Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Oenophile's Guide For France Wine Tours

By Alta Alexander


Even professional oenophiles widely acknowledge that French wines are the best in the world. But that pleasure can't hold a candle to the absolute thrill of discovery that France wine tours offer. The French are simply unmatched when it comes to the vast scope of their producing regions and vineyards, their wineries and the sheer talent they have for uncorking superb new wines.

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.

Nothing is more French or closer to the heart of oenophiles than a walk down the Avenue de Champagne. It's just as easy to drive over or bike to the producers in the Alsace region. Free tastings for everyone are the norm here, so the tours just hop around and give people a taste of all the good things the region is famous for.

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.

Of course, the intrepid winetripper in France has a lot more distance to cover above and beyond a day trip from Paris. A three-hour train from Paris will drop people off in Bordeaux. Once here, visitors can set out on a momentous culinary experience that includes many famed wine regions such as Medoc, Saint Emilion, etc.

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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