Unmissable summer wine adventures: From vineyards to vistas

Join globetrotter Lane Nieset as she unveils the ultimate summer wine experiences, from jazz-filled nights in the Languedoc to exclusive dinners in Cognac and chic rooftop soirées in Paris.

Don’t miss our seasonal series collating luxury wine experiences taking place in the most coveted of cellars, vineyards and must-visit destinations across the globe.

At the first hint of balmy weather we’re already reaching for the rosé and discussing summer travel plans: the French Riviera! Sicily! Champagne? Mais, oui!

Now that the solstice has passed, the season is officially in full swing and it’s almost time to close our laptops until September.

Summer is certainly reason enough for celebrating, and this one is gearing up to be a winner thanks to the roster of haute happenings taking place everywhere from the coast of Sicily to river cruises in the Swiss Alps.

From an exclusive private dinner in Cognac to al fresco music festivals at wineries in the Languedoc and Champagne, here are some of the most stylish spots in Europe and beyond to raise a glass and toast to a fabulous summer.

A host of summer wine adventures listed below

Dance under the stars at winemaker Gérard Bertrand’s jazz festival in the Languedoc

One of the top summer jazz festivals in France, biodynamic pioneer Gérard Bertrand’s open-air event at flagship winery Château l’Hospitalet is bringing some of the best names on the scene for five evenings of live music, wine tastings, and grand gala dinners.

More than 20 years in the making, this summer’s edition of Jazz à l’Hospitalet takes place 15-19 July featuring headliners like French-Lebanese trumpet master Ibrahim Maalouf and iconic Scottish pop rock band Texas.

Keeping in the festive spirit, evenings are themed with playful dress codes like ‘Rouge Rock Fever’ and ‘Hippie Flower Chic’.

After an elegant dinner on the château grounds crafted by signature eatery L’Art de Vivre’s Michelin green star-awarded executive chef, Laurent Chabert, settle in for a show in the winery’s intimate courtyard before continuing the party late into the night dancing by the vines.

Soak up Eiffel Tower views at Le Jardin de Cheval Blanc Paris’s playful summer terrace

From the seventh floor terrace of Le Jardin de Cheval Blanc Paris, you’ll have a front row seat to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks – the highlight being the Eiffel Tower, of course.

Intended to be the ultimate garden party, the rooftop oasis is clad in chic cherry and sunflower-coloured furniture reminiscent of what you’d find in Provence, surrounded by blooming roses, geraniums, and hydrangeas.

Play a round of table football or Connect Four before indulging in chef William Béquin’s summer-inspired fare like a tomato tart with basil sorbet and Niçois-style stuffed vegetables.

Or, skip straight to one of pastry chef Maxime Frédéric’s decadent desserts, like his elevated spin on Italian gelato topped with fresh cherries and almonds.

Experience an exclusive cognac-paired dinner at Martell’s Château de Chanteloup

The oldest of the great cognac houses, Martell is opening the doors of the family’s former home, Château de Chanteloup, for the first time to the public with a gastronomic journey in partnership with three Michelin-starred chef Alexandre Mazzia.

Dubbed Signature Martell, the bespoke chef’s table – crafted by Madrid-based Jorge Penadès — seats just six guests and places them in prime view of the expansive kitchen.

Chef Oli Williamson and his team serve up an interactive, 20-course menu inspired by the sea designed to pair with custom Cognacs Martell cellar master Christophe Valtaud crafted exclusively for the dinner – and aren’t available outside of the gastronomic experience.

Think seaweed popcorn-crusted langoustine and red prawn with plankton marinade in tomato water followed by coffee ice cream with cardamom, crystallised tobacco leaf, and cognac milk, paired alongside chilled Martell Epilogue.

Dine Michelin & lounge seaside in Monaco at Elsa & the new Jacquemus Beach Club

After lingering over a rosé-fuelled lunch on the waterfront terrace of Elsa at Monte-Carlo Beach, where Martinique-born chef Marcel Ravin just secured a star, head down to the resort’s recently opened beach club.

Branded with Parisian label Jacquemus’s signature banana yellow, coconut milk white, and black stripes, the new collaboration extends from the pier to the private beach’s sunbeds, parasols, Pool Café, and duo of Jacquemus boutiques, where drawings on the walls are inspired by Renoir and Matisse – a nod to the French designer’s penchant for Provence.

Cruise the Tuscan coast via private yacht & go winery hopping in Maremma with LA ROQQA

Move over Amalfi — this summer, the Tuscan coast is emerging as an under-the-radar sailing hub as buzzy boutique hotel LA ROQQA, in the harbor of Porto Ercole, debuts its exclusive new yacht.

Sail to the nearby islands of Giglio and Giannutri with your own private skipper and chef for a sunset aperitif or on a fishing expedition, or set off on private tours of Maremma’s standout wineries like Monteverro, La Parrina, and Val delle Rose before lounging at the hotel’s 1960s. Dolce Vita-inspired Isolotto Beach Club — one of the sole sandy stretches in the area.

Take a wine-themed river cruise through Rhine castles and the Swiss Alps with AmaWaterways

River cruises have long been popular in winter with the Christmas markets, but this summer, AmaWaterways is capitalising on long, balmy European days that are prime for cycling through the vines on a Basel to Amsterdam trip themed Celebration of Wine.

Part of the Rhine Castles & Swiss Alps route, you’ll discover the wines of the Rheingau and more as you cruise through the UNESCO-dedicated Rhine Gorge, whose banks are flanked by 40 castles.

Along the way, hop off for vineyard visits and cellar tours in winemaking towns like Rüdesheim and gondola rides with wine tastings in between winemaker-led onboard tastings with California-based Aver Family Vineyards.

Savour sunsets in Sicily with curated experiences at Rocco Forte Private Villas

Sicily’s western coast is blanketed in ancient ruins, rose-colored salt marshes, and nearly 2,000 acres of untouched coastline that opens to rolling dunes and wild orchids.

This summer, Rocco Forte’s 20 private villas are offering bespoke itineraries designed around Sicily’s spectacular landscape and sunsets.

Take in views of the golden hue of the Trapani Salt Pans or Valley of the Temples archeological site, sampling Sicilian specialties as the sun sets over the ruins.

Discover the centuries-old salt-making tradition at the Ettore and Infersa Salt Pans before heading to the Fra Giovanni salt pans – now designed for wellness-focused experiences like floating in salt pan tanks – before a sunset aperitivo.

On Sicily’s southwestern coast, at a hillside villa draped over the Mediterranean, join Verdura Resort’s sommelier and leading champagne expert Nando Papa for a private bubbles tasting experience before an astrophysicist-guided evening of stargazing.

Sample Fukuju sake alongside fine Kobe beef at a 270-year-old Japanese brewery

One of the most lauded names in the world of sake, Fukuju is offering an immersive deep dive into the art of sake brewing at its historic brewery, Kobe Shushinkan.

Located in Kobe’s Nada district, the largest sake-producing area in Japan, the four-hour experience starts with a guided tour of the brewery and private tasting of exclusive, premium sake.

The main event, a traditional, multi-course kaiseki meal, unfolds in a historic building once part of an old sake brewery and features seasonally inspired plates designed to pair perfectly alongside the Japanese rice wine.

You’re in Kobe, whose namesake wagyu beef is among the most sought-after on the globe, and you’ll have the chance not only to taste it at the source, but to do the honours of grilling it yourself at the table.

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