Page 13 - Taste_and_Travel_International

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Le Boat, Europe’s largest operator of self-drive boating, has
identified five must-see European destinations for wine lovers
to tour and raise a glass, while cruising on a private vessel.
In the South of France, oenophiles can uncover the country’s
beauty while cruising along the historic Canal du Midi, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and visiting Languedoc, one of
the country’s finest wine regions. Most of the vineyards border
the canal itself, making it easy to pull up and sample wine
straight on the water. Along the way, travellers can make a pit
stop at one of the many medieval villages and ancient fortress
cities, like the La Cité, one of the best-preserved medieval
castles in Europe. Once done exploring for the day, they can sit
back and enjoy a perfect bottle onboard while overlooking the
tranquil French landscape. Le Boat also offers wine-focused
cruises in Burgundy, France, Potsdam in Northern Germany,
Flanders in Belgium and the Veneto in Italy.
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Looking for a unique travel experience? Vilnius in Love, a
tour company specializing in unique, personalized custom !/(%!ƫ /0 0!ƫ
excursions, is now offering opportunities to dance, drink and %*ƫ .!( *
sleep in Lithuania’s former air raid shelters. During the Cold
Raise a glass
War, nearly 1,000 of these secret bunkers were constructed,
to Castle
complete with hermetically sealable doors, water and air
Leslie Estate,
supply and filtering systems, for population protection. While
a Castle Hotel
the majority of shelters are now abandoned, some have been
in Monaghan
reimagined as museums, hotels, bars and nightclubs. One of
that scooped
the most unique is Alaus Namai, a former bunker that has been CASTLE LESLIE ESTATE
the People’s
repurposed to serve as a brewpub serving traditional Lithuanian
Choice Award
beer. Another, the Club
for Ireland’s
Cuba is now a dance club
Favourite Place to Stay at the 2017 Hotel & Catering Review Gold
with its secret hiding
Medal Awards. In addition to the castle’s colourful past, the odd secret
rooms and air filters
passage or two and a guest list that includes Sir Paul McCartney
integrated into its decor
(who married second wife, Heather Mills here), Castle Leslie Estate
while the “KGB Bunker”
located in Kaunas under is known for its fine-dining restaurant, Snaffles, a spacious brasserie
a former factory, has with a wood-burning stone oven, a hand-carved ceiling and a newly
been transformed into a expanded gin menu that lists more than 80 gins. One to try? Bertha’s
museum housing a large Revenge, a small batch Irish milk gin made with 18 different botanicals
collection of KGB spy such as sweet woodruff, cardamom and cumin. Guests can also warm
technology. up with Castle Leslie Estate’s Winter Nights Promotion featuring a full
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VILNIUS IN LOVE

MICHELE PETERSON is an award-winning food and travel writer who divides her time between Mexico and Canada.
She can be reached via www.michelepeterson.com

JANUARY–MARCH 20185 TASTE;5TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL 11