SmoothRed

The best way to explore Italy, without a car 🚂

Spend a week travelling through two of Italy's most iconic w**e regions, with no need for a rental car. Sit back and relax with private transfers and scenic rail travel, visiting a selection of boutique and prestigious w**e estates along the way.

Swipe to discover our Italy itinerary by train, through Piedmont and Tuscany.

Highlights include:

— Barolo and Barbaresco w**e tours in Piedmont
— Vineyard picnics and w**e tastings
— A scenic train journey through the Piedmontese countryside to Tuscany
— W**e tours in the iconic region of Chianti
— A food tour of Florence

Save this Italian rail itinerary for your trip 🍷

It’s officially autumn, so we’re trading our rosés for reds 🍷
 
For this month’s edition of By the Glass, we asked our team for some favourite Pinot Noirs from around the world.
 
With its earthy aromas, subtle spice, bright acidity and silky tannins, Pinot Noir is the perfect seasonal transition w**e. Elegant, versatile and effortlessly food-friendly, it’s right at home alongside roast poultry, wild mushrooms and comforting autumn stews.
 
Are you reaching for reds, too? We would love to know what’s in your glass this season. Let us know in the comments below 👇
 
And if you’re dreaming of your next w**e adventure, we’re always here to help make it happen.
 
**eTours

The best places to truffle hunt, beyond the classics 🍄

Tuscany and Piedmont stand out as the most popular truffle hunting spots, but did you know you can also truffle hunt in the UK and Spain?

With truffle hunting season in full swing across the UK & Europe, we've been thinking about some lesser-known places to truffle hunt.

Guided autumn and winter foraging experiences take place in the chalk-dappled woodlands of Southern England, while prized black winter truffles are also found in the pre-Pyrenees and Girona forests between December and March.

Swipe to find out our favourite truffle hunting hidden gems, the perfect addition to any autumn or winter w**e trip 🍷

Have you been truffle hunting? If so, let us know where in the comments ✨

**eTours

We are proud to have helped raise over £117,000 for Cure Parkinson's 🧡💙

Last week, the charity hosted an exclusive black-tie dinner for their Grand Cru.Saders, a group of philanthropic w**e lovers passionate about raising funds to support Parkinson's research.

SmoothRed Founder and CEO Adam was joined by our Travel Design Manager Chris at the event, held at the historic Apothecaries' Hall in the heart of the City of London. The evening was carefully curated with fabulous food, fine w**e and stories shared by those affected by Parkinson's, as well as both live and silent auctions of rare vintages and exclusive experiences.

The w**e pairings at dinner included:

- Puligny Montrachet Les Champs Gain 2022, Côte de Beaune supplied by Corney & Barrow
- Ornellaia 2010 & 2011
- Klein Constantia Vin De Constance 2011
- Churchill's Vintage Port 1999

We were delighted to donate an auction prize of a two-night trip to Bordeaux, working with Chateau Troplong Mondot, and other Cru Classé Chateaux.

Thank you to Cure Parkinson's and Grand Cru.Saders founders Barry O'Brien, Malcolm Le May and William Cook for including SmoothRed in this wonderful evening in support of an amazing cause.

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Share this with the friend who always knows the best spot for a glass 🍷

You may not know this, but science suggests that context can influence the way we experience w**e.
 
So, if you think w**e tastes better by the sea, overlooking a vineyard, or surrounded by good company, you’re not alone. It’s no wonder that w**e and travel pair so well.

We asked our team where they love enjoying a glass of w**e most, and where they think it tastes best. Swipe through to see their answers…
 
Tell us: where does w**e taste best for you? 🍇
 
**eLovers **eTasting **eTravel **eTours

Join the celebration at Rioja's W**e Harvest Festival 🍷

As Rioja's vineyards begin to glow with autumnal shades of red, gold and amber, harvest season is in full swing, bringing with it the return of the Rioja W**e Harvest Festival in Logroño from 19th to 25th September 2026.

For w**e lovers, this is your invitation to experience one of Spain's most iconic w**e celebrations, where Rioja's world-renowned w**emaking heritage takes centre stage.

Known locally as the Fiestas de San Mateo, the city comes alive with colourful parades, traditional music, street performances, w**e tastings and exceptional local gastronomy, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for both residents and visitors.

One of the festival's most cherished traditions is the grape-treading ceremony, where freshly harvested grapes are crushed and the first must is offered in a symbolic act of thanksgiving for the harvest.

Save this for your next trip to Rioja 🍇

**e **eTravel

📸 Slide 1: Arizcuren Bodega & Viñedos, Rioja

Boring team meetings? Never heard of them🍷
 
Each month at SmoothRed, we gather as a team to discuss new ideas, celebrate our successes and yes — taste some great w**e from the destinations we work in.
 
Our team tastings are led by our passionate colleagues or industry experts, helping us to explore new w**e styles in a casual (and delicious) format. 
 
This month our Marketing Manager Mackenzie took us through a series of four English w**es following a press trip she hosted through Essex, Kent and Sussex last month. Paired with some great British cheese and charcuterie, the w**es we tried were:

— Walgate Sparkling Rosé 2022
— Artelium W**e Estate Pinot Gris 2023
— Marbury W**es Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both 2024

Being London-based, this was a fun and insightful way to sample some w**es from our own part of the world!
 
Do you have a favourite English w**e? Let us know below 👇
 
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