English
events

Picnic with an Independent Winegrower — Vigneron Indépendant®

Fancy escaping for a breath of fresh air and a spot of culture? Then why not join in Europe’s biggest picnic over the Pentecost weekend at the ninth Pique-Nique chez le Vigneron Indépendant®?

Nearly 400 wine estates across France are opening their doors and sharing their know-how and passion for wine.

 

Bring your own picnic and the independent winemakers will provide their wine, the fruit of their labour and an object of pride.

 

It’s an open invitation for you to discover a craft that is intimately linked to the local terroir and traditions.

 

There are some fine surprises in store, with over 1,000 events and activities for young and old alike.

Let’s all visit a vineyard!

 

infos
events

Just Rosé in Sanary-sur-Mer

Sanary-sur-Mer has been hosting the International Rosé Wine Festival for about ten years!

Sanary-sur-Mer will be decked out in pink for a long weekend in early May . It’s always a festive and highly social occasion, with a variety of activities weaving their way across the town from its charming Provençal streets to the sea port. 

 

Though the festival focuses on rosé wine, the agenda ranges far and wide! In addition to wine tasting, Just Rosé is also a good opportunity to explore the local heritage, attend artistic and cultural events or take part in the many different activities and games organised for young and old alike.

 

In fact, Just Rosé is an absolute must, with large numbers of winegrowers — big names and small producers — on hand to help you discover their cuvées.

 

 

infos
Product

Opening of the La Cavale cellar

Designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, this audacious new building not only complies with industry codes but also showcases the region’s heritage, with the materials evoking the region around the complex, the Luberon Natural Park.

 

A visit to La Cavale will take you to the heart of the area’s oenological heritage, enlisting all your senses with its educational tours, an “olfactory bar” and tastings.

 

La Cavale offers a range of tours and events, so why not come and discover this unique venue?

events

Chardonnay Day in Burgundy

In May: Chardonnay under the spotlight again — on social networks and in its native Burgundy!

On Chardonnay Day — dreamt up in California several years ago — everyone is invited to share their experiences of the eponymous grape variety on social networks using the #ChardonnayDay and #Burgundy hashtags.

 

This annual event has now spread far beyond the borders of California, and is celebrated in all four corners of the globe. If you want to take part in Chardonnay mania, go online on at the end of May!

 

If the world of virtual reality isn’t your thing, head for the village of Chardonnay — where else? — in Burgundy, the venue for the special day’s festivities. The programme, which will be very convivial, includes meetings with winegrowers, some gastronomic cooking and a bit of music.

 

Chardonnay will, of course, be the star of the evening, with tastings beginning at the end of the day on the Place du Millénaire!

 

infos
Product

Loire Valley Tours: excursions in the heart of the Loire Valley

Fancy a day out in the Loire Valley’s vineyards? Then take a road trip and explore the chateaux and wines of this iconic region.

No need to plan your itinerary, we’ve got it covered! A private minibus with driver and guided visits and tastings are all included in your “The Greatest Loire Valley” package: everything you need for the perfect trip around the finest locations in the Loire Valley wine region.

 

No trip to the chateaux of the Loire would be complete without a visit to the Renaissance jewel that is Chambord, and this package is no exception. A royal residence built on the orders of François I, this stone giant soars out of a forest the size of Paris! This historic monument will impress you both with the majestic complexity of its architecture and its mind-boggling proportions: behind the 156 metres of its façade are 400 rooms plus the famous double helix staircase, said to have been designed by Léonard da Vinci.

Floor by floor, throughout the galleries, large halls and small rooms, discover the secrets from over 500 years of French history... And let’s not forget the splendid formal French gardens that adorn this stunning site with their magnificent flowerbeds and borders.

 

Next it’s time for a visit to Les Caves Duhard, a wine merchant and cellar, where you can enjoy a thematic tour of vintage wines and an original sensory journey through Loire Valley wines.

Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil… A sommelier will share the secrets of these fine wines during a tasting, followed by a chance to sample cheeses, charcuterie and other French delicacies during a wine and food pairing session.

 

Your next stop on this tour of the Loire: the Château de Chenonceau. Many women, from Catherine de' Medici to Diane de Poitiers, have made their mark on this chateau.

An influence that has lent Chenonceau, famed for its distinctive bridge-like silhouette, the name “Château des Dames”. Their impact can be spotted throughout the property, particularly as you stroll through the sumptuous gardens.

videos
Product

Wine and gastronomy: a Sancerre way of life

From its rocky peak, Sancerre offers an uninterrupted view of the Loire and its wine region. This small village is two hours from Paris and the perfect destination for those looking to explore Sancerre's charm!

Close your eyes and imagine rippling slopes that stretch as far as the eyes can see. Visualise these hills dotted with tiny wine villages and, as a backdrop and amid the never ending vines, the snaking line of the gently flowing Loire river. Get the picture? This is the view from Sancerre, a small medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop, in the heart of the Centre Loire wine district. And you won’t be short of places from which to enjoy this view: from the Porte César esplanade to the Hôtel Panoramic’s vast terrace, the hilltop has the perfect spots from which to sample this splendid panorama.

 

While Sancerre’s charm lies in the valley's magnificent landscape, its identity can be found in its rich terroir. You can uncover the different aspects of this terroir at a wide range of sites, including La Maison des Sancerre. This centre for wine tourism offers a fun and educational introduction to the appellation’s wines. This includes: 4D cinema, animated terroir map, a scented garden to explore the world of aromas, and activities for children.

 

To continue this unique journey into the world of wine, visit Domaine de la Garenne and enjoy a guided tasting in its cellars. Just a stone’s throw away you’ll find a selection of venues where you can discover other local produce: from the fine dining offered by the Le Laurier restaurant in Saint Satur, to the Au P’tit Goûter restaurant in Chavignol, a hamlet famed for its goats cheeses, and the Ferme des Chapotons in Menetou-Râtel, where you’ll have a chance to taste the region’s specialities. Prepare your taste buds for some nonnettes (small iced gingerbread cakes), honey, croquets (almond biscuits), and more!

 

And if you’re looking for a spot of relaxation, then climb aboard the Raboliot, a typical local boat, for a trip down the Loire river. To the sound of the boat gliding through the water, Sylvain, its captain, will share the river’s many tales and secrets.

If you’re looking for somewhere that offers a taste of the good life, then Sancerre is the place for you.

Éric Louis

Éric Louis is a passionate winemaker with a keen passion to share his profession, wine, vineyard and his family’s rich history.

Pauline Louis founded the estate in 1860 and travelled across France selling her wine at markets. She was succeeded by her son Julien, then it was her grandson Léon’s turn to take the reins and continue the family tradition. Léon’s marriage to Ginette resulted in two estates being combined to create Les Celliers de Pauline, named in honour of his grandmother.

 

The popularity of Sancerre wines grew in the 1970s, both in France and beyond its borders. At the same time the work of Éric’s father, Léon Louis, began to bear fruit and Domaine des Celliers de la Pauline developed widespread renown.

 

Éric Louis uses both modern vinification techniques and know-how passed on by his ancestors to produce a wide range of wines, from Sancerre to Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou-Salon, Quincy and Crémant de Loire. His cellar also contains “Cuvée Pauline”, a white and red Sancerre produced in honour of his great-grandmother.

 

Éric Louis is the fourth generation to work the vines and is a passionate winemaker keen to share his profession, terroir and family history. He has therefore opened his wine estate to the public, offering comprehensive visits to the wine cellars. The estate has also been awarded Tourisme & Handicap, France Passion and Vignobles & Découvertes status.

 

Visitors can also enjoy a guided tasting of seven wines served with typical products from the local terroir, including the famous Crottin de Chavignol goats cheese.

And children can have fun too, with their very own blind tasting of “mystery” syrups.

DISCOVER ALSO

Product

Villa Baulieu: luxury, peace and voluptuousness in Provence !

Villa Baulieu, nouvelle écriture du Château Beaulieu pour renouer avec le passé italianisant (florentin) de la demeure. C’est aussi la signature de leurs Très Grands Vins (TGV) AOC Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence.

The gamble has paid off for this high-end guest house restored and preserved from top to bottom. You will be enchanted by the authenticity of the surroundings and the refined decoration, combining modern and period features.

430 m above sea level, in the heart of the crater of the extinct volcano La Trévaresse, this chic, tasteful address offers exceptional rooms and suites with superb lounges offering views over the Alpilles, the property, the vast park and the vines.

Bérangère Guénant, the owners’ daughter, invites you to come and share her love for the landscape, subtle wines and art of living in Provence in this beautiful place.

videos
Product

Provence Gourmet, chronical of a “home-made” cookery workshop

Spend an unforgettable day of sharing, gastronomy and Provençal flavours with Gilles Choncy and his experience: Provence Gourmet.

The scene is set: “Today you will need a basket, an apron and plenty of good humour!”

Gilles welcomes us in the town centre for a shopping trip to the market. The products are fresh and today’s recipe makes my mouth water.

You can’t have a meal without wine, and not just any wine... Off we go to a charming vineyard where the tasting is a real journey for my tastebuds.

On the way to Villa Lisette, the scents of Provence are intoxicating. Today really is full of surprises!

When I open the door of our host’s kitchen, I discover a little paradise where I can’t wait to get cooking and savour a typically Provençal dish.

After a day of simple pleasures full of emotion, it occurs to me that Gilles’ recipe is above all the pleasure of sharing.

videos
Product

Around Chenonceaux: discovering the vineyards of the Loire Valley

Enjoy the rich and diverse experiences to be found between the Loire and Cher rivers in the Loire Valley: a rich heritage of chateaux, gardens, vineyards and picturesque villages just waiting to be discovered.

 

Of all the chateaux in the Loire Valley, some say that Château de Chenonceau if the finest of them all. It’s certainly the most original. This beautiful Renaissance building, standing between sky and water, juts its five arches across the Cher river and shelters a set of stunning French formal gardens behind its unique architecture. Visitors can take a gentle stroll beneath the shade and along the floral paths. Or opt for a night walk and enjoy the beauty of the illuminated gardens on select summer nights, enjoy a special tasting of Touraine-Chenonceaux appellation wines in the Chateau’s historic Cellar during the season or meet the winemakers during a special evening held in July.

The Loire Valley is not just a land of chateaux: it’s a land of vineyards too. Many wine estates in the Chenonceaux area of Touraine are open to the public, enabling you to discover the area’s rich heritage and appreciate its winemakers’ know-how.

One such estate is Domaine Sauvète, which organises “flâneries”, or picturesque walks through the vines, treasures hunts or segway rides. Or try the Domaine du Clos Roussely, where you can explore its unusual troglodyte cellars and collection of vintage vehicles. These visits, along with wine tastings, will enable you to discover authentic organically grown wines.

 

A few kilometres away, Domaine de la Chapinière offers a range of events that combine the art of wine, equestrianism and fine arts. A warm welcome awaits in the restored nineteenth century vault as the hosts share their passion for the terroir during a special visit with a tasting of wines produced using rational and sustainable winemaking methods.

 

Amidst the chateaux and vines, another site awaits: ZooParc de Beauval. Ranked as one of the world’s 10 most beautiful zoos, it has over 8,000 animals and hosts breathtaking events.

 

The Loire Valley wine region still has some surprises in store!

videos

Pages

Loading