Both Qantas and Virgin offer flights to Launceston from most capital cities (Perth & Adelaide may require a connection over Melbourne or Sydney).

PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itinerary only, and is based on the 2023 tour. It is subject to changes, omissions and additions and is being provided as a guide only. Your full itinerary will be confirmed closer to the tour date. 

THURSDAY 23: WELCOME TO THE LAUNCESTON AND THE START OF YOUR SPARKLING DELIGHT

Arrive into Launceston and make your way to Hotel Verge, home for the next three fabulous nights.

Check in, kick back, relax, maybe take a wander around nearby. Then it will be time for your delightful welcome dinner, where you will enjoy a delectable start to your gorgeous Sparkling Getaway and an introduction by Jane to the region’s exquisite offerings…

Dinner this evening is at Stillwater, recognised as one of the premier dining experiences in Tasmania, accompanied by delicious sparkling & local wines.

Overnight accommodation: Verge
Meals: Welcome Dinner

FRIDAY 24: WINE ADVENTURES GALORE, COOKING AND MORE
After breakfast this morning, you will join your fellow sparkling lovers and transfer to your first, fabulous wine day in the Tamar region.

First stop is Bay of Fires, where you will meet Hobart-born winemaker Penny Jones who not only graduated as Dux from The University of Adelaide in 2004, she then went on to complete 10 vintages with premium producer Petaluma in the Adelaide Hills, during which time she worked harvest in Oregon in 2007, as well as competed in the inaugural Ningxia Winemakers Challenge, held in China in 2012. Penny returned to her home state of Tasmania in 2013 to join the Bay of Fires winemaking team. Penny now proudly leads the team as Winemaker/Manager. She’s fabulous!

Then to Holm Oak and the fabulous Bec Duffy, winemaker and co-owner at Holm Oak.  Born on King Island, Tasmania where her parents owned a beef and sheep farm, it was her fathers’ decision to plant a trial plot of vines on their property when she was 14 that sewed the seed in her mind that winemaking would be an interesting career option – fortunately this proved correct! Bec returned to Tasmania in 2006 to take on her own venture at Holm Oak, and over the past 18 years, has continually refined her craft to make outstanding Tasmanian wine. Along with your tasting, you will enjoy a lovely light lunch here at Holm Oak to round out an already perfect morning.

Time to head back to Verge for some relaxation, and to enjoy a little lie down (or lld for short). For it is then time to head out for a Sparkling class with Jansz and a divine evening of cooking and wine at the gorgeous Hinton Bay Vineyard.

First up you’ll be hosted by Jen Doyle. As viticulturist for the prestigious Jansz Tasmania, Jen ensures only top-quality fruit goes into the winery’s premium sparkling wines. Jansz is one of Australia’s only wineries devoted solely to sparkling, and for Jen it’s been a decade-long devotion to growing grapes and crafting wines that reflect the truth of this unique wine region. Jen was also winner of Viticulturist of the Year at the Australian Women in Wine Awards in London in 2017. This afternoon learn all about this divine drop whilst looking over the Derwent before the next delightful stage of this incredible evening.

Hinton Bay Vineyard sits in one of the most exquisite locations you can imagine, and after your gorgeous Sparkling experience with Jen, it is then time to learn about the wines Jane and her husband produce, their history and best of all, how to cook something delicious for dinner this evening, led by Jane. Not only does she own this beautiful establishment with her hubby, she also runs the Hinton Bay Kitchen. You will then enjoy the fruits of your labour in their private dining room.

Back to the hotel for a great night’s sleep after a gorgeous day and to get ready for tomorrow!!

Overnight accommodation: Verge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (from cooking class) & Wine Tastings

SATURDAY 25: FABULOUS WINES, GORGEOUS DINING AND SO MUCH MORE
Today more sparkling gorgeousness as you spend time in these amazing wineries and indulge in the wine magic they create.

Post breakfast we’ll depart for a wine tasting at Tamar Ridge & Pirie Wines, owned by the Brown Family Wine Group, which is now headed up by women! The Brown Brown Family Wine Group’s female dynasty includes Eliza Brown and Angela Brown, cousins to the three sisters Katherine, Emma and Caroline Brown, as well as Cynthia Brown, another cousin who is on the board of BFW. You will be hosted through this lovely tasting – making sure your tastebuds are in good working order before heading to our next fabulous tasting and dining experience!

We then head to Josef Chromy, where exquisite sparkling wines are made and the company is headed by Shaine De Venny, a fabulous woman who has been at the helm since 2021. Shaine spent over 18 years within Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of the world’s largest luxury goods company, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) so you know that what is produced by this beautiful winery is in good hands! Once we have sampled a combination of their vintage and non-vintage sparkling it is time for a delicious 3 course lunch with accompanying wine (today is the day you will start to need stretchy pants….)

This evening a light dinner and local wines hosted by Jane and time to relax and chat about everything you have experienced ’til now!

To bed you go and tomorrow our final morning in this beautiful part of the world…

Overnight accommodation: Verge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Wine Tastings

SUNDAY 26: A MORNING OF FINAL FABULOUS WINE 
This morning indulge in a light brekky as it is then time to check out, depart and arrive at Delamere Estate for our last fabulous wine experience with Fran Austin, fabulous woman, founder, co-owner and more – she is a dynamo.

Fran is the co-owner and winemaker at Delamere Vineyards, one of the original vineyards planted in the Pipers Brook region which she and her husband acquired in 2007. Fran’s wines have been winning trophies in local and national wine shows for many years. There are currently six sparkling wines in the portfolio, and all are produced from 100% estate grown fruit and are all made on site. Fran’s interest in Champagne style wines trace back to her days studying winemaking at Adelaide University. With many years of winemaking experience in top wine regions around the world, including Burgundy, Oregon, Yarra Valley and the Adelaide Hills, Fran chose to settle in Tasmania due to the unparalleled fruit quality.

A beautiful tasting followed by a lazy brunch creates a perfect end to a great escape.

We will finish here and then transfer directly to Launceston Airport , arriving by 3 pm at the latest. So flights are safe from 3.45 onwards!

Overnight accommodation: Verge
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch / Lunch & Wine Tastings