News from 15/12/2015

Not sure which Gourmet Odyssey Wine Experience to choose? To help you select the most suitable Wine Experience for your Christmas gift, we've put together a list of the questions that we get asked the most frequently and their answers. We are also available to guide you in your choice or to give you more information over the telephone by calling us on +33 (0)1 46 27 05 92, or by sending us a message through our contact form.

Which winery should I choose?

That depends on the person you are giving the gift to. Do they prefer red or white wine or do they have a preference for a particular style? You can choose the winery based on the colour of the wine chosen, the red Wine Experience or white Wine Experience, or you can opt for a favourite region. If you are including one or more Experience Days at the winery, you might want to choose the winery based on its closeness and ease of accessibility to the recipient, but sometimes our clients choose a region that is further away so that the recipient can discover a new region. Whichever winery you choose, they are all organically certified, and the winemakers are passionate and eager to share their know-how with you. Find out more aboute our partner wineries.

Which Wine Experience Day is the best to include?

You can add one or more of three different types of Experience Days to the package chosen for your gift, either at the time of ordering or at a later date.

The Discovery Experience Day is the best day to get an introduction and overall feel to the winery. The majority of the time is spent in the vineyard participating in and learning about the vital work needed to produce the best quality grapes come harvest time.

The Harvest Experience Day is the most active of the three days, but each harvester is of course free to pick at their own pace - there's no enforced quota to pick, so each participant picks as little or as many grapes as they want! Once the grapes have been picked, the participants follow their journey into the vat and learn about the first stages of fermentation.

The Vinification Experience Day is the most technical of the days, picking up after the harvest, and explaining the work in the cellar to vinify, age and blend the wines before the wine is finally ready to be bottled. There is lots of tasting of wines that are still in the ageing process, and this day is enjoyed by even the most knowledgeable wine enthusiast, as it is an opportunity that is only very rarely accessible.

What does a typical Experience Day involve?

Each Experience Day lasts a full day from 9:30 to 16:00, the time necessary to fully immerse your recipient in the life of a winemaker. You'll spend the day with the winemaker and other key members of their team, and whichever day you are participating in, there will always being something practical to get involved with, whether it be pruning or de-budding the vines, harvesting the grapes, or tasting the wines in the cellar. Each day is valid for two people, and a sit-down lunch and wine tasting are also included in the price. For more in depth information read some of the feedback from our clients and write-ups from the days that have been posted onto our blog.

Is the wine any good?

Well we like the wines! But more seriously, the quality of the wine is one of the most important of our selection criteria. Each of the wineries chosen regularly produce wine that are featured in the leading wine guides and reviews, and they often produce award-winning wines. We have a long list of criteria, but the other most important factors in selecting our partners are that they are all organically certified and the winemakers themselves are chosen for the passion they enthuse for their profession.

Will my gift please?

During the past 6 years we have met many recipients of the Wine Experience, and the vast majority have been delighted with their gift, particularly for the originality of the experience and the opportunity to meet and discuss with the winemakers. Many of our clients come to us having had the Wine Experience recommended to them by someone close. You can find a selection of customer feedback on our site.

Can you deliver the welcome pack in time for Christmas?

Orders received Monday to Friday before 16:00 Paris time are prepared and sent by the post on the same day. Orders received during the weekend are sent on the following Monday. Standard delivery times using Colissimo are 2 working days for France and 3-4 working days for the rest of Europe. Express delivery times using Chronopost are 1 day for France and 2-3 days for the rest of Europe. The deadline for placing an order to receive the welcome pack by Christmas Day is 12:30 on the 22nd December for France and 12:30 on the 21st December for the rest of Europe. More information on Christmas deliveries.

Can you gift wrap the welcome pack?

Yes. There is a gift wrapping option available when you place an order. There is a small additional charge of € 5 as gift wrapping is done by hand. We also attach a card using a wax seal, which we can either print with your personalised message or leave blank so that you can add a hand-written message when you receive the welcome pack. The welcome pack comes as a metal box, containing a sommelier's apron, a DropStop, personalised vine adoption certificate, a brochure explaining their Wine Experience, and an access code to their Customer Portal.

Can the recipient change their Wine Experience?

Yes. All of our Wine Experiences can be changed to best suit the desires of the recipient. The winery can be changed, or the days can be changed. All you or the recipient need to do is contact us. If there is a difference in price, we'll ask for the additional amount or refund the difference. You or the recipient can also add extra days or extra bottles of wine to the package too.

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