Dennis Woudt - wine travel expert
The website avinturo.com is an idea of Dennis Woudt. In addition to being an independent entrepreneur (Travenue), he works part-time at both a local energy cooperative (as a project member) and an IT & marketing communications agency. In an all-round role as project manager, creative writer, website builder and marketer. This combination gave rise to the idea to bundle the knowledge of wine, travel and wine tastings on the website avinturo.com
A brief introduction to the owner of avinturo.com
Wine travel expert
The introduction to wine tours and wine tastings must have been about 15 years ago. My parents-in-law regularly went to France, where at the time you could still just knock on a winery's door without a reservation.
It must have also been in France that we first tasted wine ourselves at a winemaker. Since then I have been in the fortunate position that I have been able to make many wine trips together with my wife. And later on holiday with our family and that of friends, we always tried to organize a nice wine tasting. As a result, the wine tasting virus has quickly spread to our children. When they are on holiday, they usually send a photo of a nice tasting.
Over the years, travelling and wine tasting has resulted in nice adventures in France (Bourgogne, Epernay, Luberon, Rhône), Germany (Escherndorfer Lump, Trier, Saarburg), Luxembourg (various places along the Mosel), Italy (Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Florence, Verona, Bardolino, Valpolicella, Soave, Montefalco, Alghero, Franciacorta, Prosecco, Tarquinia, Barolo, Alba and Roero), Spain (Empordà) and even South Africa (visiting family, near Stellenbosch and Franschhoek).
It is difficult to point out the best tasting. Every moment has its own story. But we really enjoyed the tasting at Chateau la Canorgue (from the film a Good Year). Besides visiting the Chateau that played a leading role in the famous film, we also happened to meet the owner. We got talking, right after a devastating summer storm in 2018. The unique tasting in Umbria at Arnaldo Caprai was great because we were there with two families and after our tour and tasting we enjoyed a great picnic in the vineyards. And I could actually go on like this for a while. Now I also suddenly remember our visit to the Expo Chianti Classico in 2024. During the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Consorzio del Chianti Classico, it was cool to experience a wine festival for ourselves. Many dozens of wineries that let their best wines be tasted to an enthusiastic audience.
Creative writer and website creator
Writing actually comes quite easily to me and I think it is one of the most fun things to do. In addition to writing at work, I particularly enjoy telling stories and writing down information about Italian wine and possible wine tours and tastings in my spare time.
In addition to writing for my own websites, I recently started writing for other websites. Lisa Morales gave me the opportunity to tell about my many wine adventures as a guest writer for Live in Italy Magazine.
In addition to writing itself, I have been involved in creating and improving websites for about 25 years. In business, these are the sites for clients themselves. And privately, I can use the knowledge to think up and create my own sites. I really enjoy not only thinking up things, but also applying them myself and ensuring that a beautiful, fast, user-friendly and, above all, interesting site is created.
Italy & wine lover
When the children were a bit younger, we usually went on holiday to France. At that time, the wine was probably on the table in the evening. However, we didn't visit wineries at that moment. Discovering Italy in 2015 caused quite a turnaround. In fact, we have only been going there since then. There is so much beauty to see. Beautiful landscapes, plenty of culture and sights. Great food and above all… the most delicious wines 🙂
My favourite wine regions are Sardinia (the area around Alghero), the Prosecco hills, Florence and the Chianti area, Umbria and the two regions Valpolicella and Soave near Verona. I find it very difficult to choose the tastiest wines. It all remains so personal. In the summer bubbles (Prosecco), a white wine (Soave Classico, Pinot Grigio, Vermentino) or a rosé are delicious, but I actually prefer a red wine. Wines that I really like, in random order: Amarone della Valpolicella, Sagrantino di Montefalco, Chianti Classico (the Riserva’s and Gran Selezione, although it is important which subzone it comes from), Brunello di Montalcino and the Primitivo from Puglia.
Do you have a question?
If you have a question -or suggestion-, please use the contact form on the site. You can also connect via LinkedIn. View my profile online.
Hopefully I have been able to inspire you a little for wine tourism in Italy on avinturo.com.
Enjoy the moments of happiness and stick to the permitted amount if you still have to drive yourself. Or better, find a winery with overnight accommodation or arrange transport to and from the winery where you enjoyed a tasting.
Ciao.
Dennis
