It is a strange phenomenon regarding food and wine, that they don't seem to taste the same at home as they do when you are on holiday. Try it. Drink a nice glass of wine in France for example then try one from a bottle of the same wine when you get back to your house. Even if you leave it for a year or so to settle, it still, for some bizarre reason, doesn't taste the same.
So with that in mind and the fact that the same bottle would cost you a whole lot more to buy back in the UK there is a lot to be said for a holiday for instance in one the best wine regions of France, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (newly named), near Bordeaux, especially if you enjoy a glass of good wine.
The price difference for a bottle of wine in France compared to GB is huge and it is even more accentuated when you buy your holiday wine locally either in a supermarket or wine cooperative or even from a chateau producer. The cost of transport obviously plays a part and tax and intermediary markups do the rest. It is a strange thing that even if you have plenty of money a glass of wine does also tend to taste a whole lot better when it seems like a bargain.
There is more to it than that though, there is something about the odour of the air, the warmth of a summer evening, the sound of chirping crickets and the colours of the surrounding countryside too, especially if you are looking out over vineyards, the whole atmosphere seems to affect both the way you feel and what you taste.
Perhaps it is because you are invariably eating local produce, French cheese, in particular, ripe, creamy and smelly or peppery saucisson, or ripe olives, things which you maybe wouldn't be eating back home ordinarily.
Take the whole experience a step further. How would it be if you were staying in a chateau with your friends and family, self-catering with maybe some catering for a day or so? Sitting outside on the terrace overlooking the pool or indoors in a grand dining room with a huge fireplace.
You could spend happy days touring the beautiful countryside visiting wine domains and chateau, tasting and buying, discovering the history of the riches of the wine area, educating yourself on the fine tastes and techniques associated with an ages old tradition.
Well have a look at the Villas Worldwide / Villas du Monde chateau rent section and there is a good chance you could find one to suit your tastes.
We have made two notable additions to the chateaux rental selection recently, the BOR1301 - PROCHE BORDEAUX and BO1501 - CHATEAU COEUR DE VIGNOBLES.