France is famous for many things but none more so than the wide range of wines and champagnes which are as much a part of France’s culture as bicycles, stripy jumpers, strings of onions and the ubiquitous beret!
Every corner of France is home to many vineyards, which have contributed not only to France’s economy over the years, but to its history and culture too. Many of France’s vineyards are open to the public and have proved popular with tourists and locals whose aim is to discover the perfect red, white or rose wine to accompany their meals.
The most famous wine regions in France are of course Burgundy, Champagne & Bordeaux, however there’s plenty of choice throughout France and surprise surprise!… there’s also a luxury French chateau or castle to rent within easy reach of some of the finest vineyard tours available.
Provence is famed for its wines and its warm Mediterranean climate enables the cultivation of a wide variety of grapes including the Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault varieties, amongst others. Famed for its dry & fruity rosé wines, the warm Mediterranean sun and its rich cultural heritage, Provence is a perfect holiday destination with a wide range of luxury French chateaux for rent and some of the finest vineyards in the Mediterranean region.
Further west on France’s Atlantic coast is the world famous Bordeaux wine. The vineyards in the Bordeaux region have been cultivated for over two thousand years and being traditionally made by merchants rather than monks, the wines of the Bordeaux region found themselves being shipped across the globe rather than staying in France. Perfectly placed in this historic wine making region is Chateau du Pre, which is surrounded by vineyards, of which a tour is included in your stay.
Heading north lands us in the Loire Valley which is home to the popular Muscadet, Anjou, Chinon and Sancerre varieties of wine. Unlike the wines of Bordeaux, the wines of the Loire Valley were cultivated by monks whose traditional production methods date back to the fourth century. Perfectly located in the Loire Valley is Chateau Blanc where wine tours and tasting can readily be arranged in the nearby vineyards of the world famous Sancerre and Pouilly wine making areas.
Moving east from the Loire Valley is the famous Burgundy region which is lovingly known as ‘the heart of France’ and is home to two of France’s most popular wines; Beaujolais and Chablis. Nested in the rolling hills south west of Dijon is Chateau de Fremont which is close to the exceptional vineyards of Cote d’Or, perfectly placed for taking advantage of the many wine tasting tours in the area.