Channel Islands Direct - Jersey Wine Tour

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Jersey Wine Tour - 4 nights for just £379pp

Jersey is a small island with a big personality! Lying on the same latitude as Reims in France, famous for its Champagne, and basked in the same temperate climate as Bordeaux, Jersey has a secret at its heart yet to be discovered - vineyards producing grapes for red, white, rosé and sparkling wines!

You can now take special wine appreciation short breaks to Jersey flying from regional airports all over Britain.

A short break to Jersey offers a unique opportunity to taste and learn all about wine in its place of origin and to take in all that this remarkable gem of an island has to offer.

Jersey has outstanding scenery, endless wide beaches and intimate coves, plus magnificent castles, museums and beautiful private gardens. Jersey is an island of flowers – the temperate climate, long hours of sunshine and rich soil make it a gardener’s paradise.

Built on a rocky islet in St Aubin’s Bay, Elizabeth Castle defended Jersey for more than 300 years. The castle is accessible at low tide by foot or the castle ferry which will transport you across the bay to and from the castle.

Jersey War Tunnels tells the true story of the Occupation of Jersey during World War Two. It is one of the island’s most popular tourist attractions as well as an important site of heritage conservation and interpretation.

Discover the medieval chapel of La Hogue Bie, considered one of the finest prehistoric stone formations in Europe, sitting on top of a tranquil and spiritual site.

With a bit of simple planning, it’s easy to get around the island on the excellent, go-everywhere bus service. As far as prices are concerned, you pay in pounds, not Euros, so there are no uncertainties about exchange rates.

The capital, St Helier is an excellent shopping centre with pedestrianised streets and a mix of well-known high street stores and small local shops.

Your accommodation

You will be staying at the three star Revere Hotel, centrally located in the heart of St. Helier close to the beaches, the shops and other amenities. The Revere was formerly a 17th century coaching inn and still retains its charm and character with a rich interior décor – some rooms have four-poster beds, not originals though! All the rooms are en-suite, have tea making facilities, televisions and WiFi connections. The very personal service is second to none, as you would expect from a family run boutique hotel. The two restaurants provide a varied menu to satisfy all tastes or if you fancy just a drink you can take it outside by the pool and soak up the peaceful atmosphere. A wonderful place to stay.

Your wine experience

Although the purpose of your visit to Jersey may not be solely about wine it is hoped that by the end of your stay you will leave having enjoyed a memorable wine experience. As part of your stay you will be visiting La Mare Wine Estate vineyard based around one of Jersey’s oldest properties and well established as one of Jersey’s main tourist destinations. There you will have the opportunity to find out how grapes are grown and how wine is made and taste the La Mare wines with a buffet lunch in the Vineyard Restaurant overlooking the vineyard.

The La Mare vineyard was planted in 1972 and extends over 10 hectares (25acres) with Seyval Blanc, Phoenix, Orion, and Reichensteiner white grape varieties and Regent, Rondo and Pinot Noir black grape varieties. New Zealand winemaker Daniel de Carteret uses a modern stainless steel winery at La Mare to produce two white wines (Clos, fresh and fruity and Domaine, more full bodied), one red (The Bailiwick, oak aged) and one rosé (Perquage). Two sparkling wines are also made using the traditional secondary fermentation in bottle method, one white from the Seyval Blanc grape (Cuvée de La Mare) and one rosé using Pinot Noir (Lillie).

In addition to vineyards there are extensive orchards where apples are grown for the production of Jersey Apple Brandy in a century old Calvados pot still on site. La Mare Estate also has a chocolate making facility and makes its own luxury hand made chocolates and truffles all of which you can see during your tour. The extensively stocked shop has a host of traditional Jersey preserves, chocolates fudge, wine, spirits and liqueurs for you to buy and take home. To help, your purchases can be delivered anywhere in the UK, for a small charge, to save you carrying them all home.

To complete your wine experience, on the day before departure we have arranged a wine tasting of French and other wines at the hotel. You will get to taste a comprehensive list of wines with a description of each and their background.

La Mare Estate La Mare Wine Bottles

The Itinerary

Day 1: On arrival you will be met at the airport and escorted to the Revere Hotel. There you will have enough time to freshen up before having a brief introduction to the island and receiving guides, maps and all the information you might need for your stay. The rest of the day will be yours to discover the island.

Day 2: In the morning a trip to La Mare Wine Estate. You will be escorted around a vineyard where the cultivation of grapes will be described. Then you will be taken to the winery and shown the wine making process and be able to taste the wine produced. Chocolate making is also on show. This is followed by lunch in the Vineyard Restaurant or on the terrace overlooking the vines. The remainder of the day is yours.

Day 3: You have the opportunity to join a bus tour of the island of Jersey and see the beauty and places of interest that this island has to offer. Alternatively, you could explore by yourself.

Day 4: The day is free for you to spend as you wish. Late afternoon, to complete your wine experience, we have a gathering at the hotel for a wine tasting of wines from neighbouring France and other countries.

Day 5: The opportunity for last minute shopping in St.Helier or sightseeing before being taken to the airport to take your flight home in the afternoon.

This wonderful wine experience is available for departure on 19th April 2012 for just £379pp or 10th May 2012 for just £399pp with B&B and includes:

4 nights accommodation at the 3* Revere Hotel in St Helier

Flights from Gatwick

Flights from regional airports available at a small supplement.
Birmingham £30pp; Exeter £15pp; Southampton £15pp;
Manchester £40pp; Stansted £25pp

Breakfast

Transfers to and from the hotel

Guided visit to La Mare Wine Estate

Lunch in the beautiful surrounds of La Mare Wine Estate

Jersey Island Tour

Wine tasting at the hotel

Escorted by a guide


Half board is available for £80pp

For more information or to book call 08444 937 919

The price advertised is per person based on 2 adults sharing. Sole occupancy is available for an additional £69.