A landscape of valleys dotted with cypress trees, churches and vineyards. Get on a Vespa motor scooter for an unusual wine discovery tour among the vineyards of Gaillac in ‘the little Tuscany’ of the Tarn district.  

On the country roads of the Gaillac wine district, the Vespa scooter is the ideal way to appreciate these picture-postcard landscapes where you will discover ancient medieval villages and chateaux perched on hillsides. Visit Puycelsi and Castelnau-de-Montmiral, which are listed among the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’, and the episcopal city of Albi, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meet the winemakers, taste the Gaillac wines and savour delicious gourmet food. From your Vespa scooter, watch the beauty of ‘little Tuscany’ unfold before your eyes.

On the programme of this trip around the Gaillac vineyards: medieval fortified towns and chateaux set in a landscape of vineyards bathed in southern sunshine and accompanied by Gaillac wines!

From chateau to chateau, crossing hills and valleys, the Country of the Medieval Villages and the Vineyards of Gaillac wine trip takes you to charming hillside villages and the famous ancient fortified towns. Labelled Vineyards & Discoveries (Vignobles & Découvertes), it crosses the wine district of Gaillac, near the town of Albi, in the Tarn. The wines of Gaillac, the landscape and the history combine to make this a charming and pleasurable experience. 

Mahogany, copper and amber: Savour the colours of Armagnac and its home, the friendly wine district and heritage-rich region of Gascony. 

Winding among wine cellars and ancient stone, the vineyard and heritage route takes you to the most beautiful villages in Gascony, where you can enjoy historic monuments as well as the vineyards whose simple elegance is an essential part of the prestigious Armagnac brandy. The must-sees? Condom, the historic capital; Saint-Puy, the birthplace of the Pousse-Rapière liqueur; the Cistercian abbeys of Falaran; and the fortified village of Larressingle, described as ‘the little Carcassonne of Gers’. All along the route, the largest wine cellars of the Armagnac district are open for tastings. 

Passionate winemaker, Jean-Max Manceau offers several escapades in the vineyard of Chinon at the Domaine, on foot or by “gabare” boat on the Vienne to discover the wines of the Loire Valley and the gastronomy of Touraine

Winemaker from father to son, Jean-Max Manceau has been working on the Domaine de Noiré since 2001, in the heart of the Chinon AOC. Committed to the Vignobles & Découvertes approach, his 18-hectare estate is managed using organic and biodynamic methods. The wines, made from the Cabernet Franc grape variety, are highly expressive with aromas of red and black fruits. "I have a passion for the vine and its history. I like to talk about my job, to praise my vineyard. That's why my wife and I offer a real wine tourism service", says the winemaker, whose estate has been awarded the label "Cave touristique d'Excellence" for the quality of its welcome.

Tasting visit with meal in a troglodytic cellar, hike, and boat on the Vienne River.

The discovery of the vineyards, the landscapes and the historical city of Chinon can be done through a visit-tasting at the domain with a meal in a troglodytic cellar, in a boat on the Vienne River or during a hike. The meal is prepared by Christophe Duguin, restaurateur in Chinon, while the boatman Julien Ayrault ensures the trips in the boat on the Vienne. Also, on the program are walking tours to the impressive royal fortress of Chinon and aperitif-concerts that take place on three Friday evenings during the summer at the estate to combine wine and music. "The vineyard always has a history, a traceability. Wine tourists want to understand all these aspects and not taste a wine identical to that of the neighbors," says Jean-Max Manceau. The experience ends in the cellar with a tasting of the best vintages, with evocative names: Soif de Tendresse, Elégance or Caractère. The signature of a grand cru winemaker!

In the Loire Valley, chateaux and vineyards go together. Visit the famous vineyards and their wine cellars to taste the Loire Valley wines and stay at the Château to spend a royal night!

Located South of Nantes, discover the Château de la Cassemichère and one of its 3 b & b bedrooms. No doubt you will enjoy your stay in this renowned property famous  for being the craddle of Muscadet. Of course, wine-tasting is an absolute must! Then make a stop at the Coteaux-du-Layon for a tasting of the famous wines of Anjou. Stay at the Chateau Soucherie in a charming guest room decorated with style with antique pieces of furniture carefully selected. Visit the wine cellar of this exceptional vineyard made from the famous white Tuffeau stone and taste the wines of the Loire in the wine cellar or on the terrace.

In the heart of the Vouvray wine area, discover the Clos de l’Epinay, an old 18th century farmhourse and its two spacious guest rooms at the vineyard. Tasting of white wines. Walks in the vineyard. The winery is renowned for its excellent welcome.

Then head for the wines of Touraine, between Chenonceaux and Amboise, where you will taste reds, rosés and whites at the Chateau de Fontenay, before spending the night in one of the delightful guest rooms at the vineyard, surrounded by 12 hectares of vines.

Travel through the most beautiful vineyards of France’s south-west, following a carefully prepared route, and at each stage discover a prestigious museum.

A vineyard, a museum! This four-day round trip takes you to the vineyards of south-west France and around the greatest museums of the Occitania region. The first stop is a visit to the Gaillac vineyard and the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in the heart of the former episcopal city of Albi, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then we head to the Aveyron, home to the exceptional Soulages Museum in Rodez and the Marcillac vineyard. The next day takes us to the Lot district and the Henri Martin Museum at Cahors. The trip finishes with visits to the Fronton vineyard and the cultural jewel of Montauban: the Ingres Museum.