Arguably the biggest changes in wine over the last decade have not come in the bottle, but in the accessibility of the wineries themselves. It’s not that long ago that visits used to be largely of the ‘phone ahead, cross your fingers and hope for the best’ variety.
Now the vast majority of producers are open for tastings and tours, while websites make booking a doddle.
It’s safe to say, however, that not all visits are created equal. For every charming host or amazing activity, there are plenty of ‘vineyard tours’ that are no more than a 30 second wander into the vines by the winery. And is a tired plate of salami from the local supermarket really a ‘gastronomic experience’?
Below I’ve picked out 14 visits that will ensure you have a great time. They’re not necessarily the most famous producers (many of whom either don’t accept visitors or require a phone reservation months in advance), but they are places that will guarantee your precious holiday time is well spent.
I’ve concentrated here mostly on visits for the European summer – so in the northern hemisphere – but will be returning to address south of the equator in six months’ time. I’ve also tried to mix up the reasons for the visit so there should be something for everyone.
14 winery tastings and tours to discover
France
Champagne René Geoffroy, Aÿ, Champagne
There are several good grandes marques visits in Champagne, with videos, audio guides and gift shops (Moët, Pommery, Taittinger to name just a few). But a visit to a small grower can make a nice counterpoint. The Geoffroys have been growing grapes in Cumières for 400 years, and are open for visits three days a week. The personal tour (in French or English) takes 90 minutes, and includes a full immersion into their sustainable philosophy and a tasting of three ‘Champagnes de terroir’.
Château Gaudrelle, Loire
Located on the edge of Tours in the heart of the Loire, this Vouvray producer offers a huge range of activities, from a free tasting, through varying levels of ‘cellar tour and tasting’ (old vintages, vineyard visits etc) right up to chef and winemaker sessions where you get to prepare and then eat lunch in the limestone cellar.
There’s even a two hour tasting on the Loire river, which is probably one of the best ways to see its many gleaming castles.
Château La Grande Clotte, Lussac, Bordeaux
It’s hard to get in to see the starry châteaux (or garagistes) of Bordeaux. You might get lucky, but in fact you’ll probably get a better idea of what the place is really like (and have more fun) with a visit like this. Julie and Mathieu Mercier have put together a great range of activities at their right bank winery to show off the food, winemaking and vineyards of the region.
The Bicy’Clotte tour (€70) is perhaps the stand-out. It’s a six hour, 20km trundle round the back lanes of St Emilion on an e-bike, taking in artisanal makers of bread, cheese, charcuterie, chocolate and patisserie, lunch in a park and (of course) a tasting of the château’s wines. If you fancy something more sedate, the ‘assemblage’ workshop, where you get to blend your own three-varietal Bordeaux red and keep it afterwards, looks a lot of fun. They have accommodation, too.
Incidentally, if you’re in Bordeaux you must make time to visit the city’s wine museum, La Cité du Vin. Modern, bright and high-tech, it manages to pay homage to the past while showing that this is not an industry that’s preserved in aspic. With 18 interactive modules tracing everything from art and culture to history, gastronomy and geography of wine all over the world, it should be on every wine lover’s bucket list. You’ll need at least half a day. If you get a Bordeaux CityPass, entry is included.
La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux. Credit: Hugo Martin / Alamy Stock Photo
Les Domaines Paul Mas, Montagnac, Languedoc
If you’re looking for a wine visit that has something for everyone, then Les Domaines…
Source : https://www.decanter.com/wine/winery-tastings-and-tours-14-top-picks-to-discover-549492/
