A Festive Apres-Ski Afternoon with Jet2
I was invited by Jet2 to their Festive Apres-Ski Event in Leeds for an afternoon of wine tasting and wreath making. Jet2 fly to multiple ski destinations around Europe and even if you don’t ski (or snowboard), you can still enjoy the apres-ski life in a winter wonderland.
*The Apres-Ski Afternoon was a pr event with Jet2 and I was invited to attend, as always, all opinions are my own.
Apres-Ski Afternoon with Jet2
Après-ski is a French term that means “after skiing”.
…did I have to google what the term meant, yes. I’m not ashamed, it’s not a popular “American” term, but I’m all for it!
And for those of you who don’t know, it’s the events that take place after a day on the slopes… everything from socializing to dancing to entertainment!
Alpine Wine Tasting
Growing up in Virginia Wine Country, I found an appreciation for wine, and moving to the UK has created an obsession with cheese, so this was obviously my favorite part of the afternoon. The venue, Friends of Ham, did a fabulous wine tasting!
Tour des Gendres Pet Nat with Vacherin Mont d’Or
This natural sparkling wine from Bergerac, France was my favorite. Not only do I love a little bubbly, but I am quite fond of a pet nat. The traditional process used to make this wine means no extra additives, so the sugar content is lower.
The Vacherin Mont d’Or is a gooey alpine cheese that is only available during the autumn and winter, which is a shame because it’s such a lovely cheese. This is the perfect holiday cheese and paired with wine, it’s the best appetizer!
Domaine Lupin, Rousette de Savoie “Frangy” with Beaufort d’Eté
Domaine Lupin is from Savoie, France and the strong aroma of gingerbread drew me in. The wine is very mellow and I would choose this wine as a cheeky pre-dinner drink.
The Beaufort d’Eté was a nice compliment to the wine with its nutty and rich taste. Did you know this cheese is only made during summer from cows that graze in the Alpine meadows? Nope, neither did I… now you do!
Tre Monti Albana Orange with Lardo di Colonnata
This wine is not your typical wine, and it definitely doesn’t look like it. I was not expecting this type of wine on an Alpine menu, especially when you read it has tropical aromas with flavors of honeysuckle and stone fruits, but it was surprisingly warming.
It wasn’t my favorite selection, but it was paired well with the Lardo di Colonnata which is pig’s back cured with herbs and spices, including rosemary, and then aged.
Vigneti Tardis, Martedi Paestum Rosso with Coppa
The Vigneti Tardis was the only red on the menu and it did not disappoint. The delicate notes of mulberry make this a very fresh and aromatic red and very approachable to those who stray away from the bolder reds.
I’m not gonna beat around the bush here, coppa is amazing. I love it with everything and it deserves a place on every charcuterie board, but it was very enjoyable with this red.
Clos Lapeyre Jurançon Moelleux with Gorgonzola Dolce
This wine is not my style. I don’t like sweet wines, but I gave it a shot. I didn’t really like it, but I can appreciate the work that goes into making this wine. The grapes are harvested later in the season when water levels are low and sugar levels are high and then aged in oak barrels.
Even though the wine wasn’t my favorite, you can’t go wrong with a gorgonzola dolce… smooth, creamy, and delicious! And it paired very well with the sweet wine.
Oh, and let’s not forget to talk about the added goodies, extra hams, and pickles on the side… plus a RACLETTE! If you have never had a raclette, you are missing out. The cheese is melted under a heat lamp and scraped off onto a plate, if you like fondue, you will LOVE this!
Wreath Making
The wreath-making workshop led by Basement Blooms was a fantastic way to end the event. I personally feel my crafting skills are at a 2.1 out of 10 and being surrounded by what felt like a hundred Martha Stewarts probably brought me down into the negatives, but I gave it a go!
And I am so proud!
Maybe I have been harboring this hidden talent of wreath-making for years and the Jet2 Apres Ski event has helped awaken the creative juices or maybe it was a one-off? Let’s hope not!
We were provided with a moss wreath as the “base” and then given a little starter kit with a variety of ferns and other greenery. We could embellish with ribbons, pine cones, ornaments, holly, and more!
Once you got into the flow of making bunches of greenery and wiring them on over and over again, it went pretty quickly. Although I didn’t win “best in show”, I still think my wreath was fabulous!
Jet2 Winter Destinations
If you want to create your own Jet2 Apres Ski holiday, you can choose from a variety of destinations, everything from budget-friendly to winter luxury.
And don’t worry, you don’t have to know how to ski to be able to enjoy a Jet2 Apres Ski destination! Plus, there are plenty of other options around Europe for an amazing Jet2 Christmas Market weekend break!
Fly to Barcelona, Spain to access the Pyrenees for a quieter getaway, or fly to Salzburg, Austria, and enjoy a city break exploring the sights and include a couple of days skiing in the Austrian Alps.
My favorite Christmas Markets are Vienna, Budapest, and Prague! And remember, if you visit Vienna, you can take a day trip to Bratislava!
Are you heading out on Jet2 Apres Ski adventure?! Or keeping it chill with the Christmas Markets? Let me know in the comments below!
