Travel to the world's wine regions

A new map designed for holidaymakers who want to explore the vineyards on their travels has been put together by New Zealand winemaker Montana and Footprint books.

The map, which will shortly be followed by guidebook in the autumn, is a great way of planning a relaxing holiday that takes in some of the best wines on the planet.

From the classic Rioja of Spain to new world Chilean Cabernets, as well as more unusual wines from India and Canada, the wine travel guide comprehensively covers winemaking regions across the globe, so that making that quick detour via a vineyard is that much easier.

The guide also gives a historical perspective to winemaking countries. For instance, China's vineyards represent one of the world's fastest growing wine markets and were recently planted by the owners of the Swarovski crystal company.

Vineyard's dotted along Chile's coast sprung up after a French professor visiting the country discovered vineyards containing a type of vine called the Carmenere.

Carmenere had become virtually extinct in Bordeaux, where it was once used to produce some of the region's best red wines. Now competition from Chile is prompting the French to reintroduce the variety to their vineyards.

New Zealand, the world's biggest premium producer of sauvignon blanc has a strong presence on the winemaking map.

The vineyards begin at the north-east tip and work their way down several locations along the east coast of both islands.

In 1976 when Frank Yukich of the Montana Wine company planted the first vines in Marlborough, the region had no commercial vineyards, and wines from other areas of the country were almost unknown overseas.

Today, sales of New Zealand wines in Britain are rising far faster than those of any other countries (increasing 40 per cent last year).

However, it is the wines of neighbouring Australia that will be most familiar to holidaying Brits.

A visit to Jacob's Creek, or more precisely the Jacob's Creek visitor centre in the Barossa Valley, provides more than just great tasting wine.

The centre has a stunning and innovative design that makes it one of the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient public buildings in the world, with even the textiles of its interior design made out of recycled soft-drink bottles.

French wine may bring Bordeaux to mind, but a city break to Paris may give you the chance to witness the harvest of the city's last vineyards in October.

The guide explains: "There were once large areas of vineyards just to the south of Paris. These have all been uprooted but a few small plots of vines survive in the city, in Montmartre and next to Jacques Melac's restaurant in the 11th arrondissement."

Customers of Stanfords' travel book stores can get their free wine travel guide map from branches at Covent Garden, Bristol and Manchester. The Wine Travel Guide to the World will be available from Autumn 2006 and will be priced £19.99.
XXX