Tired of waiting for the girls' trip to make it out of the group chat?

With the world becoming more digital, there is a deeper craving for human connection and in-person experiences.

It can be challenging to make friends as an adult, and it can be even more challenging to find friends to travel with.

With Amica Vina, I thought, what bonds women together more than a girls' trip … and a glass or two of wine?

That’s why I’ve curated group retreats for female travellers to explore wine regions of the world, starting with France.

Picture yourself savouring bold reds in Bordeaux, sipping rosés in Provence, or toasting with bubbles in Champagne.

With Amica Vina, you’ll discover breathtaking destinations, taste and learn about incredible wines, and most importantly, build lasting friendships with like-minded women.

You may join solo, but you’ll never feel alone.

So, what are you waiting for? Don’t let your dream girls’ trip stay stuck in the group chat.

A collage of five travel photos including two women in a vineyard, a woman in front of a historic castle, a woman standing by a lush green plant with a pink purse, and two glasses of white wine with a waterfront view.

Connect on Socials

Meet Your Host:

Samantha

A woman in a navy blue top, white shorts, and white sneakers standing on a stone pathway at a marina, with white boats docked in the water and Mediterranean-style white buildings in the background.

In my 20s, I lived in Canada, France, the UK, and Australia; always eager to meet new people and discover new places. I built a career in advertising and dedicated my free time to travel; chasing experiences and collecting stories, including solo trips and visiting beautiful vineyards around the world.

Over time, my curiosity about wine grew. So much so that I now hold a WSET Level 3 qualification.

Though I’m grateful to have lived in different countries, moving around highlighted how challenging it can be to make new friends as an adult (and how many women feel the same).

These things together inspired me to create Amica Vina: curated wine retreats where women can travel together, explore beautiful wine regions, and build genuine connections that go beyond a single trip.

When you join an Amica Vina retreat, the hard work is already done; you just get to soak up the scenery, enjoy sharing wine, and meet inspiring women who may become lifelong friends.

I can’t wait to welcome you to Amica Vina in France this year.

A woman in a floral dress with a pink purse standing in front of a house with a big green tree and a window with a curtain. Provence France wine tour for women
A woman standing in front of a fountain with a tall column topped with a statue of a winged figure, under a clear blue sky with the sun shining. Bordeaux wine tour for women

Check out our destinations

BORDEAUX

PROVENCE

A woman with long wavy hair opening a bottle of champagne on a balcony with ornate black metal railings, overlooking a cityscape featuring classic European-style buildings with mansard roofs and large windows under a cloudy sky. Paris wine tour

PARIS, CHAMPAGNE,
& THE LOIRE VALLEY

A young woman with long blonde hair, wearing a purple beanie, a gray coat, and gloves, standing outdoors at a carousel decorated with Christmas ornaments, lights, and stuffed animals in a festive setting. Alsace wine tour

ALSACE

Why join Amica Vina?

Here’s what makes Amica Vina retreats special:

  • Amica Vina retreat itineraries are tested first-hand by the research trips I take - making sure the wineries and activities are as wonderful as imagined.

    Blending delicious wine, aesthetic atmospheres, and great hospitality so that everyone enjoys themselves (newbies to wine aficionados all welcome!).

  • Designed with solo female travellers in mind, so you can feel safe and supported - surrounded by like-minded women. Friend duos also welcome!

  • Built-in friend group for a dream girls’ trip. You may arrive solo, but you’ll never feel alone.

  • Taste, learn, and enjoy French wines with local experts, from world-famous châteaux to hidden gems.

  • I handle the details (accommodation, activities, and transportation) so you can simply relax and enjoy. And as a registered member of the Travel Trust Association (TTA), your payments are always fully protected.

  • I keep retreat group sizes small so everyone feels included, supported, and part of the group.

What Guests Say

  • I love the Kent wine weekend with Amica Vina. Everything was so well organised and thoughtfully paced, with fantastic wine and food, and lots of personal touches from Sam that made the weekend feel really special. It was also a great way to discover a part of the UK I hadn’t visited before and meet a lovely group of women. I’d definitely join another Amica Vina trip in the future!

    Marybeth H. (Attended Kent Wine Weekend, August 2026)

  • “Travelling through Bordeaux with Sam felt completely effortless. The city has such a cool yet elegant vibe, and the wineries (aka chateaux) were so glamorous. Every winery we visited was clearly chosen with care. The wineries were welcoming and never felt overly ‘wine-technical,’ but I still learned a lot and had fun doing it. I loved how everything flowed so smoothly (no pun intended!), without needing to think or plan at all. The trip felt like the perfect balance of structure and freedom to explore Bordeaux, and I already want to do another trip like it!”

    — Mairead D. (Travelled with Amica Vina on Bordeaux research trip)

  • “Samantha puts so much thought into selecting the best wineries. It was cool seeing her process during the research trip, making sure each winery had the right balance of quality wine, great hospitality, and also felt unique from the others. You can tell she’s in her element, and her love of learning about wine is infectious.”

    — Chantel D. (Travelled with Amica Vina on Alsace research trip)

  • “Travelling through Paris and Champagne was so fun, I couldn’t think of a better city combo for a girls' trip. As a Champagne lover, I found the tastings were elegant yet approachable. The whole experience felt social and celebratory, yet I learned more than I could imagine about the craft of wine. I loved that we could enjoy multiple wine tours without any stress or decision-making. While in Paris, you could tell Sam was so comfortable in the city, guiding us from sight to sight with fun wine and food pit-stops along the way. She curates the trip so it never feels overly touristy either. The care and detail she brings to Amica Vina, even on the research trip, makes you feel completely taken care of.”

    — Mairead D. (Travelled with Amica Vina on Paris & Champagne research trip)

  • “Alsace in December is like something out of a fairytale, and the way Amica Vina curates the experience makes it even more special. Everything felt thoughtfully paced. Pairing wine tastings with Christmas markets was such a fun mix. Many people say it’s the Christmas capital, and I can see why. The wine tastings were informative and still easy to digest. You get to try so many wine styles specific to the Alsace region (lots of them new to me, including my new favourite, Gewürztraminer!). I wouldn’t have thought to do a wine tour in the winter, but this trip made me realise how magical a winter wine retreat can be!”

    — Chantel D. (Travelled with Amica Vina to Alsace)

  • “Truthfully, wine travel wasn't really on my radar before this trip. I joined Sam in the Loire Valley simply for the adventure of exploring a new place. As someone who doesn’t usually drink wine, I ended up loving all the winery tours and tastings (I even bought some bottles to take home with me!). I totally get the appeal of a wine tour now. The chateaux of the region were a stunning bonus on top.”

    — Roisin V. (Travelled with Amica Vina on Loire Valley research trip)

  • “It didn’t take much convincing to join Sam in the Loire Valley. She had it all planned out, so all I had to do was show up. We tasted wines from across the region and learned about the wine-making process in a digestible and entertaining way. I'd been vaguely aware of the Loire Valley before, but now I’d definitely recommend a trip to anyone interested in visiting chateaux and drinking delicious wine, and doing it as a curated retreat makes all the difference!”

    — Laura B. (Travelled with Amica Vina on Loire Valley research trip)

  • Had such a lovely weekend with Amica Vina on their Kent Wine Experience! 🍷🍇 The whole weekend was so relaxed and well organised, and it was really nice getting to explore the vineyards, learn more about English wine and, of course, taste some amazing wines along the way! 🥂 Sam thought of everything from transport, to food to fun activities to get to know the other girls! Such a gorgeous experience and definitely something I’d recommend if you’re looking for a fun weekend out in the countryside. We had the best time! 🤍

    – Caylee M. (Attended Kent Wine Weekend, August 2026)

  • My weekend with Amica Vina in Kent was honestly superb from start to finish. Sam has this brilliant way of making everything feel effortless and welcoming — you can tell how much thought she puts into every detail. We arrived to a lovely gift bag full of personal touches, and from that moment it felt like we were being looked after. And when I say everything was included… literally everything other than the bottles we chose to buy at the vineyards. Food, transport, tastings, activities — all included. There was enough food and snacks to feed the 5000, so no one was ever left hungry or wondering what was next. One thing I really appreciated was that nobody expected you to be a wine connoisseur. You didn’t need to know anything beyond being open‑minded. I learnt loads just by listening and tasting, without ever feeling like I had to pretend to be an expert. It was relaxed, fun, and completely pressure‑free. The pub quiz was great fun (I’m saving my first‑place prize for a special occasion), but the real highlight was the group of girls and the atmosphere Sam created. Everyone gelled so quickly — by the end of day one it felt like we’d known each other for ages. It was relaxed, friendly, and full of laughs in that way you just can’t manufacture. I’m already looking forward to my next trip with Amica Vina because weekends like this are genuinely hard to beat. Thanks Sam!

    Aisling D. (Attended Kent Wine Weekend, August 2026)

Picture yourself savouring bold reds in Bordeaux, sipping rosés in sun-drenched Provence, or toasting with bubbles in Champagne.,

Picture yourself savouring bold reds in Bordeaux, sipping rosés in sun-drenched Provence, or toasting with bubbles in Champagne.,