If there is one country which is synonymous with wine, it is France. Not only is some of the most highly prized wine in the world produced there but it is part of the nation's famous culinary traditions too. In France wine tours are something special, a true taste of ancient viticulture.
Except for the most northern areas most regions of France produce it. Some make higher quality offerings than others and many regions have a swathe of vintage producers. Your preference for wine should have some bearing on where you decide to go. It could be as simple as deciding according to the color of wine you prefer. If you only drink red then head to Burgundy, Bordeaux or Medoc. Some of the best white wines in the world come from the Sancerre region and Provence produces some outstanding rose wines.
The best known wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy for reds, Provence for rose and for those who love white wines, Sancerre. All regions have a variety of different vineyards from small artisan producers to large commercial affairs. A visit to a small producer is a very different experience to touring a large vineyard. The owner will often host the tour himself and will be able to go into the history and impart his pride in a more personal way than the paid hosts in a large establishment.
Another factor to consider is the time of year. Obviously the growing season and production will affect how the tour is carried out. For example, during the months when blending is taking place most producers do not accept visitors as they are too busy. This usually happens in winter. Other times when they are too busy are when the professional tasters and classifiers are visiting to test the crop. This varies depending on region. On the other hand many people like to visit during harvest time as there are festivals and it is generally a lot of fun.
Many consider Bordeaux to be the perfect region for the first-timer. It has tons of vineyards producing a huge range of wines. The soil of the area is famed for its variety and quality. For someone who want to learn about how production and cultivation affects the taste of the product Bordeaux is perfect. It also has a wine school which hosts classes for novices and has longer courses teaching the technical aspects of wine making.
For those who want to incorporate some culture or nature into their trip, Provence makes a great destination. The region is home to a number of UNESCO sites, Medieval villages, Chateaus and national parks. It is famed for its incredible produce and artisan food producers. It also has a long coastline on the Mediterranean so makes a good place to relax.
Many types of tour are offered by travel companies. There are all-inclusive ones where guides, transport, accommodation, meals and vineyard tours are all included and delivered in a reasonably priced package. Connoisseurs can design their own package and choose which producers they want to see. There are also self-drive options where agents will arrange the tours and any other activities but transport and accommodation are arranged by the customer.
French wine is coveted the world over for its quality and history. A visit to vineyards is a great way to get to understand and appreciate the technical aspects of production and how this affects the end product. The options for a tour of French wines is endless so start by thinking about the types of wine that you enjoy and then check out where you can find them.
Except for the most northern areas most regions of France produce it. Some make higher quality offerings than others and many regions have a swathe of vintage producers. Your preference for wine should have some bearing on where you decide to go. It could be as simple as deciding according to the color of wine you prefer. If you only drink red then head to Burgundy, Bordeaux or Medoc. Some of the best white wines in the world come from the Sancerre region and Provence produces some outstanding rose wines.
The best known wine regions are Bordeaux, Burgundy for reds, Provence for rose and for those who love white wines, Sancerre. All regions have a variety of different vineyards from small artisan producers to large commercial affairs. A visit to a small producer is a very different experience to touring a large vineyard. The owner will often host the tour himself and will be able to go into the history and impart his pride in a more personal way than the paid hosts in a large establishment.
Another factor to consider is the time of year. Obviously the growing season and production will affect how the tour is carried out. For example, during the months when blending is taking place most producers do not accept visitors as they are too busy. This usually happens in winter. Other times when they are too busy are when the professional tasters and classifiers are visiting to test the crop. This varies depending on region. On the other hand many people like to visit during harvest time as there are festivals and it is generally a lot of fun.
Many consider Bordeaux to be the perfect region for the first-timer. It has tons of vineyards producing a huge range of wines. The soil of the area is famed for its variety and quality. For someone who want to learn about how production and cultivation affects the taste of the product Bordeaux is perfect. It also has a wine school which hosts classes for novices and has longer courses teaching the technical aspects of wine making.
For those who want to incorporate some culture or nature into their trip, Provence makes a great destination. The region is home to a number of UNESCO sites, Medieval villages, Chateaus and national parks. It is famed for its incredible produce and artisan food producers. It also has a long coastline on the Mediterranean so makes a good place to relax.
Many types of tour are offered by travel companies. There are all-inclusive ones where guides, transport, accommodation, meals and vineyard tours are all included and delivered in a reasonably priced package. Connoisseurs can design their own package and choose which producers they want to see. There are also self-drive options where agents will arrange the tours and any other activities but transport and accommodation are arranged by the customer.
French wine is coveted the world over for its quality and history. A visit to vineyards is a great way to get to understand and appreciate the technical aspects of production and how this affects the end product. The options for a tour of French wines is endless so start by thinking about the types of wine that you enjoy and then check out where you can find them.
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