A sparkling and sweet experience that fans of bubbles and cocoa won’t want to miss in the Champagne wine region.

At Manoir Devaux, uncover the secrets behind the world’s most famous sparkling wine as you explore the educational trail that winds through the estate, its glasshouses and its dovecote, included on the list of historic monuments. The wine-themed stroll ends with a gastronomical journey as you enjoy 4 champagne and chocolate praline pairings that are guaranteed to add some fizz to your taste buds!

Since 2012, Stéphanie Barousse and Marion Merker have been in innovation overdrive to promote Château de La Dauphine in Fronsac. Surrounded by an organic and biodynamic vineyard, this 18th century charterhouse is a unique site located beside the Dordogne river.

Why did you decide to open La Dauphine to visitors?

S.B It’s a fabulous location, hilly, with umbrella pines… Reminiscent of a Tuscan amphitheatre that dives into the Dordogne. The main house, which dates back to 1750, and its ultra-modern winemaking facilities, were assets that hadn’t been exploited prior to 2010. It seemed wrong to keep visitors away.

M.M We focused on the history of the château, where the mother of Louis XIV, then the dauphine of France, stayed. Very few properties in the Bordeaux region have been entirely restored, from the façade to the engravings, mouldings, furniture, etc. And even fewer have a vineyard in their own grounds.

And since then you have constantly revamped and expanded your offer.

M.M Each year we pretty much develop a new workshop or tour, always at an affordable price: our visitors are our future consumers! Some people are interested in our environmentally-friendly practices, others prefer wine pairing... Our most recent product is a trip in a 2CV, with a tour of the vineyard, excursion to a fishing shack from where you can fish for shad and eel, followed by a visit to a truffle field, a local Fronsac tradition. The highlight of the day? A wine tasting of our two reds and our rosé at the top of a slope with a panoramic view, served with lamprey rillettes!

You’ve received several awards from “Best of Wine Tourism”, an organisation that recognizes the world’s best wine tourism experiences. What does this recognition mean to you?

S.B It’s very rewarding to see our team recognised for all their hard work, but also a challenge because it forces you to take a fresh look at everything you do. We started from scratch in 2012 but now receive 5,000 visitors a year, over 80% of whom come from outside France. We are proud of our success.

Dedicated to the riches and history of the Rhône Valley, Caveau du Château is an unmissable visit for wine lovers – and it's just 30 minutes from Lyon.

Created by Maison Guigal, this wine tourism venue presents a wide range of Rhône appellations from four properties: Domaine Guigal, Maison Vidal-Fleury, Domaine de Bonserine and Château de Nalys.

Several tasting formulas – each followed by a tour of the museum – introduce individual guests and corporate clients to the first-rate terroir and the expertise of the local winegrowers.

It is a beautiful place that pays tribute to great wines and where you can enjoy a uniquely sociable time!

Guiding novice and advanced wine lovers through Bordeaux's vines and wines has been the ambitious mission of the École du Vin de Bordeaux, or Bordeaux Wine School, since it was first founded 30 years ago!

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the institution in the heart of Gironde’s capital has expanded in size and kitted itself out with cutting-edge digital devices. Short online tutorials, shared on social media, have been added to the wide range of oenological courses designed to bring an understanding of wine to a wider audience.

The courses offered by this unique school are as varied as the region’s wine!

Whether you pick a two-hour training session, full-day introduction to wine, or evening class, one thing is certain: the content will be both educational and fun. Instead of being taught by traditional lecturers, the school’s courses are led by passionate winemakers, cellarmasters, oenologists and sommeliers, all keen to share their expertise. This special experience means that participants are instructed in the theoretical and practical aspects of winemaking by men and women who work in the vineyards all year round.

From wine tasting techniques for beginners, learning how to blend your own Bordeaux wine, mastering the art of wine pairing, and learning sommelier skills, there’s something for all skill levels and interests. The modules are built around topics that have been specifically designed to allow people to learn more about the world of wine, the typical grape varieties found in Bordeaux, and this famous wine region’s iconic appellations, at their own pace.

Look, smell, taste: there’s stimulation for all the senses during the school’s discovery activities. The wines from the different terroirs slowly reveal their secrets through their intense colours filled with shimmering hues, powerful bouquets infused with delicate aromas, and small sips that promise a long finish.

In Alsace and Champagne, winemakers whose values are rooted in a deep respect for the soil, invite nature lovers, gourmets and those keen to try something new to dine with them in the open air.

In spring and in autumn, the Cathar Country and Fenouillèdes Train Rouge Special (Red Train Special) takes 22 passengers on an amazing sensory journey into the heart of the Agly Valley.

While the voice of the tour guide, the melody of a harp and the gentle sounds of nature fill the ears, the eyes take in the Cathar fortresses that rise proudly out of the vines.

Taste, smell and touch are stirred by the gourmet meal prepared by a local chef, paired with local wines, during stops in stunning locations.

This sensory adventure, with its unique flavours and tastes, continues during a visit to one of the valley's winemakers with a tasting of regional wines, including the Maury hors d’âge, served with appetizers.

After touring the vineyards – where the vines are grown in accordance with Terra Vitis integrated agriculture – head for the cellars of Domaine Gérard Brisson, home to a sublime 18th century vaulted maturing cellar!

Once you're familiar with the traditional winemaking and working methods, you can discover the wonderful world of wine and cheese pairings thanks to our passionate producers.

The estate team will explain all about the history of the wines and cheeses. They will then introduce you to the specific tasting techniques with delicious and unforgettable pairings between the estate's wines and hand-picked regional cheeses.

It's an all-embracing food and wine experience that will serve as inspiration for your own celebratory meals!

One of the Jura’s most prominent figures, Louis Pasteur left his mark on the world of wine with his work on fermentation. Follow in his footsteps on the Route Pasteur.

With its waterways lined by idyllic forests and slopes dotted with vines, this 47 km route passes through several key sites that played a key role in the life of this famous scientist. Joining the northern section of the Jura Wine Route, this tour combines a dive into the incredible destiny of the French scientist with a foray into the wine region.

In Dole, on the fringes of the wine tourism route, you’ll find Louis Pasteur’s birthhome. Now a museum, it makes the perfect starting point for those keen to immerse themselves in the life of a great man whose presence can still be felt across the region. Explore the biologist's life through the large collection of personal items and a host of fun activities. The exhibits cover some of his revolutionary medical and scientific discoveries, such as the rabies vaccine.

In Arbois, capital of the Jura wine region, you can visit Louis Pasteur’s house, unchanged since the late 19th century. Discover Pasteur's day-to-day life and research work, from his bedroom to his personal laboratory, in this authentic setting. It was here, amidst the peaceful rows of vines, that he carried out his pioneering pasteurisation work by studying the fermentation and vinification processes. His experiments on grapes and wine also paved the way for the core principles of modern oenology.

Louis Pasteur's experimental vineyard is still carefully maintained in the clos de Rosières, in the village of Montigny-lès-Arsures, where the Jura’s five iconic grape varieties grow on a half-hectare plot of land. From the north to the south of the wine region, this rich terroir is cultivated thanks to the know-how of talented winemakers. Vins Jaunes and Vins de Paille are the most famous wines produced in a region that has no fewer than 7 AOC.

Follow in the footsteps of Louis Pasteur and uncover the pleasant surprises that lie beneath the region’s history, science and vines.