France Wine Tours, Trips And Tastings

By Alta Alexander


French wines are widely regarded as the world's best even by professional oenophiles. But that doesn't come close to describing the thrill and enjoyment of France wine tours. The vast scope of producing regions, vineyards, wineries and their talent at coming up with magnificent wines is incomparable.

There is a whole new world waiting for visitors on these trips. Uncorking a bottle of French champagne at home is hardly a match for the pleasure of poking around in Champagne, checking out the vineyards and stopping by for tastings at every cellar along the way. Paris day trips frequently end up as a tasting or culinary expedition in Champagne-Ardenne or the Loire Valley.

The Avenue de Champagne is just as big a thrill for oenophiles as it is a matter of pride for Francophiles. Bike trips into Alsace also come highly recommended for tourists looking for a day out in the wine country. In this area, tastings are free and open to anyone who cares to stop by. The tours just pack it in and offer a full day sampling the wines of every famous and well-regarded producer in the region.

Serious wine lovers will find the nearest haven from Paris is the Loire Valley. It's a magical escape back in time, filled with castles and vineyards dotting the verdant green landscape. The tour guide on these expeditions will be somebody who is not just an oenophile, but is also intimately familiar with the Loire Valley vineyards and their wines.

People arriving by train from Paris will be picked up at the station and whisked away for a day of discovery and tastings. Commentary along the way in English helps people understand and learn the history of the region. Those who want to do this at their own pace may ask for individual guided trips custom-designed based on their likes and budget.

A die-hard winetripper may want to go well beyond a Paris day trip. If so, France offers plenty of options such as a three-hour train ride to Bordeaux. Visitors who are able to take time off from Paris and camp out in the Bordeaux region for a few days can expect a once-in-a-lifetime experience discovering the famous wine producing regions like Saint Emilion and Medoc.

Visitors can choose from among a range of appealing options. For instance, there are chateau stays that combine cheeses and other culinary delights at Michelin-rated restaurants along with tastings and vineyard explorations. There are harvest tours and chauffeur-driven outings that somehow combine luxury with the first-hand experience of all the hard work that goes into making a legendary bottle of wine in France.

All this is just a small part of all the exciting possibilities. Every region from Burgundy to Provence, Corsica and the Rhone Valley has its own specialty tour experiences and superb wines awaiting discovery by visitors. Just pick one or more based on the budget and time available, and decide the kind of French wine tour it should be.




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