Friday, May 1, 2015

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.

Visitors on these trips have a treasure trove of wines to discover. Drinking French champagne at home and tramping around the vineyards and tasting in the cellars of Champagne where it is made are two entirely different things. Paris day trips often end up as extensive culinary explorations of the Loire Valley or tastings in the cellars of Champagne-Ardenne.

It's hard to say whether a walk on the Avenue de Champagne is more thrilling for Francophiles or oenophiles. A bike trip into the heart of the Alsace region is just as enjoyable. Producers offer free tastings to anyone who cares to drop in, so the tours are able to wander around at will and hop around tasting everything that is good and famous 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.

Those who are taking the train from Paris will be met at the station and taken along for a magical day of exploration and tastings. The commentary is made in English, so guests from all over the world are able to enjoy the trip and learn a lot. Some people prefer a more relaxed trip at their own pace. This can be arranged through guided day trips or weekend trips for individuals and couples.

The die-hard winetripper, so to speak, has many more options a long way from Paris. For example, Bordeaux is a three-hour train trip from Paris. Just decide to stay back for a couple of days or more and explore the region at leisure. Those willing to devote the time it takes can expect a highly memorable culinary weekend or week discovering the Bordeaux wine regions like Medoc and Saint Emilion.

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.

There are a range of many such possibilities. From Burgundy to the Rhone Valley, Provence and Corsica, there are regions and vineyards with all their scintillating wines waiting to be discovered. All that is needed is for a visitor to decide what kind of French wine tour to opt for.




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