Whether you're new to wine travel or a discriminating connoisseur, you can't go wrong in France. The French long ago recognized that visitors are eager to visit wineries and learn why the wines of France are considered the world's best. Consider a wine travel adventure for your next trip; you can journey along wine routes, tour vineyards and take wine tasting classes all over France.
Let's look at three of France's best-known wine regions.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has been a wine trading center since at least the 12th century. Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married both King Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, received wines shipped from the port of Bordeaux at her English castles.
Today, you can visit not only the historic city, with its Chartrons wine trading neighborhood, but also the great wine estates and chateaus that surround Bordeaux. You can choose from five different wine routes, including the Châteaux Road, which goes through the famous Médoc region, and the Graves Road, which takes you through the Sauternes appellation, or designated wine area. As you travel, you will notice that Bordeaux vineyards are planted with a wide variety of vines. That’s because the famous Bordeaux wines are made from many different types of grapes, including merlot, malbec, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, sémillon, and sauvignon.
In 2007, the city of Bordeaux was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Boasting a vibrant riverfront area, 18th-century palaces and avenues and, of course, a centuries-old winemaking tradition, Bordeaux is a great place to learn about French wines and winemaking. Begin your explorations in Bordeaux city itself, perhaps at the wine bar across from the Tourist Information Office or at the Bordeaux Wine School (“L’Ecole du Vin”) at the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux. During the summer months, you can take a two-hour wine course at the school for 25 Euros, a very reasonable price. Consider booking a tour of a local wine estate or chateau at the Tourist Information Office in Bordeaux, or head out on your own to explore the city and countryside.
Saint-Emilion, in the Libourne region, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This medieval walled town makes a great daytrip from Bordeaux city. You can visit the Romanesque walls and churches and tour the hand-carved underground buildings and cellars. Once outside the walls, you are surrounded by some of Bordeaux’ greatest wine estates. To see them up close, take a wine train through the surrounding vineyards. If you prefer, rent bikes at the Tourist Office and set off on your own.
