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 Gurgaon-based Destinations Unlimited, a 5-year old inbound-tour operator have forayed into a partnership with wine-specific UK based tour operator, Arblaster and Clarke, for wine experiences like luxury small ship wine cruises, wine tours, wine walks and various wine related activities, offering a single point service in India. Neeta Malik, the founding partner at Destinations Unlimited, admits that they have so far specialized as inbound tour operators bringing luxury bespoke theme tours to India, but with their passion for out of the box experiences they are expanding into the exciting world of outbound travels to wine destinations with their international operations being supported by their well experienced wine tour expert partners.
Wine Cruise 2014
For example, this year's Wine Cruise is aboard ‘Sea Cloud’, built in 1931 & refurbished in 1979 to its full glory in an original 1920s luxurious decor. This sailing yacht is one of the most beautiful ships on the seas. The cabins are designed such that you feel like you are walking into a mansion. Sailing from Venice to Athens and calling in to a couple of small ports in Croatia, Puglia, and several small harbours in Greece (including a visit to Olympia and the lovely town of Monemvasia of wine grape Malvasia fame), the cruise is slated for sail from 6 - 14 August 2014. Though there are a few places left for the late birds, it may be too late to take part in this tour. But the next year’s cruise should be within the reach of some discerning Indian HNIs, feels Neeta Malik.
Wine Cruise 2015
 The Wine Cruise will sail out of Athens for 8 days from 25 Sep - 2 Oct 2015 and will travel from Piraeus - Ikaria - Samos - Chios - Lemnos - Platamon - Skyros - Evvia (Carystos) - Piraeus.
The route takes you to many of the quieter, less visited and more out of the way Aegean islands. These include the islands that were most famous for their wine in ancient times. They are once again making very interesting wine. Samos and Lemnos both make superb sweet Moscatel wines. There is also an opportunity to taste the very best wines from Greek Macedonia. The wines from each area that you visit are served with the meals on board with commentary from the wine guide, Tim Clarke who is a partner of Arblaster and Clarke.
A lovely , special boat for a maximum of 34 passengers is being chartered making it a genuine small ship intimate cruise and completely different experience than sailing on a mega cruise ship with thousands of passengers, Tim Clarke, who I met recently in London, tells me. There is an open air dining area at the stern of the boat for alfresco dining, as well as an indoor dining room too. The meals on board will be traditional Greek fare with regional variations according to the route. For details, visit
Clarke takes pains to clarify that these tours are aimed at a small number of real wine lovers and people on the edge of the trade. The visits are mainly to the wineries that are not catering to big cruise ship tourists and offer a personal, warm and intimate experience. With an announced departure date, limited number of seats and an expert guide would attract the Indian wine connoisseurs.
For India tourists he has worked out interesting Group Wine Tours of France and Italy, covering enough diverse, good and well known wines. The tours cover more areas with a little more tourism content for these trips, he adds.
Wine Tourism Marathon
 Isn’t it going to be difficult to get people in India to spend huge amount of money on some of these exclusive cruises that may cost over Rs. 3-5 lakhs ( $5000-8200) per person? Neeta Malik, whose main business is the family export business of luxury home furnishings and fashion accessories to the top rung stores like John Lewis & Neiman- Marcus for 25 years, believes there are enough people in the luxury segment who would love these special cruises. As Tim had explained to me in London, they are not regular big cruises that have a sommelier running a wine appreciation course. They are exclusive yachts and small boats with a capacity of 20-50 passengers normally. That does increase the overall cost per person but also keeps them very exclusive. Neeta & her brother Ashutosh, also a partner in Destinations Unlimited, believe that this segment of tourism is a marathon but they are in it for the long haul and are confident to make it a success.
In fact, Tim Clarke with Lynette Arblaster, who he married later, started the business about a quarter of a century ago as a wine tour operator in a market similar to where India is today-sometimes promoting the tours at individual wine retail shops and restaurants. Today the company is a natural choice for many highly satisfied customers around, some travelling with them every year for 25 years!
The same expertise will be available to the Indian customers of Destinations Unlimited in India. The customers are welcome to join the fixed programmes starting in London or the country of visit. DU will take care of all arrangements seamlessly- including ticketing and visa requirements, if so desired. But there will be enough flexibility in most visits unless they are part of a fixed departure programme.
Alsace Reserve Collection with Steven Spurrier
Besides the exotic Wine cruises Destinations Unlimited offers several other wine experiences. One such example is the 5-day Alsace Reserve Collection with Steven Spurrier from 10 - 14 June 2014. The internationally acclaimed wine consultant will lead an outstanding small and exclusive wine tour of the Alsace. In addition to a plethora of top level visits and tastings, one can experience the best in fine dining with dinner at the 3-Michelin star Auberge de L’Ill and another Michelin starred meal during the wine tour. There will also be more traditional, rustic food as guests of the wine estates and at acclaimed bistros. The visitors will be based in two very comfortable luxury 5-star hotels the heart of the beautiful town of Colmar and in the small wine village of Illhauseren.
This is not the first trip led by Spurrier, though. For one of the earlier ones- a Master class in Burgundy, click here
World Wine Tour Experience
Over the past 27 years, Arblaster & Clarke has arranged wine or gourmet tours to around 37 countries, including France, Spain, Portugal and Italy extensively. In the New World they have visited Australia and New Zealand many times. This year’s tours which will also be available to clients of Destinations Unlimited are South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and California.
Exotic names such as ‘Aglianico del Vulture’ (Italy), ‘Priorat and Monsant’ in Cataluña (Spain), and Sancerre’s ‘Côte de Monts Damnés’ (France) are all parts of the places visited. One can look forward to stay in great Bordeaux chateaux or explore the small cellars of Champagne. The tour leaders are passionate wine experts who enjoy leading these tours. Many of them are WSET qualified and as Tim Clarke told me, one of the Masters of Wine- Beverley Blanning MW (whose book Choosing the Right Wine was reviewed by delWine in 2009) was their tour leader before she went on to finish her Master of Wine certification in the first attempt.
 The regular vineyard tours aside, there are walking tours, weekend sojourns and even the possibility of a big group exclusively for the Indian wine lovers that are possible to be arranged.
Although starting at the ground level, these tours ought to generate a significant interest in the avid travelers. Malik adds that to increase flexibility for the individual travelers and those wine lovers who want to add a side trip as a wine destination during their trips abroad, there will be ample opportunities for the clients to meet the tours at a specified point and make their own travel arrangements to reach there.
The Malik siblings have put the best foot forward to get top honours in this wine tourism marathon the further details of which are available at their website www.winetours.co.in or their partners’ site www.winetours.co.uk. You may also write to travel@winetours.co.in or travel@destinationsunlimitedindia.com for more information.
Subhash Arora |