This little village at the foot of Mount Saint Odile well deserves its ranking among the Most Beautiful Villages in France. Flower-decked Renaissance buildings made of local sandstone stand in the town center and half-timbered houses climb into the surrounding hills. Stop at the charming town hall to see a fine exhibit about the area’s vineyards and wine. Vines have grown in...

This is a relatively large village along the Wine Road, and not as pedestrian friendly as nearby Riquewihr and Hunawihr. One of the best ways to get oriented to the area is on a tour aboard the Little Train. It runs daily May-September from the Tourism Office on Grand Rue and covers old town, the vineyards, and Hunawihr. On your...

This little village south of Colmar is known for its excellent vineyards, which benefit from the shelter of the Vosges Mountains to the west. Among its interesting tourist sites is the Witches’ Tower, which was utilized up until the 18th century to incarcerate women accused of witchcraft. Find this designated historical monument on Place de la République. Other historical old structures...

Dozens of small towns and more than 1,000 wine producers (including 51 Grand Cru vineyards) are linked along an itinerary known as Route des Vins  d’Alsace. Some of the towns also are on other mapped routes, such as the Route Romane (Romanesque Road) and Route des Cretes (Crest Road). You can travel the wine road north to south, but the southern end is somewhat more...

The small village of Thann marks the southern end of the Alsatian Wine Route. It is surrounded by vineyards and tucked below the Vosges Mountains. It makes a fine starting point for drives along the Route des Cretes (Crest Road) as well as the Route des Vins (Wine Road). The dominating feature of the town is the Gothic Collegiate Church Saint-Thiébaut, with...

Among the wine-route towns, this one is particularly interesting for visitors. Stop at the office of tourism on the town square. It’s in the pink building near the fountain watched over by the Virgin Mary. The office is well stocked with maps and brochures in English, and the staff will be able to tell you about special events in the...

ScheduleScheduleScheduleScheduleOverlooking the Singelgracht, the Heineken Experience is housed in the former company headquarters (1864-1988). Inside a self-guided multimedia tour will take you through the brand of Heineken, from advertising campaigns to beer-making, before depositing you in a strategically placed gift shop. There are some interesting things to see, including the draught horses in their original stables and the copper vats,...

Wine, vino, is produced in every region of Italy and is commonly served at lunch and dinner. By ordering the house wine, vino della casa, when you eat out you’ll get a taste of local wine for less than you’d spend on a bottle. Some wineries are open for wine tasting but many offer tasting only by appointment. Many wine...

The biggest and smartest Speyside distillery, Glenfiddich, is known for its eye-catching triangular bottles. Unusually the bottling is done on the premises, as the tours show. These tours also include a taste of the light, sweet single malt. An added attraction is an artist in residence and gallery of local art. And a good restaurant.

After becoming the first Scottish distillery to register itself in 1824, The Glenlivet quickly became a global brand and has remained so ever since. The whisky’s floral, fragrant, medium-bodied nature has made it particularly successful in North America, and over the years its been bought up by major concerns. It’s now owned by Pernod Ricard. In contrast to their aging...

Pronounced “lafroyg”, Laphroaig has such a smokey and peaty flavour that it’s one of the most recognizable whiskies of all – even for novices. Find out what provides this flavour on cheerful and highly-rated tours at its attractive distillery on a coastal spot on the isle of Islay. The basic tours (10am & 2pm but times vary) cover the whole...

This classy Speyside brand, aged in sherry casks to provide a rich colour and flavour, is highly rated by connoisseurs. It’s mid-range Macallan 12 is often considered a leader in its class that’s able to compete with the flavour of much older whiskies. The modern visitor centre comes with push-button technology and a good shop. It’s also possible to get...

The Oban whisky distillery offers a better tour than most by not only narrating and illustrating the whole process, but also supplying tasting samples of the spirit at its different evolutionary stages. The ticket price also includes a whisky glass and a small discount voucher.

Distilling since 1830, Talisker has a superb location overlooking the sea and the Cuillins and offers cheerful and informative tours of its equally impressive operation. Tours last about 45 minutes and advance booking is recommended in summer – or you might have to wait to get on a tour. The adult admission charge includes a voucher for the distillery shop.

Book in advance for exceptional small group tours of the Balvenie Distillery. They’re expensive, but take 90mins, are extremely personal and include five different drams and some local shortbread. The on-site cooperage is worth the tour all on it’s own, and there’s also a chance to bottle your own Balvenie for another £25.

Scots probably invented whisky, but they were certainly among its earliest distillers and soon became experts. Today, taking a distillery tour is pretty much a right-of-passage for visitors to Scotland and the Scottish Whisky Association publishes a handy leaflet detailing the forty-or-so possibilities. Find it at most tourist info centres and online. A Quick History Scottish distilling probably started in...

A new housing development is eating up the farmland that once surrounded this stylish, out-in-the-sticks brewpub, but once you enter, the outside world is left far behind. There are a few tables inside by the stainless steel brew tanks, but most is outside under a massive retractable awning and close to the kids’ play area. For a decade Hallertau have...

You can’t get a much better taste of Vermont than at Citizen Cider, which uses 100% locally sourced apples to make its hard cider.  The tasting room on Pine Street has a friendly vibe, and you often end up chatting with your neighbors at one of the long bench tables. Or you can grab a high-top table on the outside...

Folino’s wood-fired pizza in Shelburne makes a great stop for lunch, especially if you’re planning a visit to the nearby Shelburne Farms or Shelburne Museum.  The restaurant is BYOB, but don’t worry if you’ve forgotten to pick up a drink before stopping by – Folino’s shares its building with Fiddlehead Brewing Company. So stop by the brewery first and pick...

One of the nicer – if not the nicest – hotels in Burlington, Hotel Vermont is set on a quiet side street near downtown, within easy walking distance of the waterfront and Church Street. As the name implies, the hotel’s focus is on all things Vermont. They offer several different packages depending on the season, including a ‘maple madness’ package,...