Wine tours in France are the perfect way to see this wonderful country, expand your palate, boost your culinary knowledge and, of course, enjoy some of the world’s finest wines.
For a relaxing way to experience wine, an organised tour may be your best bet. Options include walking, cycling and coach tours, and even cruises. Some last just a couple of days, whilst others can last around a week or longer, focusing on one or more of the wine regions of France. For those who really get the taste for it, wine-making holidays are popular too.
If you’re more of an adventurer, plan your own tour. With flights to Bergerac, Bordeaux and other wine regions in France being more affordable than ever, you can easily create your own bespoke tour.
Bordeaux is a must-visit place for any aspiring wine expert, with over 9,000 wineries and vineyards to try. Grape Escapes offers six types of wine-tasting tour in this region, including a two-day tour of the Medoc estates or the 1855 Classic Clarets tour, which takes participants around wineries in four of the five regions included in the 1855 classification. Packages are available all year-round and private tours can also be organised.
If you do decide to create your own Bordeaux wine tour, beware – the cost of wine in this area can be surprisingly high, although the cost of flights are reasonable. Once you get into Bordeaux itself you’ll find plenty of information about courses and trips you can get involved in.
To sip your way round the main wine-making areas, allow at least four days. Otherwise you’ll need to select a few key visits. St.Emilion, Blaye, Medoc and the Entre-Deux-Mers are the districts that you really should see and taste as a minimum.
Bergerac is another very popular area for wine-lovers. Once you’ve organised your flights to Bergerac, it’s easy to take a package tour where someone else does all the hard work. Cellar Tours organises a tour which includes a private driver so there’s no need to worry about driving back and you’re free to enjoy the wine. The day trip from Bergerac, St Emilion or Bordeaux includes a visit to three beautiful wine estates, a chance to chat to the owners and wine-makers and, of course, the opportunity to try a delectable range of wines. A wine picnic is also included.
If you’re going it alone, it’s easy to access all seven of the wine ‘regions’ of Bergerac from accommodation in Bergerac itself. An established La Route des Vins is signposted which makes it easy whether you’re walking, cycling or driving. It’s probably best to spend your first day in Bergerac consulting the local tourist office or, better still, tapping the locals for knowledge.
Don’t forget that a number of the wineries are by appointment only so do check in advance to save a wasted journey. Chateau Haute Garrigue Wild Earth Vineyards, Château Le Payral and Domaine Maye de Bouye are just a few of the many vineyards that are worth trying.
We’ve concentrated here on just a couple of the most popular regions but Paris, Champagne, Alsace and The Rhone are all regions that are well worth a visit for wine-lovers too, whether through a package tour or making your own merry way.
