Hotels Among the Vines: Great Vineyard Tours – A Blog for From the Grapevine

Have you ever read a wine label, noted its far-flung origins and been seized by wanderlust? Then you might want to consider visiting a vineyard resort. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of them from which to choose.

This is something that we highlighted in our most recent travel blog article for From the Grapevine. We wandered off the beaten track and into a host of fantastic vineyard resorts that combine lip-smacking wine with spectacular destinations. Among the lesser-known wine hotspots were a New York vineyard with a delicious range of pinot blancs and a chateau in Galilee with a wine list boasting the best in regional vintages. We also looked at vineyard resorts in better-known wine regions, such as a hotel in Mendoza, Argentina with beautiful wine-themed rooms, a complementary tasting and its own personal vineyard. And then, of course, we couldn’t miss the luxurious lodge in Matakana, New Zealand, which offers a wonderful vineyard along with majestic views across the mighty Pacific.

If our summary of the blog has tickled your oenophilic tastebuds, then simply scroll down for our pick of the five best vineyard resorts in the world. They all combine fine wine, great accommodation and breathtaking scenery…

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A Travel Startup That Helps You Give Back – A Blog for From the Grapevine

Over the past few years, a crop of travel startups, including the likes of Aribnb and TripIt, have transformed the travel industry. They’ve been breaking the mould of what’s gone before with new and innovative ideas, some of which have changed the way we travel.

In our latest article for From the Grapevine, we took a closer look at a brand spanking new travel startup – an exciting New York-based venture called Visit.org. Visit.org is an online marketplace for socially responsible travel activities. The tours they offer are global in scope, covering destinations from the Philippines to Peru, Senegal to Tanzania, and many more besides. Working with nonprofits and community organisations, Visit.org offers a way for tourists and travellers to engage in responsible and ethical tourism. Want to learn more about what they do? Scroll down to read an excerpt from our interview, which features insights from Visit.org co-founder Michal Alter.

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From the Grapevine: Dead Sea Rave

Last week, while 20,000 ravers were getting their groove on, we were busy writing about it.  We produced our first travel article for Israeli-focused website, From the Grapevine. Our piece zeroed in on one of the biggest music events in the Israeli calendar, the -424 Dead Sea Rave. Never heard of it? You soon will.

It’s a huge 12-hour electronic dance music event that takes place in a secluded desert site in eastern Israel. The bad news is, you’ve already missed it, as it took place on Thursday October 23 (don’t worry, there’s always next year!) More than 20,000 ravers turned out for the occasion and it was headlined by a shedload of EDM DJ superstars, including Paul Oakenfold, Deep Dish and Dash Berlin. Not only was the lineup pretty spectacular, but the setting for the rave was too. It took place in the Judean Desert at the foot of Mount Masada. This spot also happens to be the lowest point of land on earth at 424 metres below sea level, which explains the event name.

In the build up to the rave, we caught up with the event promoter and some of the up-and-coming Israeli DJs who were scheduled to perform to hear a little more about it. The article appeared on the From the Grapevine website here, but you can also read it in full below…

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