Bon Appetit Recommended: Countryside Drive & Wine Tasting

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

While Corsica may be most famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, further exploration reveals that this breathtaking Mediterranean island also offers the world its own unique fine sweets, wines, and fragrances.

Embark on a behind-the-scenes exploration of a nougat factory, an essential oil factory and a vineyard during this four-hour, guided excursion. Board your air-conditioned motorcoach at the pier and set out from your lovely port city of Ajaccio.

Look out your window and watch the feilds for macchia, a mixture of evergreen herbs comprised of rock rose, Corsican mint, and myrtle that cover the rolling hillsides. So fragrant is this chaparral that Napoleon is said to have been able to recognize "his" island with his nose.

In fact, this macchia is an important element in your visit to the Bastelicaccia Essential Oil factory -one of your stops. As you tour the factory, you will watch and learn how locals extract the very essence of the native flowers and herbs to create some of the loveliest and most aromatic scents imaginable. These distilled oils are used in many well-known perfumes world-wide, as well as in cosmetics for their "medicinal" qualities. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy the various scents and even shop for products made from them in the gift shop. Since smell is one of the richest memory-triggers, if you take home a sample, you will be bringing home memories in a bottle.

But lovely fragrances aren't all the island has to offer the senses. Just outside Ajaccio you'll visit a family-run Nougat Fabric Factory. Typically made from honey and nuts or chocolate, liqueurs and chestnuts, this mouth-watering confection is renowned throughout the Mediterranean. A guide will walk you through the subtle production process of this Corsican delight. Give in to temptation as you'll be invited to sample the finished product--a treat for the taste buds! Should you want to bring some home as gifts for friends (or let's admit it, yourself!) you'll have the opportunity to browse the shop there to make your purchases.

You'll also have the pleasure of visiting one of Corsica's many fine vineyards. With the island's ideal climate marked by plenty of sunshine, low rainfall, and fresh sea and mountain breezes, it is not a surprise that vineyards have been producing wine here since 564 B.C. when Phoenicians arrived. Today, there are eight different regions of wine makers and almost 25,000 acres of vines under cultivation throughout the island.

As you tour the vineyard, you'll learn about the process of wine-making, visit the wine cellar and even indulge in a tasting of some of the finest local vintages. Perfect for the wine connoisseur or for those who simply enjoy a fine glass of wine.

Special Notes:

There is a steep incline to get to the Essential Oil Distillery.

Passengers under 18 years old will not be served alcohol at the wine tasting.

Order of the visits may vary from one group to the other.