Travelsphere - Wine Tours Collection

For over 60 years, Travelsphere has been at the forefront of escorted touring, building a legacy of pioneering spirit and purposeful travel. From making headlines as the first UK operator to lead tours to the People's Republic of China in 1985, to championing community tourism that creates positive impact for the places we visit and the people who call them home –we've always believed travel should mean something more.

Now, we're proud to introduce a new collection of wine tours in partnership with The Times – a collaboration that brings together two organisations united by heritage, trust, and a commitment to enriching people's lives. With over 200 years of distinguished journalism, The Times has long served as informer, entertainer, campaigner, and innovator – values that resonate deeply with our own.

These thoughtfully curated wine tours will take you to hand-selected vineyards across France, Italy, and Spain, each with a compelling story to tell. You'll discover family estates preserving centuries-old techniques, visit pioneering producers harmonising sustainable practices with modern innovation, and taste wines that capture the essence of their terroir – exactly what our travellers told us they were looking for.

Amazing Savings

Book now and you can save up to £400 per couple on selected holidays in The Times Wines Collection, but hurry –there’s a limited number of discounted places available.

Visit travelsphere.co.uk to find out more or call 01858 415085 and speak with a friendly Travel Advisor today.

Here’s what you can expect from a Travelsphere tour…

RETURN TRAVEL

On every tour, we include return flights or train travel. All tours will have a London departure, and on selected tours, you may be able to fly from your local airport. We also take care of all of your overseas transfers and transportation making sure you get safely from A to B.

HAND-PICKED ACCOMMODATION

At the end of each day, relax in the comfort of your accommodation, hand-picked by our team as the ideal fit for your stay. It might be in the perfect spot to explore more at leisure, somewhere a little indulgent or perhaps somewhere quite unique.

EXPERT HOLIDAY DIRECTORS

All of our tours are hosted by an expert Holiday Director who will be on hand to guide you through your chosen adventure, sharing insight and making sure you don’t miss any of the best sights.

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES

We do everything we can to make sure you have the holiday of a lifetime, that’s why we include so many mesmerising experiences. Uncover incredible sights, experience new cultures and taste mouth-watering cuisine.

LOCAL FLAVOURS

Indulging in local dishes is a highlight of any holiday, that’s why we make sure there are opportunities to sample authentic flavours that make your taste-buds tingle. On these tours, you’ll also sample some of the local wines.

FREEDOM & FLEXIBILITY

Our tours have been built with freedom and flexibility in mind. Whether you choose to upgrade your flight or train travel, join one of our optional excursions, spend some time making your own discoveries or perhaps simply relaxing at your hotel – the choice is yours.

GREAT TRAVELLERS

And then there’s the rest of the group - from couples and family members to friends travelling together and even a few solo travellers too, you’ll laugh together, you’ll share stories and most importantly, you’ll create incredible memories of your time away.

GUARANTEED LOYALTY

We recognise that our success comes from listening to our customers, and we’re delighted that you’ll be rewarded with a loyalty offer when you return from your Travelsphere adventure.

A Taste of Italy’s Veneto

Discover the enchanting heart of northern Italy on this week-long journey through Veneto's most captivating landscapes.

From the medieval charm of Bassano del Grappa to the floating romance of Venice, you'll explore centuries of history woven into every cobblestone street and Renaissance façade. Wind through sun-drenched vineyards along the White Wine Road dotted with family-run estates and venture to vineyards that surround the shimmering shores of Lake Garda and across the volcanic Euganean Hills.

Between tastings, lose yourself in picturesque towns like Asolo, where poets once found inspiration, and Marostica, home to its famous living chess game.

Marvel at Palladian villas that have graced this landscape for centuries, their classical proportions still taking your breath away.

What makes this journey special is the balance—guided experiences that unlock hidden stories, paired with precious free time to wander, discover a charming café, or simply sit with a glass of local wine and watch Italian life unfold.

Wines of the region

The Veneto stretches from the dramatic Dolomites down to the Adriatic coast, creating one of Italy's most gloriously diverse wine regions. This northeastern corner produces an astonishing range; from wines you'll happily enjoy on an evening to prestigious bottles saved for life's special moments.

Your holiday includes RETURN FLIGHTS + TRANSPORTATION from London and regional airports, overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

7 NIGHTS in a 4-star hotel

13 MEALS

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners and welcome drink

TRAVELSPHERE HOLIDAY DIRECTOR and Specialist Local Guide

Included highlights

• Bassano del Grappa’s historic centre & Marostica

• Grappa tasting at Poli Grappa Distillery Museum

• Perenzin cheese producers visit

• The Euganean Hills and Padua with wine tasting at Villa Sceriman

• Visit Palladian Villa Barbaro in Maser

• Wine tasting at Casa Diamante Winery

• Guided tour of Padua’s historic centre

• Wine tasting at Ugolini Winery Bardolino & Valpolicella

• Venice walking tour

• Farewell dinner at Winery Ornella Molon

Departure dates & prices

The region is famous for Prosecco, these sparkling wines sing with fresh green apple, delicate white flowers, and a vivacity that's utterly irresistible when poured in an authentic Italian setting. Then there's Valpolicella, crafted primarily from Corvina grapes that thrive in the climate. The region produces everything from light, cherry-bright Valpolicella Classico—perfect chilled on a warm afternoon, to the mighty Amarone della Valpolicella. This remarkable wine is made from grapes dried for months, creating a flavour reminiscent of dried cherries, dark chocolate, warming spice, and a richness that lingers beautifully.

Don't overlook Bardolino either, those refreshing reds from Lake Garda's shores that seem designed precisely for lakeside dining and long, leisurely lunches. Each wine reflects its corner of this magnificent region.

In 1570, Andrea Palladio described the Villa di Maser in ‘The Four Books of Architecture’. Since then, the fruits of the vine have been a central part of villa life and a source of pride for its owners. In the old farmhouse next to the stunning Villa, you’ll enjoy a guided tasting of some of the wines produced by the estate.

Flavours of Spain's Basque Country & La Rioja

Explore the captivating Basque region on this cultural and culinary tour. Starting in Bilbao, where the titanium curves of the Guggenheim Museum have redefined a city, you'll discover a land fiercely proud of its heritage and exceptionally generous in sharing it.

This is Rioja country, where winemaking is practically a religion. You'll visit prestigious bodegas where ancient stone cellars house countless barrels, the air thick with the scent of ageing wine. Between vineyards, you'll savour the Basque way of life. Wander bars lined with pintxos, those miniature culinary masterpieces that turn eating into theatre. Sample crisp Txakoli poured from dramatic heights, the traditional way. Explore medieval villages tucked into the Pyrenees, their stone buildings and narrow lanes seemingly untouched by time.

Along the way, uncover fascinating stories—from Hemingway's Pamplona to the birthplace of the Spanish language. This is Spain at its most distinctive—vibrant without being overwhelming, welcoming without being touristy, unforgettable in the best possible way.

Wines of the region

Spain's Basque Country occupies a privileged position between the Atlantic's cooling influence and the Pyrenees' protective embrace, creating conditions for wines as distinctive as the culture itself.

The undisputed star here is Txakoli (pronounced "cha-ko-lee"), a wine unlike anything else you'll taste. Slightly sparkling, bracingly acidic, wonderfully low in alcohol, it's made almost entirely from the indigenous Hondarrabi Zuri grape. It’s typically poured from shoulder height - this traditional technique aerates the wine and enhances those delicate bubbles. It's a wine designed for conviviality, for sharing, for long afternoons that stretch into evening.

overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

7 NIGHTS in a 4-star hotels

14 MEALS

7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners and welcome drink

TRAVELSPHERE HOLIDAY DIRECTOR and Specialist Local Guide Included highlights

• Guided walking tour of Bilbao including entrance to the Guggenheim Museum

• Txakoli Winery visit and tasting near Getaria

• Guided walking tour of San Sebastian

• Funicular visit to Monte Igueldo

• Hondarribia tour

• Experience the French Basque Country

• Visit Pamplona

• Wine tastings in La Rioja

• Explore Haro

• Visit Monastery of San Millan de Yuso

Just south lies Rioja Alta, perhaps Rioja's most prestigious subregion. Here, higher altitude vineyards and cooler temperatures coax remarkable elegance from Tempranillo grapes. These aren't the bold, extracted reds you might expect—instead, think finesse and complexity, bright acidity and refined tannins, flavours of red berries dancing with tobacco and vanilla from careful oak ageing.

Throughout the Basque wine tradition, one principle endures: wine exists to enhance food, to bring people together, to celebrate the region's exceptional gastronomy.

1858, the Marques de

has been an innovator and pioneer in wine production. They possess a 100% organic philosophy with the belief that respecting the environment, the fauna and the ecosystem makes the agriculture more sustainable and guarantees the quality of the wines. It’s their philosophy, vision and ambition that secured the title of ‘Best Vineyard in the World 2024’.

Savouring Bordeaux & the Dordogne

Discover the soul of southwest France through eight days where art, wine, and history intertwine beautifully. Your journey begins in Bordeaux, an elegant riverside city where 18th-century architecture glows golden in the afternoon sun, then ventures into the timeless Dordogne region, where every turn reveals another medieval village clinging to a clifftop.

These are landscapes shaped by wine. You'll visit prestigious vineyards where winemaking traditions stretch back centuries, tasting wines that have been refined across generations. But wine is only part of the story. You'll walk cobbled streets once travelled by medieval pilgrims, and visit the Lascaux Caves, hidden for over 17,000 years, and be captivated by meticulous replicas of the pre-historic paintings. Wander the Belle Époque elegance of Arcachon and lose yourself in tranquil gardens designed for contemplation.

Throughout, your Holiday Director will unlock stories you'd never discover alone. This is a journey designed for lingering, for savouring, for creating memories that will genuinely stay with you long after you return home.

Wines of the region

Bordeaux and the Dordogne form southwestern France's winemaking heartland, a landscape of elegant châteaux and historic vineyards producing some of earth's most celebrated wines, from legendary bottles to beautifully crafted everyday drinking.

Your holiday includes

RETURN FLIGHTS + TRANSPORTATION from London, overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

7 NIGHTS in 4-star hotels

11 MEALS

7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners

TRAVELSPHERE HOLIDAY DIRECTOR

Included highlights

• City tour of Bordeaux

• La Cité du Vin tour

• Explore the coastal town of Arcachon and the Dunes di Pilat

• Discover the enchanting St. Emilion and Perigueux

• Journey along the Route des Vins de Bergerac et Duras

• See the Lascaux Caves

• Sample regional wines

Optional experiences

• Hanging Gardens of Marquayssac and sightseeing cruise

Bordeaux's geography creates a fascinating split personality. The Left Bank—Médoc and Graves—belongs to Cabernet Sauvignon, producing structured, powerful reds built for ageing. Think blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, firm tannins that soften gloriously over decades. These are wines of patience and prestige. Cross the rivers to the Right Bank, and everything changes. Here, in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, Merlot reigns, creating softer, more immediately appealing wines. Voluptuous notes of plum and chocolate, rounder textures, an approachability that doesn't sacrifice complexity.

East into the Dordogne, Bergerac continues Bordeaux's traditions with similar styles but often gentler prices, producing excellent reds and whites that reward exploration. Together, these regions showcase centuries of winemaking wisdom, where tradition and terroir combine to create something genuinely special.

A Toast to France -

Champagne & Burgundy

Journey through the heart of French wine country, where the champagne cellars of Reims and Épernay give way to Troyes' medieval timber-framed beauty and Burgundy's legendary vineyard-clad slopes.

You'll descend into historic cellars where bottles age in cool darkness, learning how champagne's famous bubbles are coaxed into being through méthode champenoise, a labour-intensive traditional process that's remained essentially unchanged for centuries. In Burgundy, you'll discover why tiny parcels of land command extraordinary prices, understanding how the terroir is a genuine, tangible difference you can taste.

The châteaux you'll visit aren't museum pieces, they're working estates where winemaking families welcome you with warmth, eager to share their knowledge. Between these guided experiences, there's time to wander at your own pace. Dine in a local bistro, browse markets and connect with fellow travellers.

This eight-day adventure blends wine education with cultural discovery. You'll return home with a genuine appreciation for French hospitality that extends far beyond the glass.

Wines of the region

Champagne and Burgundy represent French winemaking at its absolute pinnacle—two legendary regions that have profoundly shaped how the world thinks about wine through centuries of tradition and extraordinary terroir.

Champagne, France's northernmost major wine region, produces the world's most celebrated sparkling wine, so iconic it lends its name to celebrations everywhere. Made primarily from three grapes - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and using the painstaking méthode champenoise, where second fermentation happens inside each individual bottle. The result is elegant wines with crisp acidity and remarkable complexity, flavours evolving from citrus and green apple through to brioche and toasted almond, synonymous worldwide with luxury and life's finest moments.

To the south lies Burgundy. This ancient winemaking region achieves the seemingly impossible - creating some of earth's most sought-after wines from just two main grapes. Pinot Noir yields reds of sublime delicacy with silky textures, flavours of red berries, earth, and spice that speak of their specific vineyard. Chardonnay transforms into exceptional whites ranging from Chablis' steely minerality to Meursault's rich, buttery opulence.

Included highlights

• Guided tour of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims

• Champagne tasting in Épernay

• Visit the medieval town Troyes

• Explore Dijon

• Tour the Château de Châteauneuf

• Mustard tasting in Beaune

• Visit Château du Clos de Vougeot and tasting

• Discover Chablis with wine tasting Optional experiences

• Hautvilliers and Champagne tasting

• Nuit St. Georges

Departure dates & prices

Château du Clos de Vougeot

In the very heart of Burgundy’s vineyards stands the Château du Clos de Vougeot. It was originally a wine farm, built in the 12th century by monks from the nearby Abbey of Cîteaux and in the 16th century, a Renaissance style château was added to the existing buildings. Even though the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot does not produce wine anymore, it stays the symbol of a millenary of Burgundy’s History.