Exercise plus wine - what could be better?

Let's face it. Exercise is one thing, but when it is combined with sustainability and holidays in beautiful wine countries - it hardly gets any better. 

So why not spend a break in one of Europe's many wine-growing regions, and get to know the fine wines and their region during a walk through the vineyards or a visit to the winegrower?

Germany - Moselle wine region

The Bernkasteler Doctor is the most famous wine of Bernkastel-Kues in Rhineland- Pfalz. The legend about the healing of a sick Prince by this very wine is known far beyond the town's borders. And while not as popular a story, the wine variety 'Wehlener Sonnenuhr' is the second most highly decorated hallmark of Bernkastel-Kues.

The steep vineyard site makes these vines one of the most elegant white wines around. The numerous hiking and cycling trails through the wine region and along the Moselle are part of the region's attractive leisure activities. Sights such as the ruins of Landshut Castle, the Cylinder House or the Wine Museum are also popular with visitors.

A good starting point for cycling, hiking and cultural excursions in this region is the lifestyle resort Zum Kurfürsten, located in the middle of the high plateau above Bernkastel. 

The wellness hotel with its ten saunas, three heated swimming pools and a natural bathing pond offers a variety of wines from the Moselle region. In the Bistro, the Glow Bar and the new Cook & Style Restaurant. Simple, regional and sustainable. This concept not only provides for wine from the nearby growing regions, but also includes a variety of regional suppliers for the products used in the green resort.

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Italy – The white wine paradise of Cormòns

The region around Cormòns is famous for its white wines. Cormòns is located in eastern Friuli, just before the Slovenian border, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Collio.

Today, the inhabitants of the village with its Habsburg atmosphere primarily earn their living from winegrowing, as the conditions are ideal for it. The Julian Pre-Alps protect the Collio vines from the cold winds and the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea creates a particularly mild and temperate climate.

(Pic: Nikola Radovani)

The excellent local wines can be tasted in the central Enoteca Cormòns, which stocks almost all the wines of the area. Or, of course, directly at one of the wineries. The best way to explore the region with its gentle hills, wineries, lakes and rivers is on foot or by bike. A stage of the Alpe-Adria Trail also starts in Cormòns.

For upscale accommodation, to enjoy a gourmet holiday in Friuli, La Subida Country Resort is an oasis with rustic-style cottages that combine tradition, natural luxury and modern architecture. With the charming 'Osteria de la Subida' and the Michelin award-winning 'Trattoria al Cacciatore', there are two high-quality restaurants at the country resort. An exciting mix of traditional Italian, Slovenian and Friulian dishes are served here, freshly prepared with ingredients from the region. La Subida is just a few minutes' drive from Cormòns. The hiking and cycling trails of the Collio Goriziano, with dense forests and vineyards, can be enjoyed without the need for a car journey from the resort.

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Follow the trails of grapes and wine in other parts of Europe - Liguria, Italy, Croatia, and Spain.

CLICK HERE for more details of wine-travel...