From the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, and the rivers Garonne and Rhône, Occitanie is alive with the abundant natural world that shapes its landscape. And in the vines, the region’s winemakers are going green.

Proof of this can be seen in the 1600 producers and 25 hectares of vineyards that have been converted to organic farming methods, making Occitanie the largest organic wine region in France! What's more, an increasing number of environmentally-friendly methods are being used.

An example of this can be found at Château de Chambert, a standard bearer for biodynamic methods in the Lot region thanks to the passion and drive of Philipe Lejeune. Each of the estate’s parcels is tended in harmony with its ecosystems to capture the purest expression of terroir in the bottle and showcase Cahors AOC at its very best.

Over in the Tarn, Château de Mayragues has over 20 years of experience in the field of biodynamic winegrowing. The estate also offers two guest rooms, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in this unspoilt winemaking landscape and the Gaillac wine region's gentle way of life.

Maison Cazes is one of Roussillon’s iconic wine estates and boasts 220 hectares of biodynamic vines. In the historic site’s tasting room or gourmet restaurant the estate’s Vins Doux reveal their aromatic palettes with hints of terroir.

At Abbaye de Valmagne, in the Hérault region, the Gaudart d’Allaines family continues the winemaking traditions of the site's Cistercian monks by focusing on an environmentally-friendly strategy. At the end of a visit, the estate’s organic wines can be tasted either in the monk’s former refectory or the hostel restaurant.

Retired rugby men have also become ambassadors for Occitanie’s wine terroir. At Mas des Colibris, Sébastien Galtier produces high-quality organic wines, while Gérard Bertrand has seen two of his biodynamic cuvées win a world title!

Other stars have also been drawn to Occitanie by a taste for excellence: the actor Pierre Richard at Domaine Bel-Évêque, and the former owner of Maison Cartier Alain-Dominique Perrin at Château Lagrézette, also play their part to promote the region’s exceptional wines.

Explore Chinon, a historic town surrounded by vineyards. Renowned for its eponymous wines, mostly from the Cabernet Franc grape variety and produced by almost 200 winemakers, Chinon is also the largest of the Loire Valley's red wine appellations. Its wines are delicate, elegant, and sometimes as intense as the fortress that overlooks the Vienne river and the town’s beautiful historic centre.

The Royal Fortress of Chinon has a rich past and is a must for any visitor. It was in Chinon that Joan of Arc met King Charles VII to persuade him to recapture Orléans, at the time under English occupation. Thanks to HistoPad, and virtual reality reconstructions of certain parts of the fortress, visitors are able to immerse themselves in medieval life. Looking to play? Have a go at the escape game and try to find Joan of Arc’s forgotten treasure.

Chinon is also the birthplace of François Rabelais and other important writers, each a passionate wine lover.

Take your taste buds for a spin with a visit to Domaine Charles Joguet. To discover the different types and styles of wines it produces each year take part in the discovery workshops. You’ll learn about the diversity of its wines and terroirs as well as how they cultivate the vines and make the wine. You can also enjoy wine-tasting lunches, harvesting workshops, and more.

A few kilometres from Chinon, Vignobles du Paradis offers several fun and educational ways to learn about wine and winemaking, set within the property's modern wine cellar. These include, among others, a self-service wine tasting using the Enomatic wine-by-the-glass system and an iPad, a guided tasting of 8 wines, exploring the vines and cellar (by appointment only), and tasting workshops.

Not far from Chinon, in the Indre Valley, discover the Renaissance jewel of Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the reign of François I, the château is surrounded by idyllic landscaped gardens and boasts sumptuous historic décor spanning its 400 years of history. The lavish collection of artefacts, furnishings, paintings and tapestries will bring the era to life before your very eyes.

Close by, the Azay-le-Rideau wine region sits at the confluence of the Indre and Loire rivers. It produces delicate and elegant rosé, dry-white and medium-dry white wines. To sample these delights, visit Château de l’Aulée in the heart of the Touraine- Azay le Rideau appellation. Stroll through the vineyard and discover how the vines are worked throughout the year as you follow a signposted trail with the aid of an MP3 audio guide.

Become an expert in Loire Valley sparkling wines as you learn how Crémant de Loire, one of the estate’s specialities, is made.

Further north, on the hills overlooking the Indre river, discover the wines produced by the passionate and dedicated team at Domaine Nicolas Paget. The estate has been creating its own cuvées from 3 appellations since 2001: Chinon AOC and Touraine AOC for their reds, and Touraine Azay-le-Rideau AOC for their white and rosé. All of their wines are produced in harmony with nature and the vines are tended in line with organic methods. Why not take part in some the estate’s different activities and experiences? Choose from a winemaker’s picnic, exploring on a Segway or electric scooter, sampling a selection of local produce such as “fouace” bread, Touraine goat’s cheese, Rivarennes dried pears, and more.

Amidst breathtaking scenery, enjoy a special golf and wine experience during a delightful four day and four night trip to Provence.

From the hinterland to the coast, this 225km route takes lovers of the open air, golfing greens and fine wines and food on a voyage of discovery as they explore the region’s simpler pleasures and highlights.

First stop: Barbaroux Golf Course. In the heart of Provence Verte and Verdon, this undulating and wooded 18-hole course sits in a remarkable natural setting. And with an adjoining hotel boasting 52 elegant rooms, as well as a wellness centre, this is the perfect place to both play golf and relax!

Next day it’s time for a wine tasting at Château des Demoiselles, where you’ll discover Côte de Provence AOP wines. The sensory experience continues in Roquebrune-sur-Argens with a visit to the Museum of Chocolate and Cocoa and the Maison du terroir. As for relaxation, there’s golf and a spa to enjoy! Both can be found at Domaines de Saint-Endréol with its 150-hectares of playing field and relaxation spaces. Roquebrune Golf Resort, a jewel in the Côte d’Azur's crown, organises an aperitif masterclass focusing on Château Vaudois wines and grape varieties produced in Provence’s terroir.

On the third day you’re off to family-run Château de l’Aumérade, a producer of Crus Classés wines. The trip continues with a stop in the flower-filled streets of Bormes-les-Mimosas, a village perched on a rocky outcrop. And finally, Domaine de Jasson, whose olive oil is produced from an olive grove planted in a former vineyard.

The journey draws to a close between Toulon and Bandol. After climbing Mont Faon via cable car and visiting the Memorial to the Allied Landings in Provence, steer course towards the Bandol wines oenotheque, a space dedicated to local terroirs and wines. And what better way to finish the trip in style than to practice your swing on one of the Dolce Frégate Provence Golf Club's courses, complete with sea view? As the sun sets, you can even enjoy an aperitif served at the 10th hole. 

When it comes to wine and golf, Provence certainly pulls out all the stops!

Bertrand Trepo trained as an agricultural engineer but is man of many talents. As well as being a champagne winegrower and producer he is also a chartered accountant and president of the Association for the Promotion of Coteaux Vitryats as well as Vignoble 192, and Propriété Rurale. Since 2008 he has been involved in high environmental value agriculture and is currently converting to organic practices.

Why did you decide to convert to organic farming?

My involvement pre-dates quality labelling. In 2008 I stopped using weed killer to allow what was supposed to live around the vines to actually grow. Since then, I’ve gradually increased my commitment to the environment. This has taken some time because, like many people, I inherited my vines from my parents. I had to begin by working with what they had accomplished.

Why let sheep graze among the vines?

Working organically isn’t an end in itself. I want to engage in regenerative farming. This means looking after the soil and bringing it to life, which is where the sheep play a role. They remove weeds and their droppings add life to the soil. It’s important to remember that the more alive a soil is, the more carbon it can capture. If the farming sector were to increase the living component of soil by 0.04%, this would eliminate the issue of carbon in the atmosphere. But I know that this type of farming isn’t possible for everyone. I can do this because there is a sheep farmer in the village.

Why harvest the grapes at night?

Because of the environment, the wine, out of curiosity and in the spirit of innovation. We do this to preserve the grapes because it can get very hot at harvest time. And ecologically speaking, the cheapest method of refrigeration is the night air. I was the first to work this way in Champagne and I’m delighted to see other winegrowers, and even one of the large houses, follow suit. But while these harvests are a way of adapting to the natural cycle, they are no solution to climate change.

In undulating countryside between Tours and Le Mans, explore a pocket-sized wine region that includes the Coteaux du Loir, Jasnières and Coteaux du Vendômois appellations, in the north of the Loire Valley, each connected by Loir river. Enjoy unique experiences with the winemakers, taste a palette of delicate wines and special cuvées in troglodyte cellars and fall for the charm of a magnificent local heritage set within an unspoilt natural landscape. 

At Charles Jumert, winemakers for seven generations in Villiers-sur-Loir, you will be taken on a highly original visit of Domaine de la Berthelotière by cart, followed by a tour of the cellar carved into the tufa rock. Afterwards enjoy a tasting of Coteaux du Vendômois AOC rosé – known as ‘le gris’ – served with a selection of local produce.

At Domaine Patrice Colin in Thoré-la-Rochette, you’ll be greeted by a couple of passionate winemakers. Committed to working the soil, Patrice Colin runs his estate in the Coteaux du Vendômois appellation using organic farming principles and is a true ambassador for its terroir. Visitors can explore the troglodyte cellars and sample the estate’s wines. The fruity and well balanced red wines produced from the iconic local grape variety Pineau d’Aunis are very popular thanks to their characteristic spice notes.

A visit to the troglodyte cellars at Domaine Lelais in Ruillé-sur-Loir are well worth a detour! Several kilometres long and carved out of the rock several centuries ago, this labyrinth of galleries, which also contains a museum dedicated to Bacchus, can be visited on a tour guided by winemaker Claire Lelais. Stay inside the troglodyte cellars for a taste of the famous white wines of Jasnières AOC and Coteaux du Loir AOC, the latter also available as a red and rosé wine.

Over at Domaine de Cézin in Marçon, the Fresneau family has been producing wines from these two appellations in the south of the Sarthe region for four generations. The owners are truly passionate about their work and run a wine tasting workshop. How should you hold the glass? What to look for? How can you identify a wine’s aromas? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more. Domaine de Cézin also offers a visit to its troglodyte cellar as well as a tasting of its wines, all produced according to sustainable methods.

As you leave La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, why not take the Loire Valley Wine Route, either by bike or car, and explore some of the region’s finest producers.

Continue your trip to the Loir Valley with a visit to Vendôme, recognised as a City of Art and History. The city contains both a rich historical and natural heritage, plus countless delightful gardens. To enjoy a picnic among the vines on the hills above Vendôme head to "pente des Coutis". Whether as a family or with friends, this amazing view of the abbey and its castle is the perfect spot for a relaxing break.

Vineyards and heritage are inseparable in the Loire Valley! As can be seen in the troglodyte caves converted into cellars to age wine, and the prestigious Loire châteaux surrounded by vineyards.