A wine cellar at Georges Blanc in Vonnas, France. The village is a four-hour drive from Paris or Zurich. Photo / Getty Images
A wine cellar at Georges Blanc in Vonnas, France. The village is a four-hour drive from Paris or Zurich. Photo / Getty Images
Hermann Freidanck, Singapore Airlines' food and beverage boss, shares his top travel tips for wine lovers.
What is the best wine region to visit?
All the major wine regions offer something unique that could be considered "best" in their own way.
Those who enjoy history, great scenery and amazing wines should start in Frankfurt; hire a car and drive along the Rhine River, stopping at the Mosel.
This area is made up of a number of little wine villages with some beautiful and famous castles. As you move south, you can taste the different characteristics of German rieslings before stopping in Baden-Baden to try your luck in the famous casino.
For great scenery and amazing wines, head to the Mosel in Germany. Photo / Getty Images
Alternatively, Burgundy provides a real sense of the business behind wine making. The royalty of pinot noirs live here and this is also the birthplace of chardonnay in the new world. As you explore the area, you'll see that the production is small, but the quality and status is exceptional, which is why they're so popular with our customers.
What is the most surprising wine to try while you're there?
One of the founding members of our international culinary panel, Georges Blanc, has a beautiful restaurant and vineyards in the village of Vonnas, Macon, which is a four-hour drive from Paris or Zurich.
Head to his vineyard and try one of his home-made wines. One of the unique things about his vineyard is that when he started building the winery, they discovered remnants of an old Roman settlement that can still be seen encased in glass in the centre of the building where he makes his wine.
Vineyards at sunset in the Rhone Alpes, France. Photo / Getty Images
Aside from the wine, what else is there to do there?
In Burgundy, you can stroll through the most amazing farmers' markets where you'll also be able to try a saucisson sec, which will allow you to taste the difference between towns.
In Rhine, it's a must to explore the castles. I had the most amazing experience when I was a knight for a night in a Rhine castle where I enjoyed a medieval dinner with my wife, or as they referred to her, "my young maiden", in the castle's ritter halle.
What is your favourite restaurant in the area?
The village has many attractions, but my favourite is Georges' very own 3 Michelin Star restaurant where you can enjoy a wonderful meal.
Georges Blanc restaurant in Vonnas, France. Photo / Getty Images
What is your best travel tip for selecting a wine in-flight?
I have always said that it is important to drink quality, not quantity, which is why we only select the very best wines to serve to our customers on board our flights.
• Winetopia, presented by Singapore Airlines, is the biggest public wine-tasting event in New Zealand, giving Kiwis the opportunity to get under the skin of their national grape scene and discover the colourful personalities that have made this country's wine their life's work. Winetopia is in Auckland, at Shed 10, this Friday and Saturday.
