Why now?
For France's most famous charity wine auction, the Hospices de Beaune, (November 14-17, beaune-burgundy.com). Serious buyers bid for barrels, each containing 228 litres, but you don't have to be an investor to soak up the atmosphere. There are tastings of Burgundy's new vintage and previous years, and a street festival. The abstemious can take part in a half-marathon around the vineyards.
Getting there
With Rail Europe (0844 848 4070, raileurope.co.uk), from St Pancras to Beaune via Paris and Dijon, from £134 rtn (6¼hrs).
Where to stay
The intimate and stylish Les Jardins de Loïs (0033 3 80 22 41 97, jardinsdelois.com) has four doubles from €100 B&B.
Where to eat
Le Bistrot Bourguignon (restaurant-lebistrotbourguignon.com) showcases regional cuisine and a long wine list, and there is live jazz on Saturday nights.
In the red
No one was hurt during this photo shoot. Just kidding, but someone should tell the owners of Farm Campagna (pictured right) in Butera, southern Sicily, that there's a reason why blood-red swimming pools are not popular (it claims to be one of only three in the world). No one wants to dive into what looks like the set of a horror movie. Other than the disturbing pool, the restored 18th-century villa is every bit the trad Italian country pad, surrounded by 200 hectares of vineyards, olive and almond trees. It also has a spa, small gym and gallery.
Hire the eight-bedroom villa (which sleeps 22) before the end of October for the last of the Mediterranean sun, or in November for a knock-down price.
• 020-7193 0158, solosicily.com. Four nights in Oct/Nov costs €3,422/€2,714, including breakfast and daily cleaner. The villa is still available for Christmas/New Year for €4,085 for four nights or €7,150 for a week. British Airways (0844 493 0787, ba.com) flies Gatwick-Catania from £103.50 rtn inc tax.
All light long
Many European cities have instituted white night events, opening their museums and shopping districts until the wee hours, but Brussels is illuminating a whole district next month. For three evenings (Nov 27-29) in Sablon, one of the city's most beautiful areas, around 20,000 revellers are expected to flit between antique dealers, jewellers and a "chocolate laboratory", all open until 11pm, and sample wines offered on the house. Horse-drawn carriages will ferry people to the festival for free.
• sablon-bruxelles.com. Stay at the Monty Small Design Hotel (monty-hotel.be), which has reduced weekend rates of €95 per double/€69 per single, B&B.
