together on the Gold Coast since I was a teenager. We'd make the annual pilgrimage north to Surfers Paradise, the quintessential Aussie beach holiday destination, passing the iconic Pink Poodle for a week in our beachside apartment. My childhood days were spent on the waterslide at Grundy's, playing at Magic Mountain and navigating the remote controlled boats at Pacific Fair. It was a simple life, an idyllic life, before the high-rises infiltrated the skyline casting shadows on the beach.
A weekend getaway to Adelaide conjures up thoughts of fine food, wine, art and culture and what better place to experience all of this than The Watson, Adelaide.
