We all enjoy a nice glass of wine from time to time but what do we actually know about it?
Wouldn’t it be good to learn more about how it’s made, where it’s made and enjoy a fun holiday at the same time?
This week, we take a look at some of the best wine tours across France – a country famous for some of our best loved tipples.
The main wine growing regions of our closest European neighbour are Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Champagne, Cote du Rhone and Languedoc.
You’ll have seen these names on the labels of bottles and now you can visit them and discover the secrets of the wine making process before it lands on the supermarket shelves.
Here are some of the best trips and excursions to satisfy your curious palates.
There are specialist holidays available but you can also join in the fun for a few hours or even a full day from some of France’s most popular city break destinations if you don’t want to spend your entire holiday on the vineyards!
Champagne Region Day Trip from Paris
If you happen to be in the French Capital, there are excursions available where you can take in the famous Champagne region in one day. With the help of an expert guide, visitors can learn about the production methods and enjoy a tasting session at Moet and Chandon’s cellars. Depending on when you go, you might be lucky enough to see the grapes being pressed. You can also experience lunch in the heart of Reims where you can taste some local cuisine too. What a lovely way to spend a few hours of your holiday, don’t you think?
Beaujolais Gourmet Wine Tour from Lyon
A wonderful half day tour which sets off from central Lyon lets visitors escape the city and soak up the atmosphere and glorious scenery of Beaujolais which has often been compared to the rolling countryside of Tuscany. The excursion includes a visit to a local wine-maker’s estate where you will be able to sample some wines as your host shares his knowledge and passion for wine-making with you.
Alsace Wine Route Tasting Tour from Strasbourg
On a business trip in Strasbourg? Why not add on a cheeky day trip or perhaps even take your associates along as a treat. Here you can experience four different wineries on your tour. This tour is limited to eight people to ensure a more in depth and personalized experience.
Wine Tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape from Avignon
The beautiful city of Avignon also has some exciting wine trips on offer and one in particular which should be an absolute must for wine lovers is a visit to the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape, one of the region’s most important wine appellations.
Your trip includes a visit to some of the medieval villages, wine tasting and a lovely lunch of fresh, local produce from the Provence region.
Wine Tasting Workshop in Bordeaux
Learn about key French wine making regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Cotes du Rhone as well as pairing up your taster wines with typical foods. Visitors can also learn how to identify scents and flavours in wines – a real condensed overview to enhance your wine knowledge.
If any of these trips appeal to you, why not combine them with an exciting city break to one or two of the destinations featured such as Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg. There are some reasonably priced flights and hotel deals around from the travel social network talkholiday and their travel partners that will get you on your way to an unforgettable adventure.
The Deals (click on links to view offers) :
Book Flights from Edinburgh to Paris from £59
Book Flights from Edinburgh to Lyon from £61
Return Flights from Scotland to Strasbourg from £200
Best Price Guaranteed Hotels in Paris from £10pn
