Explore this remarkable wine cellar filled with extremely rare and exceptional wines.

From their 17th century vaulted cellar in Paris’s Latin Quarter, Lionel and Dominique Michelin offer a collection of superb vintages for sale. Step back in time as you soak up the history from 600 individual wines, the oldest of which dates to 1811.

Lionel knows his bottles well, having tasted them himself, and wine connoisseurs know they can trust this passionate wine lover and his refined palate. Lionel and Dominique are gourmets at heart and keen to share and pass on their unconditional love of wine. The various private tastings they offer can be tailor-made to match the needs of individual visitors. The “Tour de France of vineyards”, for example, takes you on a tour of four wine-producing regions of your choice, along with cheese and charcuterie pairings sourced from the finest producers in France.

Maybe you’re a dedicated connoisseur and lover of fine wines, or just hunting for a special vintage. Or perhaps just keen to learn more about tasting and the world of wine. Whatever your requirements, De Vinis Illustribus is guaranteed to steer you in the right direction and offer the very best in expert advice.

A champagne tasting in the house of the winemaker, is the promise of a memorable tasting experience which Dominique will share with you during a two hour workshop.

This exclusive introduction to the rituals of tasting is held in the beautiful winemaker’s house at the Fleury-Gille vineyard, in the heart of the Marne Valley, where you discover the secrets of making champagne. This workshop can even be enjoyed by children from the age of seven. Staying at the Le Danon guesthouse, with its view of the vineyard, will leave you free to spend more time exploring the champagne tourist route. Le Danon

Smell and touch … the history of the vines and wines

The Espace Rabelais is an old private hotel in Bagnols-sur-Cèze that has been tastefully restored. Here visitors of all kinds will feel at home, including children, who can have fun reading free notebooks about vines and grapes, all of which are translated into English.

Acquaint yourself with wine and food tasting in the company of the winemaker and a local artisan producer.

In addition to two museum rooms, this free-entry wine tourism centre, which is part of the Vineyards & Discoveries network, also organizes tastings of the Côtes-du-Rhône Gardoises wines all year round , (on Wednesdays, during the local market), as well as free-of-charge wine and food presentations in the company of the artisan producer and the winemaker, and introductions to ticketed wine tastings. In summer, it’s time for unusual wine tastings (in caves!), walks through the vineyards, and visits to the wine cellars.

Make your own road movie between Hermitage and Saint-Joseph

Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph are famous names known to enthusiasts of Côtes-du-Rhône wines. The rainbow menu displayed on your smartphone when you visit the “D’Hermitage en Saint-Joseph” website is an invitation to discover a hundred or so “Vineyards & Discoveries” vineyards on both sides of the Rhône River .

An invitation to discover around one hundred vineyards that are part of the Vineyards & Discoveries network.

Choose from a wealth of wine cellars, wine tastings, restaurants, accommodation, leisure activities, cultural sites, walks and camping car sites. All you need to do to create your own intinerary is click on each category and then select the stages you would like to include. If you geolocate your position, you can see what’s on offer nearest to where you are. The places you have selected are then organized into a list or a map, as you prefer, and your future trip is saved for reference.

A fun and friendly experience while learning how to taste wine and talk about it

Have you always wanted to do a wine tasting but were afraid to try? Put aside your doubts. This workshopis made for you! You’re a wine enthusiast? That’s no problem either: just forget your prejudices and you’re likely to be surprised! 

Here, it’s not about intellectualizing wine tasting, which is, above all, a sensory and emotional experience.

 

With masked bottles and black wine glasses, the sommelier helps the participants learn the basics of tasting, through the many clues revealed during the workshop: colour, intensity, aromatic profile, balance. From white to red, and not forgetting rosé, the sommelier introduces the main types and styles of wines in a one-hour tasting of a selection of 3 world wines (accompanied by bread sticks). An opportunity to let go of apprehensions and awaken the senses and olfactory memories without being influenced by the appearance or the label!