Thursday, December 22, 2016

End of year message for travelers - Happy Holidays!

Dear friends,

As 2016 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the ups and downs in my personal life as well as those in communities around the world. We live in an interconnected global space, and we cannot separate ourselves from the events, successes, and pains of our fellow humans and the environment in which we live. It has been a rocky year, but I choose to focus on the positives.

It has been my absolute pleasure to work with countless couples and friend and family groups on their major milestone vacations. I have helped plan and share the joy in numerous destination weddings, vow renewals, honeymoons, anniversaries, and birthday trips. I have influenced many excellent people in expanding their horizons as they visit and explore different cultures, languages, and landscapes from the Caribbean to Italy to Argentina to Australia to Hawaii to Spain and beyond.

Furthermore, it has been a great privilege to travel, learn, and make wonderful memories with my own family and friends to some stunning destinations in Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast & Capri, Cancun, NYC, and around our lovely newly adopted home of Switzerland. I love sharing photos from my and my clients' trips on Facebook and Instagram, so I hope you have been following us and liking our pictures! Nothing makes me happier than sharing this beautiful and fascinating world in which we live with all of you.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support in 2016, and I look forward to hearing from you when you're ready to plan your next adventure!

Because we respect your diversity in culture and faith, we wish you "Happy Holidays" and a prosperous 2017!

Warmest regards,
Ashley


Treasure Travel, LLC
www.trytreasuretravel.com
ashley@trytreasuretravel.com


Monday, May 2, 2016

Catalunya, Spain - Wine Tourism Events at #IWINETC 2016

As specialists in wine tourism, it seemed like attending the International Wine Tourism Conference (#IWINETC) in Catalunya (Catalonia), Spain in April would be great way to network with and learn from the dynamic people in this industry. As expected it was truly a remarkable experience, and we look forward to attending next year's event in Sicily!

The main three days of the conference sessions took place at the Barcelona Golf and Spa Resort just outside of the city. Our hotel had beautiful views overlooking Montserrat and the golf course.


View from Barcelona Golf and Spa Resort

Golf Course Catalunya


We were able to take wonderful advantage of the fact were were positioned in the middle of cava country. On the first day, some of us broke up into groups that each visited a different cava producer. I attended a tour of Codorniu, and had an opportunity to sample some fantastic bubbles and view their exceptional representation of modernist architecture.


Codorniu Cava Producer



Modernist Architecture at Codorniu 












Taking the "train" through the cellars







Tasting delicious cavas!






Days 2 and 3 were comprised of so many wonderful presentations and workshops on topics such as SEO Masterclass for the Wine Tourism Industry, Wine Pairing with Flowers, How to Improve Experinces at a Winery Visit, and country-specific wine destinations such as Greece, Bulgaria, and Hungary. One of the highlights was the Grand Cava Tasting event in which 8 fantastic cavas were poured.







In the evenings, we had the most wonderful gala dinners at Freixenet and Torres where the incredibly prepared 5 course meals were paired perfectly with their cava, wine, and brandy offerings.



Freixenet Tour and Gala Dinner



Wearing wine on a necklace at Freixenet



Cava & Tapas tasting room at Freixenet

Menu & Pairing at Freixenet Gala Dinner




Torres Winery Tour & Gala Dinner



Torres


Tasting at Torres




Torres Winery Gala Dinner



Lunchtime and session breaks provided opportunities to taste and talk with other wine producers. One of my absolute favorite discoveries were the unique wines from Bodega SOMMOS in the Catalunya region. 


Sommos Wines


Grand Cava Tasting

Excellent wines from Hungary

When the conference came to a close, many participants split into groups of 10-15 guests where we ventured out on a 3-day familiarization trip around the region which were hosted by the Catalunya Tourist Board.

Our "fam" trip brought us on adventures through Terres de l’Ebre (DO Terra Alta) and Costa Daurada (DO Montsant/DOQ Priorat/DO Tarragona). We had some of the most amazing wines and cuisine, saw some spectacular scenery, visited delightful small villages, toured architecturally significant wineries, and attended an olive oil tasting presentation. 













"Cathedral of Wine"


Olive Oil Tasting



One of the most significant events was the mountain biking through some gorgeous countryside, ending at a beautiful creek between some craggy cliffs with yet another wine tasting!









After our wild biking adventure, we were surprised with an exceptional stroll (hike) through a beautiful vineyard in Priorat -- famous for their incredible wine offerings. Our reward after a hard day? Stunning views, delicious cava, and fresh strawberries.








The fantastic limestone soil which helps build the special terroir of this region


A lovely village with less than 50 residents, Siurana was perhaps my favorite part of this tour. Perched on top of a cliff, it is a haven for cyclists and mountain climbers. The vista and history make it a worthwhile stop on a visit to Catalunya.

Siurana, Spain










View of the river from the castle ruins in Siurana

Dessert art creation at the table



A few more pics from some other sites and winery visits.