Try France Wine Tours For The Ultimate Foodie Experience

By Josephine Pennington


One of the most popular European countries to visit is France. It not only boasts historic architecture, stylish fashion, great food and some of the world's most famous works of art, but also has an incredibly beautiful countryside. With France wine tours you get to enjoy the scenery while at the same time getting to experience another of the country's best attractions, its wines.

Probably the country's most famous wines come from the Bordeaux region, the world's second largest wine region. Base yourself in the lovely city of Bordeaux, on the banks of the Garonne River in the southwestern part of the country, and go on day trips to the area's many vineyards. Bordeaux city has a museum dedicated to wines too, which makes for a great introduction before you go on a tasting trip.

Another well-known destination for lovers of a good vintage is the Burgundy region. You'll also want to sample the mustard produced in Dijon, the area's capital. This region is perfect if you want a romantic getaway, with lakes and forests as well as lovely towns that date from medieval times.

No celebration is complete without a bottle of bubbly and for this, there's only one place to go. The Champagne region, near the border with Germany, gave the drink its name, after all. A wonderful city to use as base here is Reims, since it's home to many champagne producers. Its cathedral is famous too since for many years it was the site of French kings' coronations.

Near Paris you may want to explore the Loire Valley, part of which is a World Heritage Site. The valley is home to scores of castles and most of these are located near Orleans, where Joan of Arc was from. You may want to make Orleans your base if you don't want to do a day trip from Paris. This makes it easier to sample the locally produced vintages too.

In France's southeastern corner, bordering Italy, you'll find a region that is synonymous with good food, sunshine, lavender fields and glorious beaches. Provence is not a place that you visit on a quick day trip. You'll need at least a week to really appreciate why so many artists made this area their home. Naturally you'll have to try the local wines and visit some perfume producers too. A great way to explore is to travel in a barge on the Rhone.

No visit to France can be complete without a stay in Paris. While the City of Lights is not a wine region in itself, its central location means that you can easily visit places like the Loire Valley on a day trip from here. At night, you can then visit top restaurants that offer the best French wines with gourmet food. Moreover, Paris is at the center of the fashion industry and has plenty of top museums and other sights.

Most French travel agencies offer wine tours. You'll also be able to book with travel agents in your own country. This has the advantage that you'll be assured of a guide that will speak English. Many agencies offer packages for booking online as well. Otherwise, hire a car, arm yourself with a map and visit the vineyards on your own time.




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