Vineyards in France
This is a sample of a tour that provides a memorable insight into French wines and production. Enjoy the scenery while you tour the world famous areas of French wine production such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, The Loire Valley and Champagne. Similar tours are available for the newly discovered fantastic wines and sparkling wines of England as well as other French regions such as Provence and over the borders in to Germany, Italy and Spain.
SAMPLE DAILY ITINERARY BELOW
SOME OF THE TOUR’S SIGHTS.
Day 1 — Arrival Paris
On arrival meet with your professional tour director for the short transfer in to central Paris to experience an introductory tour of some famous landmarks. The balance of the day is at leisure to unpack and relax. Overnight stay in Paris.
Day 2 — Paris
This morning visit the Wine Museum of Paris that opened in 1984. The visit explores the richness and diversity of the French craft of winemaking through an exposure to tools and objects used to work the grapevine and the wine. The collection is showed in an old setting used in the Middle Ages and arranged later in storerooms. A rich collection of more than 2,000 pieces is presented on the tools of viticulture, winemaking and wine tasting. The oldest of them date back the first century BC to the most recent of the 19th century. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace or ask us as there are some very small and unique little vineyards actually in Paris. Overnight stay in Paris.
Day 3 — Paris to Tours
After breakfast, depart Paris and head south-west to the city of Tours. Travel via Orleans and Sancerre, where some of France’s best white wines are produced from the Sauvignon grape including Sancerre itself and the full bodied Pouilly Fume. Enjoy a visit and a tasting at one of the local vineyards before continuing to Tours for overnight. Overnight stay in Tours.
Day 4 — Loire Valley
Today spend the day exploring the Loire Valley. Make stops in Bourgueil and Chinon and enjoy tasting of full bodied grapes from the Cabernet Franc wines. As the tour progresses west pass through the Touraine, famous for the slightly sweet Vouvray, and Saumur, famous for the light dry whites and sparkling Saumur, a great alternative to Champagne. Overnight stay in Tours.
Day 5 — Tours to Bordeaux
Depart Tours after breakfast and head south to what is probably the most famous wine producing region of the world, the area surrounding the town of Bordeaux. Overnight stay in Bordeaux.
Day 6 — Bordeaux
Today, drive west of Bordeaux to discover the Medoc region where some of the world’s most expensive wines such as Château Mouton Rothschild and Chateaux Margaux are produced. Tonight, enjoy a private visit to a local producer for a wine tasting and in depth lecture on wines of the region. Overnight stay in Bordeaux.
Day 7 — Bordeaux
This morning, visit the region to the east of the city including St Emilion and the lesser know area of Pomerol which produces the most expensive red wine in the world, Chateau Petrus. In the afternoon, visit the Sauternes and Barsac region,
an area known for its dessert wines. Later, return to Bordeaux. Overnight stay in Bordeaux.
Day 8 — Bordeaux to Lyon
Leave Bordeaux and travel to Lyon. Second largest city in France and major centre of business, Lyon is known as the French capital of gastronomy. On arrival a step on local guide leads you on a guided walking tour of the old town with gastronomy as a focus. Overnight stay in Lyon.
Day 9 — Lyon to Dijon
After breakfast leave Lyon and arrive in the medieval town of Dijon, centre of the Burgundy region. The tour includes a stop in the town of Beaune which produces some of the lighter reds and a visit will be made to one the vineyards in the area. Overnight stay in Dijon.
Day 10 — Burgundy
Today, spend the entire day exploring the region where such classic wines as Nuit St Georges, Gevrey Chambertin and Clos Vougeot are produced from the Pinot Noir. Also enjoy a tour of Mersault, where some of the world’s finest Chardonnay-based white wines are produced. Overnight stay in Dijon.
Day 11 — Dijon to Paris
Depart Dijon early this morning and head north to Epernay. Epernay is world famous as the home of Champagne. A visit is included to one of the cellars. Afterwards, continue onto Paris. Overnight stay in Paris.
Day 12 — Departure
An executive motor coach is provided for the transfer to Charles de Gaulle International Airport.