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- Wine
tours - French
wine tours - Wine areas - |
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This page gives a very brief overview of the wine regions that we cover -
a taster! |
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Alsace wine tours |
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A relatively small viticultural region in the north-east, close to the
German border. Production is almost entirely white. Main grape varieties
are Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc. Delightfully delicate and
scented wines (and beautiful scenery). |
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Bordeaux wine tours |
The world-classic region for claret, in the south-west. The traditional
blend of grape varieties is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
- and of course the dessert whites of Sauternes. Wines with great ageing
potential. |
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Burgundy wine tours |
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Large region in the east between Dijon and Lyon. Wines of great finesse,
whether red (from Pinot Noir) or white (from Chardonnay), not forgetting
the cheerful range of Beaujolais (Nouveau or otherwise) from the Gamay
grape. |
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Champagne wine tours |
An hour east of Paris, the area between and around the twin centres of
Reims and Epernay produces the world's most famous fizz. Small enough to
take quite a lot in in a short time, particularly as the big producers are
very good at informing and entertaining visitors. |
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Languedoc-Roussillon wine tours |
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The biggest continuous wine-producing area in the world - a huge
amphitheatre facing the Mediterranean between Nimes and Perpignan. Mostly
reds, but also interesting whites. Good value with increasing quality. An
area to explore. |
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Loire wine tours |
The Loire valley extends 350 km from west (Nantes and the Atlantic Coast)
to east. Great variety of climate and therefore wine types. Great whites
from the Chenin grape, and luscious, fruity reds from Cabernet Franc. |
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Provence wine tours |
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beautiful region in the south-east is very much Mediterranean in feel.
Most historians agree that wine cultivation in France started from here
when the Phoenicians - and their vines - landed near Marseilles in the 6th
century BC. Over 50% of production is rose.
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Rhone wine tours |
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Roughly 200km from north (Vienne) to south (Nimes). The two areas of the
valley are very different viticultural areas. In the north, reds are from
Syrah and whites from Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. There is a much
wider range of grape varieties in the south. |
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South-west wine tours |
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A rather artificial characterisation of a vast viticultural area between
Bordeaux and Languedoc-Roussillon. Many pockets of interesting, individual
wines made from traditional grape varieties rarely found in any
significant amount elsewhere. |
