Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) is one of my favourite cities in the world to visit. My best friend lives there so that’s always a great reason to visit. However, the city’s stunning natural surroundings, glitzy skyline, leafy neighbourhoods and vibrant food and craft beer scene are equally good reasons for me to keep going back. […]
An afternoon at La Motte
La Motte is one of the finest wine estates in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. Situated in the Franschhoek Valley, near the town of Franschhoek (map), against the imposing backdrop of the Wemmershoek mountains, the La Motte wine estate can trace its roots back to the 17th century. These days, La Motte is famous […]
A culinary getaway from Amsterdam
Vreeland (map) is a small village about a 20-minute drive southeast of Amsterdam. Situated on both banks of the Vecht River (a branch of the Rhine River), the village is picture-perfect, quintessential Dutch, with a scattering of grand manors and rows of quaint houses with their typical Dutch gables. The Vecht River is, in my […]
The ultimate Euro food trip!
Costa Brava (Catalonia, Spain) and Emilia Romagna (Italy) are two of my favourite regions in Europe as they offer all the elements of a perfect Velvet Escape – think romantic medieval towns, gorgeous hotels, colourful markets, beautiful nature, history, art, beaches and last but certainly not least, some of the most divine food and wines […]
A gorgeous wine region you should know about
I’ve visited many wine regions around the world, from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia to Stellenbosch in South Africa, and Tuscany in Italy to the Napa Valley in California. One wine region I recently visited turned out to be a wonderful surprise: South Styria in the southeastern corner of Austria, about a two-hour drive […]
Discovering the South Styrian Wine Road
South Styria. To be honest, I’d never heard of this region before until my recent trip to Austria. Situated about a two-hour drive southwest of Vienna and less than an hour from Graz, South Styria is a gorgeous region with green rolling hills, mile after mile of vineyards, picturesque villages, wine taverns and lovely, family-owned […]
A schnaps adventure in Tirol
I have to admit… I’ve never been a big fan of schnaps. This clear brandy distilled from fermented fruits has a high alcohol content and the varieties I tasted in the past were simply mind-blowing, throat-burning strong with little flavour. That perception was radically altered after an extraordinary schnaps tour in Tirol, Austria! A fun-filled […]
The Moscato di Scanzo meditation wine
I swirled the wine in the glass and marvelled at its silky texture and rich ruby-red colour. Despite its dark appearance, I noticed a wondrous clarity in the liquid. I lifted the glass to my nose and in an instant, my nose was filled with aromas of plums and cherries, and a whiff of rosehip […]
That feeling at the Old Biscuit Mill
That feeling when you step into a place and your senses are simply overwhelmed. Then you get accustomed to the cacophony of people and the sights start to blur but one thing lingers: the smell of food. A symphony of freshly-baked bread, smoked fish, grilled meats and fresh herbs and spices fills your nostrils, and […]
A passion for Lambrusco
Travel is an endless source of inspiration (and wisdom) and I find nothing more inspiring than meeting people during my travels who are so passionate about what they do. On my recent trip to Reggio Emilia [map], I had the opportunity to meet a crowd of people who share one passion: Lambrusco. For those of […]
About Keith Jenkins
I'm Keith Jenkins. In July 2008, I left my ten-year banking career to travel around the world. I've not looked back since.
Connect
Follow Velvet Escape on:
-
A Danube River cruise with Avalon Waterways
-
The best of Reunion Island – guide and itinerary
-
Street art in Reunion Island
-
Modena in two days
-
Why I loved Avalon Waterways excursions
-
The treasures of St. Florian Monastery
-
Charming Amersfoort
-
Reigniting the magic of travel
-
Three days in Phu Quoc
-
A piece of paradise at Constance Prince Maurice
-
Charming Amersfoort
-
Plane views: Athens
-
Modena in two days
-
Why I loved Avalon Waterways excursions
-
The best of Reunion Island – guide and itinerary
-
The treasures of St. Florian Monastery
-
A Danube River cruise with Avalon Waterways
-
A piece of paradise at Constance Prince Maurice
-
Street art in Reunion Island
-
My weekend in Graz
Velvet Escape has appeared in
