FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: wine travel

  • Stay at The Kirche – Unusual Church Accommodation at Barossa Valley Winery

    After sipping on the big earthy shirazes of Australia’s Barossa Valley, you might feel a little closer to God. But the wines aren’t the only heavenly aspect of a South Australian stay.

    The area is also home to The Kirche, a former Lutheran church now restored for weary travelers at Charles Melton Wines. The Kirche can comfortably sleep four with one queens-sized bedroom by the entrance and a king-sized one above it. Each has luxury 1000 thread count linens to ensure that perfect night’s sleep. The old church pews are gone, replaced with comfortable sofas. With winter weather upon us, sinking down in one of these plush chairs as you glory in the big wood fire is an enticing prospect. It's just one of the luxuries afforded here. The lounge also has a big screen television, a DVD player, and high-speed internet. The high-tech bathroom has a shower and luxurious full size bath which overlooks the vineyards. It's also heated underneath the floor, so you need never worry about freezing your toes on a chilly morning. [caption id="attachment_3860" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A Barossa Valley vineyard"]A Barossa Valley vineyard[/caption] While the Barossa has more than its fair share of fine restaurants, the gourmet kitchen makes staying in a tempting proposition. It's got a coffee machine, a massive oven with hot plates, a double fridge with ice dispensers, and an enormous breakfast bar for enjoying your home-cooked tucker. The kitchen is also well-stocked, with local bacons, breads, jams, and yoghurts for your morning meal and a bottle of Charles Melton wine and a platter of cheese to enjoy on your arrival. But the church's heritage hasn't been lost entirely. Its colorful stained glassed windows are a quaint reminder that this was formerly a place of worship. At $395 for one couple, and $515 for two, a night at The Kirche isn't cheap. But this luxurious and quirky accommodation makes an excellent base for travelers who want to experience all the beautiful Barossa has to offer.

  • Wine Travel Tips – How to Transport Wine from Australia and New Zealand

    The wonderful wineries of Australia and New Zealand are a must see for any tourist traveling to the Southern Hemisphere.

    Most tourists will want to take a bottle or two home as a souvenir of their stay, but it can be confusing to know how to transport this precious cargo. By following these simple tips, you can guarantee that your wine will arrive home in the same condition it left the vineyard. If you're traveling in a hire car, the natural instinct of most drivers is to store the wine in the trunk. However, this area of the car can get very hot and cause the wine to spoil. A much better option is to keep the wine inside the car for the air conditioning to cool it. Just as you shouldn't store wine in the boot, you shouldn't store wine in the sun. Wine left in a parked car will also become overheated, so once your day of wine tasting is done make sure you take your purchases into your hotel. Ideally your wine should not roll about your vehicle. This movement can interfere with the natural aging process. If buying a small quantity of wine, ask the winemaker whether he can spare a box. This will generally have partitions inside so bottles sit securely and do not clink together. As you visit other wineries, you can then put your new purchases inside the same box. If your car isn't full, you could even secure the box in place with a seatbelt. While it's tempting to toast to your return home, it's much better to wait. Just as we suffer jet lag, wine experiences a kind of travel "bottle shock." It will taste much better once it's had a few days to recover.