The art of living – that’s the magic phrase in the vineyards of the Loire Valley! Witness the numerous estates that celebrate the terroir with pairings based on the region’s finest dishes and top wines.

Château Gaudrelle, situated in Rochecorbon not far from Tours, has concocted a workshop for all gourmet cooks! A chef from Touraine hosts cooking lessons in the intimate ambiance of one of the troglodyte galleries on the property. Utensils in hand, participants follow his guidance and advice as they make recipes showcasing fresh, local and seasonal products. At the end of the workshop, the apprentice cooks cast off their aprons and pull up a chair to eat. The meal is an opportunity to exchange ideas in a friendly atmosphere and taste the dishes they’ve prepared, all washed down with a selection of house wines.

At Domain du Viking in Reugny, it's the AOP Vouvray that comes under the spotlight! Several tasting packages are available that will introduce you to the vineyard’s iconic wine. And a cheese platter with four food and wine pairings means you’ll be able to enjoy the appellation in all its aspects. Aficionados of sweet white wines can also take delight in some refined amuse-bouches while savouring a vertical tasting of eight cuvées produced on the estate over the years.

When it comes to the Pays de la Loire, other domains offer visitors tasty breaks. This is the case, for instance, at Château de la Ragotière, where you can discover five perfect pairings from the most classic to the most surprising on a gourmet workshop devoted to white wine and cheese. The Orée du Sabia cellar in Brem-sur-Mer is a veritable showcase of local wines and hand-crafted products. The sunny terrace is the venue for aperitif tastings that are organised to highlight all the riches of the local terroir. While the kids have fun playing the games provided just for them, parents and friends can relish a genuinely sociable time in each other’s company.

The winegrowers of the Loire Valley are certain of one thing: it is by marrying wine and gastronomy that their region’s best dishes reveal the wealth of their cuvées!

Green initiatives are popping up all over the vineyards of Nouvelle-Aquitaine! Here you’ll find a handful of ideas for places to visit where you can enjoy down-to-earth experiences that are sure to “pick” your curiosity.

In the Medoc, the train journey to the Rose Pauillac wine-growers' cooperative is the perfect start to an immersive ecological adventure in the world of wine – thanks to a sound and light show held in the heart of the cellars! A blend of the imaginary and the real, the vines reveal all their secrets here as young and old alike look on in amazement.

The Quai Cyrano wine bar in Bergerac will also wow oenophiles at the same time as tickling their taste buds. And for good reason, too! The bar welcomes visitors to its vault or terrace overlooking the Dordogne, where they can enjoy a tasting of AOC wines produced locally and from organic, biodynamic or integrated agriculture.

When it comes to wonderful views, Maison Martell (which boasts a long-standing commitment to the environment) also makes a strong impression with its cocktail bar towering over the town of Cognac from the roof of the historic venue. When the weather is fine, visitors can enjoy the roof top with a glass of cognac in their hand and their head in the clouds.

Do you love wine and are a fan of slow tourism? Well, the island of Oléron has everything going for it! After a getaway on foot or by bike, the Chapia wine bar is the perfect place to enjoy a glass. Drinks include the Oléron spritz, a cocktail made from Cognac liqueur flavoured with orange, and other wines and spirits from Nouvelle-Aquitaine, including Pineau d'Oléron.

For a luxurious, peaceful and eco-friendly getaway, head to the Hotel Parc Beaumont in Pau! Geared towards good practices, the hotel is an ideal starting point for escaping into the vineyards just next to Jurançon. There are over 60 estates around and about where you can discover the appellation’s dry and sweet white wines.

If you feel the call of nature, Domaine Mouguy welcomes family and friends to the Basque Country. On the agenda you’ll find a donkey ride where you can take in the beauty of the terraced vines of Irouléguy. This great breath of fresh air is followed by a tasting by the glass of vintages from the property.

Across the entire region, the countless sustainable approaches emerging from the earth create memories that will also stand the test of time!

The way Noilly Prat is made is full of mystery… This Explorer tour takes you on a journey to the heart of the manufacturing process of this internationally-renowned vermouth.

When you cross the threshold of the must-see Maison Noilly-Prat, the world of vermouth begins to surrender itself to you on an unforgettable sensory adventure.

In the port of Marseillan, your ambassador will take you behind the scenes of the production process, introducing you to the methods for aging the wines that only the Maison holds the secrets to. You will then be invited to explore the century-old cellars.

Tasting wines that are being aged behind the walls of Sainte-Anne, a guided tasting session of the Noilly Prat collection, a demonstration of the serving customs and traditions, a guided tour of the Musée de la Marque – this is just a glimpse of what is waiting for participants in a perfectly enchanting setting.

The history of France is inseparable from the history of Charente eau de vie at Château de Cognac. And for good reason, too! This historic monument is where BARON OTARD & D’USSÉ cognacs are aged.

The site opens its doors to the public on the quays of the river Charente throughout the year. Behind the stone walls - birthplace of Francis I - visitors can discover a series of rooms decorated in Gothic and Renaissance style bearing witness to centuries past.

They then enter the ageing cellars where there is a detailed explanation about how the cognacs are made.

Last of all, there is a blind tasting of VSOP and XO D'Ussé. It’s a sensory experience that is as unique as the drinks that are served!

This vineyard, situated half-way along the Alsace Wine Route, is 100% organic and biodynamic. It’s a lively spot, a place to meet people that is open to everyone.

The Dietrichs are a family of highly enthusiastic, dedicated winegrowers. They have chosen a hands-off approach to making wine so they can preserve the diversity of their vineyard and the unique character of their wines, whose taste changes according to the season.

The Alsatian grape varieties they grow are left to ferment in a bioclimatic cellar… in straw! Why? To cut down on the use of fossil fuels.

This highly unusual estate organises regular and one-off events with an original touch, including a traditional tasting of the best vintages, a tour of the cellars, walks or bike rides surrounded by the vines, food-and-wine soirées, or music and food-truck evenings, as well as many other festivities...

There’s no shortage of things to do in the unspoilt Têt Valley, where you can enjoy your fill of exhilarating experiences based on the region's terroir and wines – all to the great delight of the curious visitor!

Dominated by the iconic outline of the Canigou on one side, and bordered by the Mediterranean on the other, this fertile region is an out-and-out land of plenty nestling in the hollow of the hills of Roussillon. In this outstanding setting, where nature provides the most impressive spectacle, winegrowers and producers make the region pulsate with their passion. What better way to meet the key players than heading out on one of the four trails on the Route des Vins et des Terroirs that crisscross the valley?

Walking along the different circuits is the ideal opportunity to discover a wide range of local products designed for visitors. The local cottage industry is also rich and diverse: cheese, olive oil, honey, Catalan charcuterie, fruit and vegetables from market gardening – not to mention the wines, of course! The vineyards around and about put the spotlight on AOP Côtes du Roussillon, PGI Côtes Catalanes and natural sweet wines.

As you travel through the villages with their Romanesque architecture and bucolic roads, winegrowers and wine merchants will give everyone the warmest of welcomes. On your visits to the vineyards and tastings in the cellars, you can share a convivial interlude and interesting discussions with  enthusiastic, exciting professionals. It’s also an opportunity to discover the full range of regional wines from the exceptional terroirs made with down-to-earth know-how.

From the vines to the flowering orchards, from mountainous landscapes to coastal beaches, from markets in village squares to the lively narrow streets of Perpignan, the Vallée de la Têt offers nothing less than a complete change of scene. Anyone who is a fan of outdoor activities, loves wide open spaces or adores gastronomy – not forgetting backpackers in search of adventure – are sure to find what they are looking for in the heart of this welcoming, bountiful destination!

Bordered by the Mediterranean coast and the foothills of the Pyrenees, the Vallée du Tech reveals its many faces along the Route des Vins et des Terroirs. All the riches of Roussillon are here for you to enjoy!

From the iconic Vermilion Coast to Albères, along the banks of the Tech or in the valleys of Aspres, a dizzying array of surprising discoveries lies in store for visitors. On the four tourist routes that cross every nook and cranny of the valley, nature, heritage and the talents of the local producers take it in turns to come under the spotlight.

Between Argelès-sur-Mer and Cerbère, walkers can admire the beauty of the coast along the cliff paths. A number of viewpoints open onto the fragrant scrubland, hidden coves and colourful fishing ports. As you head deeper into the hinterland, the seaside landscape gradually gives way to superb forests and the mountain hollowed out by valleys and gorges. Lost in the middle of these outstanding landscapes that are ideal for hiking, marvellous tiny Romanesque chapels and charming villages can be found at every bend in the path, just waiting to be visited.

In this wind-swept, sun-drenched environment, the vineyards have thrived so much that they have become a key feature in the identity of the landscape. The vines hug the rolling hills or plunge in terraces into the azure Mediterranean. Just about everywhere along the itineraries, dozens of estates and wine-growers’ cooperatives open their doors to the public so they can discover the wines produced in this exceptional region. The locality boasts no fewer than 14 PDOs and two PGIs. Whites, reds and natural sweet wines: the entire palette of colours is represented with a multitude of grape varieties!

Alongside the winegrowers, other producers endeavour to tap the terroir for the best local flavours. Myriad artisanal products are waiting to be discovered on the local farms: vinegars, olive oils, anchovies, Catalan lamb, fruit and vegetables – and even confectionery! The know-how here is diverse and always respectful of the local traditions.

With all these treasures, there’s no end to the treats in store for you in the Vallée du Tech!

In Roussillon, to the north of the Route des Vins et des Terroirs, four paths pass through the Vallée de l’Agly, revealing its natural beauty and wine-growing landscapes to our great delight!

From the Mediterranean coast to the foothills of the mountains, the vineyards of the Vallée de l’Agly flourish in an outstanding setting, the wilderness rubbing shoulders with a rich historical heritage. Dolmens, chapels, châteaux and former border posts – all witness to centuries past – stand tall in a truly spectacular environment that is just right for rambling.

Four tourist circuits cross this region that is home to a thousand treasures, with a string of wine villages ready and waiting for anyone who is curious and has a thirst for adventure. From the magnificent ponds and lagoons that run alongside the Salanque road to the green forests bordering the paths in Fenouillèdes; and from the spectacular gorges of the Crest and Limestone Trail to the fragrant scrubland of the road to Agly, vines have carved out a niche on a mosaic of terroirs.

White, red or rosé, the locally-produced wines come in all three colours, grouped together into several PDOs and PGIs. The region’s wine-growers are more than happy to welcome experienced oenophiles and beginners alike to their estate so they can introduce these wines to the general public. They organise walks through the vineyards, tours of the cellars and introductions to wine-tasting.

And there are other attractions to help you explore these riches in a novel way. Adventurous souls can climb aboard the legendary Train Rouge on a sensory journey to the heart of the valley. Anyone who enjoys playing at being a detective will love taking part in a half-day, life-size escape game in the vineyard. And we haven’t forgotten the more athletic among you either! There’s hiking, climbing and trips over the water, meaning there’s no shortage of outdoor activities in the area, just right for enjoying an open-air aperitif tasting the region’s various vintages.

With its different landscapes, heritage and wines, the Vallée de l’Agly is full of authentic character, and there’s always a surprise in store for visitors!

Fancy a surprise? Agence RP Events organises fun activities in the vineyards of Burgundy for individuals and companies alike

Agence RP Events takes you on a unique journey in the footsteps of the celebrated film La Grande Vadrouille (literally "The Great Stroll") by Gérard Oury, where a blend of culture, nature and wine tourism has given birth to La Petite Vadrouille de Bourgogne®.

The world of wines and vines will reveal its secrets over the course of a day as you visit the iconic sites in Burgundy where the movie’s cult scenes were filmed. The morning is devoted to culture and heritage, as you dive into the secret world of how the film was made at the Hospices de Beaune and the “Kommandantur” at Meursault. Next, head for Bout du Monde on a journey into the countryside to an exceptional cirque (an amphitheatre-like valley), where you will discover the Hautes Côtes de Beaune in a new light.

Six stages of the Route des Grands Crus de la Côte de Beaune await participants in the afternoon. At each stop in these outstanding, famous villages – Santenay, for example, Meursault or Pommard – you will have fun discovering the wines of Burgundy with an original touch on a special activity.

Agence RP Events organises other discovery tours, such as From Corton to Montrachet, an excursion by bicycle, in a vintage 2CV or even in a VIP minibus. At the end of this exciting day, the distinctive character of the Côte de Beaune and the climats of Burgundy will no longer hold any secrets for you.

Thrill seekers will opt for Rando Sensation ©, which is organised around the Cirque du Monde, where the programme includes hiking in an incomparable landscape, abseiling for beginners and an optional transfer and flight by helicopter over the Côte de Beaune.

There are many other unusual and innovative wine-themed activities – which can be tailored to suit your needs – waiting to be discovered as you explore the vineyards of Burgundy from every angle! These include assembling a barrel, old-fashioned wine bottling, an olfactory trail and so much more...