Wine making is an ancient practice in France. Their vineyards have been developed for well over a thousand years with devotion to cultivating high quality grapes. Whether you are a novice in wine appreciation or something of a connoisseur France wine tours offer a plethora of options to learn more about our favorite beverage.
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.
The Bordeaux region makes a great introduction to the world of French wines. It has variety in terms of the types of grape, size of producers and quality of wines. There is also a renowned wine school offering classes for beginners and connoisseurs alike. They offer introduction classes which explore tasting and the basics of production which is a perfect way to start a tour. Bordeaux is a large region with different soils "terroir" so you can taste how this affects the flavor of wine.
Provence is a great option for an extend visit as the region has so much to offer in addition to delicious wines. It is well known for its food culture and has lots of small artisan producers making exceptional food to enjoy with your beverages. There are also UNESCO sites, Medieval villages and the French Mediterranean coast. Provence has it all and you could spend weeks there drinking, eating and soaking up the culture.
Viticulture, as we have said, has a long and interesting history in France. Many tours are planned to reflect this and have staff who have broad knowledge and lots of contacts in the wine world. They offer a range of tours from budget packages to bespoke trips which are designed for you. Either way they always include a decent guide and several trips to different vineyards where you an sample a range of wines.
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.
The Bordeaux region makes a great introduction to the world of French wines. It has variety in terms of the types of grape, size of producers and quality of wines. There is also a renowned wine school offering classes for beginners and connoisseurs alike. They offer introduction classes which explore tasting and the basics of production which is a perfect way to start a tour. Bordeaux is a large region with different soils "terroir" so you can taste how this affects the flavor of wine.
Provence is a great option for an extend visit as the region has so much to offer in addition to delicious wines. It is well known for its food culture and has lots of small artisan producers making exceptional food to enjoy with your beverages. There are also UNESCO sites, Medieval villages and the French Mediterranean coast. Provence has it all and you could spend weeks there drinking, eating and soaking up the culture.
Viticulture, as we have said, has a long and interesting history in France. Many tours are planned to reflect this and have staff who have broad knowledge and lots of contacts in the wine world. They offer a range of tours from budget packages to bespoke trips which are designed for you. Either way they always include a decent guide and several trips to different vineyards where you an sample a range of wines.
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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