Cave de Saint-Chinian won the “Outstanding Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies 2022 in the “Art, Culture & Savoir-faire” category

In 2013, Art en cave was created by the Karactère communication agency and the Cave de Saint-Chinian association, the AOC’s first cooperative cellar, which was created in 1937.

Every year, two contemporary artists are given the freedom to express their talent within the walls of the wine cellars, based on a defined wine theme. The walls, vats, hatchways, pipes… their playground is without limit.

As for festivities, the cellar hosts shows and other colourful concerts during major events, and more regularly organises themed evenings with a tasting of a specific cuvée.

The 500-year-old Domaine de Chambord offers a blend of nature and architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic feature of the French landscape, the estate is constantly reinventing itself and working for a better planet while safeguarding its heritage.

Chambord boasts a biodiversity that can be found nowhere else, and the estate is now keen to establish itself as a front-line player in the ecological transition. In concrete terms, this means conserving traditional species and undertaking research into sustainable development and a project to set up a diversified farm with permaculture vegetable gardens on six hectares at the foot of the monument. The aim of these various initiatives is to raise awareness among the public – especially the very young – through a series of events and workshops on the theme of our natural and architectural heritage. Visitors are also invited to take up the role of “locavores” throughout their visit to the estate – in other words, only eating products made in situ.

In line with this eco-responsible approach, a 14-hectare vineyard using integrated techniques has been created on the Ormetrou farm, based on this same idea of heritage conservation. Historic grape varieties have been re-introduced to this enormous plot that is less than two kilometres from the château. The grapes here are harvested by hand to produce and bottle the estate’s wines on the site. There are two cuvées: a single-varietal white made from Romorantin grapes, which is soon to have AOP recognition, and a red AOP made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay.

The old buildings of the much-vaunted hamlet of Ormetrou have also been spruced up. There is now a permanent wine storehouse with an incredible view of the château, where receptions and wine tastings will be held in 2022. The redevelopment also includes the gîte known as La Hannetière, the latest edition to the estate’s accommodation package, which already boasts three other gîtes: La Salamandre, Le Cerf and La Gabillière. Visitors may also opt for a stay at the 4* hotel Le Relais de Chambord, which has a spa and bistronomic restaurant showcasing products from the Domaine de Chambord.

Would you like to take this wonderful experience a stage further? Anyone adopting a vine will receive a batch of bottles at a preferential rate together with a nameplate and an adoption certificate!

Les domaines indépendants du vignoble alsacien accueillent les visiteurs curieux lors d’une excursion d’une demi-journée où ils pourront découvrir le métier de vigneron de l’intérieur.

Cette visite immersive initie les visiteurs aux activités qui ponctuent le quotidien d’un vignoble.

Après une balade pédagogique dans les vignes, il est temps de se mettre au travail ! Guidés par un vigneron, les participants s’essayeront à certaines des tâches saisonnières sur le terrain.

L’aventure se poursuit ensuite dans la cave, où vous apprendrez tout sur la vinification et serez initié à l’art de la dégustation. Enfin, l’expérience est complétée par la remise d’un diplôme aux apprentis vignerons.

Vignerons d’un jour, c’est vrai, mais amateurs de vin pour la vie !

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