Give The Gift Of Travel: '12 Trips Of Christmas'
Hoping to find an extravagant last-minute gift for your food- and wine-loving friend (or even yourself)? The Sonoma County-based culinary travel company Food & Wine Trails is offering 12 exclusive food- and wine-focused vacation packages as gift-giving ideas. Each of the "12 Trips of Christmas" include culinary activities or some special amenities, such as a free wine tour, cash to spend on culinary shore tours, a private car and driver excursion, or even a free night at a hotel.
"Each experience is unique: you could take a private cooking class with a local chef, dine on food prepared by Michelin-starred chefs, have a guided tour and tasting at the region's best wine estates... the possibilities are endless," says Food & Wine Trails president Larry Martin.
The "12 Trips of Christmas" list features both cruise and land tours in locations all over the world, from London to China.
Here are the "12 Trips of Christmas":
ONE: A 12-night New Zealand wine cruise hosted by three top Oregon wineries with airfare, complimentary gratuities, and a $100 shipboard credit.
TWO: A seven-night cruise on Portugal's Douro River with a $400 shipboard credit.
THREE: TA nine-night "Flavors of Italy" land tour with first-class hotel accommodations.
FOUR: A 14-night trans-Atlantic "Golf, Wine, & Food" theme cruise from London to Boston with $500 shore excursion credit .
FIVE: A 10-night F&WT's president's cruise with winery host Rochioli Vineyards with up to $440 in free benefits.
SIX: Five-night biking tour through Northern California wine country on custom titanium bikes.
SEVEN: Eight-night Southern Spain cruise with daily wine tastings and two free wine tours.
EIGHT: Six-night land tour discovering the delicacies of the Spanish region of Andalusia that includes wine with meals and a hands-on cooking class.
NINE: Seven-night Bordeaux wine cruise hosted by a Napa Valley's Conn Valley Vineyards with up to $308 in free benefits.
TEN: Travel package to 2014 Hawaii Food & Wine Festival with free hotel nights.
ELEVEN: An 11-night South African winelands tour with special visits to former homes of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.
TWELVE: Ten-night "Pearls of China" wine-themed cruise with free private car and driver shore tour.
Details and further information about the "12 Trips of Christmas," can be found on the Food & Wine Trails' website.
For more holiday cheer, visit The Daily Meal's Ultimate guide to Christmas!