The Golden Age of luxury train travel evokes old-world images of opulent carriages, mahogany-lined cars, and slow-moving scenery at your fingertips. But this is no bygone era. Train travel is celebrating a revival with record numbers of people embracing luxury train rides. The world’s 5-star train journeys are elevating the experience, with everything from personal butlers and Michelin-star fine dining to luxury suites with bathtubs and marble floors. If you love the journey as much as the destination, here are 10 of the world’s most famous luxury train rides to inspire your next adventure.

Picture the scene: a sommelier comes over as you flick through the wine list. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of options to choose from. You feel overwhelmed: you know what you like, but you’re interested in trying something new. It can be hard to know what to ask a wine professional, or how to talk their language. We caught up with Aisling Bury, sommelier and Restaurant Manager at The Olive Tree in Bath, UK ‒ the city’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, which as a Luxury Gold guest you’ll visit on our British Royale journey ‒ to learn how to talk to a sommelier on your travels.

What is a sommelier?

First things first: what is a sommelier? Essentially, it’s the wine expert employed by a restaurant to help select wines for the venue. They talk guests through the wine list, helping them choose a good match for their dish. Depending on the country, a sommelier usually has a diploma or qualifications from an institution such as the Court of Master Sommeliers. Much of their role happens behind the scenes: designing a restaurant’s wine list ‒ which can run into the tens of thousands of bottles ‒ and working with head chefs to plan food and drink pairings. But they’re also here to guide you. If you’re wondering how to talk to a sommelier, think of what you want from the chat: usually, to help them understand your tastes while also learning a bit about the evening’s wines and getting some new recommendations. Go in confidently with this bluffer’s guide to sommelier talk.

For further reading: From Prosecco to Pecorino: a Guide to the Best Italian White Wines For 2024

Dishes and varieties

The Olive Tree specializes in seasonal fine dining (credit: @olivetreebath on Instagram)

By the time a sommelier comes over to your table, you’ll likely have had time to peruse the menu, and this is vital. You might like a Pinot Noir or a Sauvignon Blanc at home, but your choice of dish is the biggest influence on the wines they will choose. This is especially true of dishes involving red meat, fish, chocolate or cheese, but everything from herbs to char-grilling can influence their choice. So before your chat, note the dishes you’re most interested in ordering. Try to communicate what you like: even if you think you don’t the terminology of wine tasting, you’ll certainly know which flavors your palate responds to. Think of it like ordering a cocktail: you might tell a barman you prefer bright, acidic, citrus flavors, or mellow, sweet or fruity flavors. Those same preferences can be transferred to wine, so don’t be afraid to describe your favorite things to your sommelier.

A sommelier will often talk to you about dryness versus sweetness and the options of full-bodied, medium-bodied or lighter wines. These choices enhance different textures and flavors in your food: so a fatty meat might need a juicy, acidic wine to cut through that fattiness, while an off-dry white wine has the sweetness to complement spicy dishes.

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Scent and clarity

Once a first wine has been selected, your sommelier will pour you a small glass to try. But don’t knock it back just yet. “The first thing you’re going to do is swirl the wine,” explains Aisling Bury, who encourages diners to get a deep noseful of the wine’s aroma. “You’re looking for things that smell out of place; so scents of wet cellar, damp cardboard, a caramel note or just generally an unpleasant vinegar smell.” Next, you should hold the wine up to the light, taking note of the color and transparency of the liquid. “You’re looking for clarity,” explains Aisling. “Unless it’s a natural wine, you want it to be clear and not foggy.” Natural wines aren’t filtered or fined, due to their low-intervention style of winemaking, hence a slight cloudiness when you hold them to the light. Feel free to talk to a sommelier about how the wine was produced and any unusual techniques. 

Your sommelier may also talk to you about the “legs” on your wine. Aisling explains: “When you swirl a wine and it goes up the glass, it’s how slowly the little rivulets of liquid stream down the inside of a glass. The slower they move down suggests a higher alcohol content or sugar content in the wine.” Think of it as syrup running slowly down a glass surface, but water running quickly, hardly leaving any trace. The sweeter the wine, the slower the “legs”.  “Most people think that it’s either to do with the age of the wine or the quality of the wine, but it’s actually a lot simpler than that,” says Aisling.

Tasting the wine

Now, time to taste. Expert tasters swish a mouthful of wine around their mouths, identifying any sour, sweet, mineral, fruity or tannic notes. Tannins are substances from the wine skins and seeds that give your mouth a dry, coated feel, and are most common in red wines. You might take a small sip of air through your mouthful of wine to oxygenate the liquid and bring out different flavors.

One myth Aisling wants to bust is that this first taste is a chance for diners to give a wine the thumbs-up. “You’re not checking whether you like the wine,” she says. “At this point you’ve made your choice, so you’re checking to see if the wine is faulty, not whether or not you like it.” If either you or the sommelier detects a dank, musty, wet cardboard smell, or unpleasant taste, they may conclude the wine is “corked” and decide to open another bottle. Being corked simply means the bottle has become contaminated with cork taint, creating a chemical reaction. A sommelier may show you the wine’s cork, which will also smell if the wine is corked. 

Assuming the wine is of a good standard, take this opportunity to ask your sommelier questions about the country of origin and the winemakers who created it. They can tell you which grape varieties it is made from, what the terroir (earth) is like at the vineyard, any unusual methods that were employed, and which other foods it pairs best with.

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Three experiences to put your knowledge to the test

Fashionable mature women having fun toasting and drinking wine at luxurious restaurant in France

Rosés in Provence, France

On Luxury Gold’s 12-day Ultimate Southern France tour, you’ll stop by the prestigious Château La Coste winery outside Aix-en-Provence, to see its outdoor art and sculpture collection, stroll among the vines and try the acclaimed rosés. It’s had an “Organic Agriculture” label since 2009 thanks to its biodynamic methods of farming and production.

Cool-climate reds in Chile

Boutique winery Kingston Family Vineyards handcraft small-production batches of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in the cool climate of Chile’s Casablanca Valley, pioneering cool-climate reds as well as the white wines Chile is most famous for. Visit while touring the continent on Luxury Gold’s epic, 23-day Grand South America journey.

Scenic tastings in South Africa

On a nine-day Spectacular South Africa tour, you’ll meander through the luscious green countryside north of Cape Town, enjoying a scenic drive through the wineland towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek, packed with incredible vineyards. South Africa’s diverse wines are also a big part of your delicious Farm-to-Table meal at the award-winning Werf Restaurant, which is renowned for its sustainability.

Dine with us at The Olive Tree in Bath when you join our 10-day British Royale Journey 

Southern France is synonymous with glamour, indulgence and sublime rural landscapes. Picturesque villages, vineyards, dazzling cities and azure coastlines form an elegant blend of cultural richness and natural beauty.

Lavish hotels, Michelin-starred dining and exclusive events all contribute to its status as a luxury haven. Here, Travel Concierge Helen shares her admiration for French culture and cuisine, along with her personal recommendations to make Ultimate Southern France even more exceptional.

Discover this on: Ultimate Southern France

Sophisticated and stylish

“What I’ve always loved about France is that it is just so sophisticated,” says Helen. “The French are very stylish.”

“As a culture they really take the time to learn how to prepare something. Take food for example. It takes years to become a chef, and there’s a real respect around acquiring and applying knowledge and producing something of really high quality. This can be seen in many areas, such as with wine, furniture and so on.”

For travel inspiration: France destination guide

Luxury is time

“There’s a different approach to time in France, which I really I really appreciate,” she tells us, adding with a smile that it can also be sometimes frustrating.

 “For me, luxury is all about time. Obviously, it’s the quality of things, but it’s also the luxury of taking the time to enjoy things. Of being able to say we can sit and try the local specialty, be that a patisserie or an aperitif, and break from a world where we’re all so busy. And Ultimate Southern France offers just that.

“We have two nights in Monte Carlo, three days in Aix-en-Provence Two nights in Carcassonne and two in Bordeaux So, the pace of the tour is elegant. We’re not running from hotel to hotel, we have this chance to relax and go a little bit deeper.”

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The rural pleasure of southern France

“Often people’s first point of arrival in France would be Paris, the City of Light. Big and beautiful, it’s also big and busy,” says Helen. “The South of France is a haven of tranquility.

“Historically it’s a huge rural economy. So, inevitably, the pace of life is very different. Up until a few decades ago everything would have been based on the agricultural cycle. This routine is maybe not so much the case anymore, but farming and the vineyards are still an incredibly important part of the South of France.”

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I love this chateau on the French Riviera

Credit @villaephrussi on Instagram

The Côte d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera, stretches from Saint-Tropez to the Italian border, and encompasses iconic cities like Nice and Cannes. This glamorous Mediterranean coastline is renowned for its azure waters and golden beaches, dotted with palm-lined promenades, luxurious yachts, and chic boutiques.

“Elegant and enchanting, there is so much to love about the Côte d’Azur,” says Helen. “My highlight on Ultimate Southern France is the Rothschild Chateau in Nice. “It’s one of the places where everybody asks, ‘what is this about?’ It is so unusual.”

Built in 1905 by Beatrice de Rothschild, the opulent Villa and gardens of Ephrussi de Rothschild is home to over 5,000 art objects. Up on the hillside, it looks out over the Côte d’Azur.

“I think it’s this thing of going to a place you might not have gone to yourself, and it is stunning. It’s such a nice surprise because nobody has any expectations.”

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Exquisite dining, perfectly planned

Credit: @ lepressoirdargentgordonramsay on Instagram

With many exceptional dining experiences included on this tour, from a pastry making lesson with a professional chef to fine dining, you embark on a thrilling gastronomical journey. In addition to the included dining, there are countless options in the South of France to further indulge the taste buds.

“The Pressoir d’Argent, Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant is located in Le Grand Hotel Bordeaux and, if you love haute cuisine, then this is an exceptional experience,” says Helen. “Reservations do need to be made around a week in advance, so this is something I talk to guests about at the start of the tour.

“A key aspect of being a Travel Concierge is about being on the front foot all the time with guests. France is my neighborhood and I know all the ways to make this tour exceptional above and beyond the planned itinerary. So, I make sure to impart this knowledge to guests and tailor recommendations to their pleasures, to ensure they can make the most of these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

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My restaurant recommendations in Nice

Nice, the largest city on the French Riviera, is also one of the most charming. Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the famous Maritime Alps, the city offers a unique combination of urban convenience and natural beauty.

Guests on Ultimate Southern France have free time in Nice, to choose where they have lunch and dinner. With so many options, Helen is on hand to help you choose the perfect spot.

“If you really want to sit down and have a nice lunch in Nice, you’ve got the top top option, which is the Hotel Negresco,” Helen advises. “It’s restaurant Le Chantecler, with its 18th century décor, is incredibly decadent, indulgent and fun.

“And if you want something more casual then I’ll send you to the Old Town. In the lovely higgledy piggledy streets, with their gorgeous pink and peachy hues, I recommend you visit ‘Le Panier’.

“Around 100 years ago, a huge wave of Italian immigrants came from Bergamo into southern France and brought their delicious food with them. You must try the ‘socca’, it’s like a frittata but made from chickpea flour. Its great as an aperitif with a beer or glass of wine.”

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Personalize your day in Aix-en-Provence

An art installation at Chateau La Coste. Credit: KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

On all Luxury Gold tours, at various points guests can personalize their day with a choice of two experiences. Each thoughtfully chosen with the Luxury Gold guest in mind, they offer contrasting ways to experience your destination.

“In charming Aix-en-Provence, we visit the remarkable Château La Coste, and here guests can choose between a wine tasting or an art walking tour,” Helen explains. “The Chateau La Coste is one of these surprising places where often no one has any expectations when we arrive, and it’s pretty phenomenal. There is a huge vineyard, a beautiful lake and a fascinating outdoor art gallery. Guests also have the opportunity to choose between experiences in Nice and Bordeaux.

“It’s all about personal preference, not just on where your interest lies, but also your rhythm at that point. Some guests may still be tired from their transatlantic flight for example or come from another European trip. So, I encourage people to work out what they need at that moment in time. Maybe it’s to sit down and sip fine wines, or whether you’d like to explore and learn. Indeed, on most occasions, guests can also choose to do both options, this is the beauty of our small group journeys.”

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Elevated souvenirs – a timeless piece of French history

Par Original téléversé par Christophe.moustier sur Wikipédia français. — Transféré de fr.wikipedia à Commons par Bloody-libu utilisant CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 3.0,

“My advice for a fabulous souvenir would be ‘les boutis,’” Helen says. “You can find some of the best examples of these elegant textiles at the market we visit when in Lourmarin.

“In the 1700s there was a strong commerce connection between the southern French city of Marseille and India, which saw the arrival of amazing fabrics. The French found the prints so beautiful they decided to begin making their own. So, when you see Provençal material, like tablecloths, serviettes or bedspreads, it’s likely that that print came India 300 years ago and has become part of a kind of cannon of prints that haven’t really changed ever since.

“Aesthetically, they’re beautiful – a timeless classic. They don’t age and still look as good today as they did say 50 years ago.

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My pick of the exceptional hotels

Credit: @lamagdeleinemathiasdandine on Instagram

A hallmark of Luxury Gold tours are the exceptional five-star hotels. Each one hand selected, they not only bookend each day, but are often a destination in themselves. “Each hotel is stunning but different, which I love about Ultimate Southern France,” says Helen. “All reflect the sophistication and excellence of French hospitality, whilst offering a variety of decadent experiences.”

“The 18^th century La Magdeleine – Mathias Dandine, where we stay for three nights when visiting Aix-en-Provence is definitely a highlight,” says Helen. “An elegant Provençale country house, you’re at the foot of the Sainte-Baume Mountains and get a real taste of the spirit of living in Provence.

“Then in contrast in the heart of the city, Le Grand Hotel Bordeaux in terms of luxury is phenomenal. I love this hotel because it’s got a superb relaxation and wellbeing space with a lovely indoor pool and rooftop terrace. We spend two nights here at the end of the tour so you can really relax and make the most of the amenities, and it’s perfectly placed for easy sightseeing.”

For more hotel recommendations: Our Favorite Classic Cocktails, and the Timeless Hotels To Try Them At

The beauty of a Luxury Gold tour

“With Luxury Gold, everything is personal,” explains Helen. “With an average of just 20 people on a tour, our small group journeys leave plenty of time for one-to-one attention from your Travel Concierge.

“We’re able to respond to the ideas, needs and desires of guests and also of the group. For example, with one group, in Aix-en-Provence, some wanted to come to the Chateau, and some wanted to rest back at the hotel for us to collect them later. This is the kind of thing we can do on Luxury Gold, we have that flexibility, which I love.”

To experience the sophistication for yourself, take a look at Ultimate Southern France, just one of our exquisite small group journeys.