Balancing on Segways®, visitors zip off behind their qualified guide for a gentle stroll through the heart of the authentic Alsace countryside.

Ten minutes is all it takes to get to grips with these off-road two-wheelers, and then you're off!

A range of different circuits is accessible to everyone, meaning you can meander to your heart's content through the outstanding countryside. Each outing is packed with larger than life discoveries as you explore picturesque villages, follow in the footsteps of the region's châteaux, stroll along forest trails or take the roads leading to the vineyards with their Grands Crus.

From your lofty position on your Segway, these getaways are definitely as beautiful as Alsace itself!

Domaine Chanzy in Bouzeron is firmly established as one of Bourgogne’s must-see wine estates thanks to its 80 hectares of vines growing over the three Bourgogne hillsides, together with its cellar, Maison Chanzy.

The Chanzy estate, which boasts High Environmental Value certification, endeavours to cultivate its grapes with respect for the different terroirs that flourish on its land. The attention and care given to the soil elevates the three iconic grape varieties that have made the region’s great wines so famous: aligoté, chardonnay and pinot noir. These gems glow with good health thanks to a production process that brings together around 30 appellations, especially Grands Crus.

The talented team that works in the peace and quiet of the rows of vines and in the privacy of the cellars is driven by a passion rooted in the most authentic traditions. Pushing open the doors of Domaine Chanzy is like immersing yourself in a remarkable heritage and unique know-how where you can soak up every aspect of the very finest Bourgogne wines.

The daily life of the winegrowers and the diversity of the appellations are revealed on a tour of the vines, vat houses and cellars. From receiving the harvest to aging the wines, every stage of the viticulture process is presented to explain the specificities of the vineyard to inquisitive visitors. A tasting concludes each discovery tour so that you can appreciate all the subtleties and nuances of the different grape varieties grown on the historic site.

In Puligny-Montrachet, another adventure awaits wine lovers at Maison Chanzy. This tasting cellar offers a wide range of wines produced on the estate. The magnificent, white-stone building is much more than a wine bar: it is also a place where you can learn the rudiments of wine, with thematic events on the world of Bourgogne organised on a daily basis.

On the estate as in the cellar, there’s no doubt that the overall experience means you can enjoy a wonderfully time based around wines that will take you on a thrilling journey.

Domaine Brigand can be found in the Châtillonnais region, the land par excellence of crémants de Bourgogne. The estate has established itself here as the custodian of a universal, spirited wine-growing heritage that it is keen to share with as many people as possible.

The Brigand family have been growing wine in environmentally-friendly fashion for four generations on the sun-kissed hillsides of the charming village of Massingy. These passionate artisan winegrowers, so proud of their AOC crémants, strive to pass on their know-how to the general public via the educational and family visitor centre set up in the heart of their vineyard. In the Ampélopsis Wine Centre visitors can plunge into the world of vines and wines thanks to an interactive museography.

Stretching over 2000 m2, this outstanding site is home to no less than 14 thematic spaces. In the museum section, an extensive collection of viticultural tools and objects traces the history of wine. A series of rooms then presents a selection of audiovisual and sensory activities based on the special characteristics of the winegrowing profession. A scenographic show highlighting the local star – Crémant de Bourgogne – is even organised in the Cirque de Vigne en Bulle, a fantasy land of bubbles! The tour finishes with a wine tasting for adults, while the young ones can enjoy a selection of grape juices.

You can delve deeper into the adventure in the Ampélos Workshops, where you’ll continue the experience of the permanent tour. An excursion into the oldest plot in Châtillonnais will teach you about the ecosystem of the vines, while a fun sensory activity introduces visitors to the process for making sparkling wines. Last but not least, a tour of the wine regions of France awaits you in the magnificent Jardin de Bacchus where there are 120 grape varieties on display.

In the summer months, Domaine Brigand also organises Les Nuits Bulleuses evenings where you can discover the illuminated Jardin de Bacchus and taste local products… just right for filling up on sensations that go with a fizz!

Château du Taillan boasts a history both ancient and modern: the Cruse family moved to the property in 1896, and today the estate is run by five sisters – including Armelle – who represent the fourth generation of the same family. It’s thanks to this feminine aura that the estate has managed to reinvent itself over the years, raising its vintages to the highest level in the shape of the Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. As a pioneer of wine tourism, Château du Taillan welcomes over 10,000 visitors every year.

The Domaine Alain Geoffroy in Beine, near Chablis, is an unmissable stopover for anyone who loves a good Chardonnay, especially Chablis wines with their worldwide reputation.

“In the Gavignet family, you ask for Philippe, the father; Benoit, the son; and Élodie, the daughter”. Winegrowers by vocation and desire for five generations, every day they all count how lucky they are to work together thanks to the magnificent heritage left to them by their ancestors.

The vineyard, which extends over 14 hectares, includes 16 appellations – red, white and rosé – all located in the commune of Nuits-St-Georges and Les Hautes-Côtes de Nuits. Everyone on the estate makes their own contribution to putting the wines produced here on the map and preparing for the future. Like a child whom a family sees growing and flourishing, the Gavignets pamper their vines so they can obtain high-quality grapes that reflect the local terroir to the full, and every stage of the process also respects the very precise terms of reference.

To begin with, the grapes are harvested by hand by the estate’s team of loyal harvesters before passing first onto a vibrating table and then a sorting table. Last of all, a deseeder separates the seeds from the berries. Now it’s time for vinification, which starts with a cold maceration in stainless steel vats before the aging phase in French oak barrels for 10 to 18 months, part of which is in new barrels. The winegrowers make sure that the tannins in the barrel do not overwhelm the aromas of the wine. Finally, bottling is carried out in situ based on the lunar calendar, as is the date chosen for the harvest.

The winegrowers have followed an integrated approach to pest control since 2000, only applying phytosanitary treatments to the vines when a disease threatens to damage the grapes and, ultimately, the wine. They are very sensitive to respecting the environment and using resources, and – of course – they think about their own health and that of their consumers. Above all, however, the family is keen to safeguard the richness of their terroir, where the Pinot Noir is expressed to perfection. Their growing commitment to responsible viticulture also means the family has obtained High Environmental Value level 3 certification since the 2019 vintage.

The Gavignets are eager to share their enthusiasm and showcase their wine: the family opens

Combining passion and a family feel, Château Montifaud is utterly unique, an estate that is oh-so-welcoming! Visitors even get the chance to make their own cocktail on the tastiest of sensory tours!

As a fine connoisseur of the city, the author of the book “Bordeaux secret et insolite” invites us to get to know the abundance of unsung historic sites and buildings in Bordeaux. Here’s an idea for a more exclusive, two-kilometre circuit that you can cover on foot or by tram!

This discovery tour of the hidden spots of the world’s wine capital begins on the banks of the Garonne. At the corner of Rue Ausone and Cours d'Alsace-et-Lorraine stands the jovial bust of Decimus Magnus Ausonius, better known simply as Ausonius. This poet and winemaker from Saint Émilion is said to have produced one of the most prestigious of all vintages, which still bears his name today.

You then need to go up Rue Ausone and dive into the charming little streets before reaching the Maison de Marie Brizard. Born in 1714, this iconic Bordeaux figure devoted her life to helping the poor and needy. One day Marie took in a sick sailor, who passed on the secret of an elixir that cured every ailment. After improving on the recipe, Marie began to make the famous anisette, designed to bring comfort to people suffering from anaemia. The anise-flavoured liqueur was hugely successful, and was even served at the court of Versailles!

Close by lies Maison de Cyprien Gaulon. Before this Bordeaux printer-cum-lithographer had the brilliant idea of creating the wine labels we’re all familiar with today, bottles were simply stamped or marked with coloured threads. Although this fabulous invention may seem by-the-by to us, it isn’t, since it led to the introduction of a commercial identity that authenticated the origins of the wines.

The celebrated Rue Sainte-Catherine next door isn’t just a shopaholic’s delight! History lovers walking down the street will be overjoyed to come across the vestiges of the Grands-Carmes convent. Although only two cross-ribs of the building remain today, the label of the Tête Noire vinegar made by the fathers of the order of Carmel is still fresh in the minds of the people of Bordeaux.

Four hundred meters further down on this same unmissable street, the Victoire climbing vine takes centre stage on the eponymous square. As a result of the great care bestowed on it by generations of neighbouring pharmacists, this real Bordeaux institution has seen the vine prosper and grow since the first century AD.

And it’s all thanks to Philippe Prévôt that Bordeaux opens up like never before!

Summer 2021 marks a turning point for Château Luchey Halde! With its unceasing quest to be a role model, the estate now invites visitors to discover its environmental approach to managing this urban vineyard.

Located south of Bordeaux in Pessac-Leognan, a terroir with incredible potential, the property underwent a genuine revival in 1999. The land had served as a military training camp for decades, protecting it from urbanisation, before being taken over by Bordeaux Sciences Agro. Its new owners – one of France’s top viticulture and oenology colleges – transformed the property into a laboratory where they are laying the groundwork for the agriculture of tomorrow.

This commitment is based on three priority areas: first, encouraging sustainable development through practices that are environmentally friendly and economically viable. Secondly, setting up an agro-ecological programme based on innovation and research. And third, transmitting their know-how by hosting numerous trainees and opening the estate to the public with an enchanting new tour from April to September.

The visit begins with a walk among the vines and a presentation on the different agro-ecological infrastructures in the vineyard (beehives, a wooded area, hedgerows, bat-nesting boxes, etc.) and the key actions that have been devised to cut back on the use of plant protection products. The tour continues with an exploration of the cellar, where the emphasis is on initiatives designed to promote sustainable development (measures for driving down water and electricity consumption, reducing inputs, etc.). And, to conclude on a delicious high, you can enjoy tasting three wines and honey products.

Remember, too, that since 2016 the vineyard has been HVE (High Environmental Value) certified, a label awarded by the French Ministry of Agriculture. This certification reinforces the estate’s commitment to reducing the impact of their activities on the environment… but that's not all! Château Luchey Halde is also a member of the pilot group of the Bordeaux Cultivons Demain (“Bordeaux – Let's Grow Tomorrow”) approach launched in May 2021, which aims to give a seal of approval to the commitment of actors in the wine industry in terms of corporate social responsibility.

The property doesn’t intend to stop there: its latest ideas to date include an urban subsistence agriculture project for local collective catering!

Domaine Rieflé-Landmann, where the vineyard stretches out over the villages of Pfaffenheim, Rouffach Wetshalten and Soultzmatt, offers a unique experience to visitors with bike rides, local gastronomy and regional organic wines.

Perched atop an electric mountain bike kitted out with a GPS and collective audio guide, budding or experienced cyclists can take to the bucolic highways and byways in perfect autonomy.

There are five circuits through the vineyards to encourage them to get to know the agro-ecology values and local wines of Domaine Rieflé-Landmann in a thoroughly unique way.

At the end of the ride, stopping off at an establishment that showcases regional products will be a welcome break before the experience continues in the cellar with a guided tasting.

A wind of freedom and love of fine things is blowing across Alsace with Vélo’Vignes!