Fabulous Ladies’ Getaway: Sparkling Tasmania

Join us on the ultimate luxury sparkling getaway to Tasmania….offering exclusive tastings, delicious surprises and fabulous dining to those who love wine and want to dig deeper.

With a focus on the incredible female winemakers of the region, we’ll take you behind closed doors and sip with some of Australia’s top women in wine.

These phenomenal ladies diaries are crammed but we are pinning them down for this weekend only.   Combined with these exclusive events, is a fabulous tasting and lunch at Josef Chromy Winery, whose restaurant is world class and whose sparklings are a must!

Get ready for personal meet-and-greets, guided tastings at amazing cellar doors, access to incredible wines from their portfolio plus tasty delights and more. And between all that wine we’ve got some glorious dining to indulge in.

You will be staying at The Verge in Launceston, where you will enjoy industrial luxe accommodation in a very central location.  And to top it off your welcome dinner is being hosted at Stillwater, THE best dining room in town.

Check out the itinerary and book in for some serious fun.  There are 12 spaces only so don’t miss out!  Jane Thomson, Founder and wine lover extraordinaire, from The Fabulous Ladies Wine Society is leading this tour so get on board!  If you have any questions please contact Andrea at Travelling Divas (the travel part of all of this gorgeousness) here!

GETTING THERE:

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

Tour Price: AUD$2,995 per person on a twin share basis. AUD$3,355  single share per person.

Tour Dates: 23 – 26 May 2024

Starts:  Launceston

Finishes:  Launceston Airport

PRICE INCLUDES:

• Fully escorted by fabulous lady of wine Jane Thomson OAM
• 3 night’s accommodation, Verge Launceston
• Breakfast daily
• All meals inclusive of wine (except breakfast….)
• Exclusive welcome dinner with at Stillwater
• Private, invitation only wine experiences, wining & dining with our fabulous Women-in-Wine
• Delectable dining
• All winery fees & extras associated with wine entry
• Private transport throughout including group airport transfers on departure

NOT INCLUDED:

Airfares and departure taxes; transfers unless stated in the itinerary; items of a personal nature; phone calls; passport and visas; laundry or tips. Personal transport; excess baggage; security and government taxes; travel insurance. Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary; additional beverages (unless specifically described). Optional excursions or activities that may be offered but are not included in the tour price. Spa treatments and any items not specified. Any changes you choose to make during your holiday.

MAY 2024*

Thursday 23: Welcome to the Launceston and the start of your sparkling delight…

Arrive into Launceston and make your way to Verge, home for the next 3 fabulous nights.

Check in, kick back, relax, maybe wander nearby.  Then time for your delightful welcome dinner, where you will enjoy a fab (and 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 to get you in the mood!

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.  Fabulous…

Then to Holm Oak and the fabulous Bec Duffy, the winemaker and co-owner at Holm Oak. Bec was 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.

This afternoon 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.

Dinner this evening is somewhere divine with wines to match.

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 & Wine Tastings

Saturday 25: fabulous wines, gorgeous dining and so much more…

Post breakfast 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 to a 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 at one of our wine partners to round out a wonderful day.

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 and time to go…..

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 & Wine Tastings

*Please note: Final Itinerary may vary as we continue to finalise times and dates.

Launceston:

Verge, Launceston

Verge: 

Referencing the precinct’s early industrial heritage, Hotel Verge’s contemporary design features spacious, well-appointed hotel rooms with an industrial luxe persona. Thoughtfully designed and tastefully equipped rooms are complimented with luxurious bathroom products, free wi-fi and movies, a fully equipped hotel gym, and free on-site parking for hotel guests (subject to availability).

Whether you wish to utilise our sleek function rooms or explore the many local attractions, our exceptional service and ideal CBD location makes us the perfect choice for the discerning traveller.

Why we like it:  Luxe Industrial meets great location – a great combination for a wine break!