Fly over the vineyards like a bird. The dream can become a reality in the Côtes-du-Rhône region! The Cellier des Chartreux near Avignon offers a glider flight before a wine tasting.

Take a seat aboard a glider and fly over the vineyards of the Rhône Valley. The Ventoux Mountain, Avignon, the Rhône River ... these landscapes take on a different appearance when seen from the sky. Once you return to solid ground, the winemakers are waiting to take you on a visit of the wine cellars at the Cellier des Chartreux. Find your feet after this exhilarating experience with a tasting of Côtes-du-Rhône wines, including Lirac and Tavel, both products of the vineyard. A unique aerial wine tourism experience!

In the Rhône Valley, meet an American who fell in love with France 25 years ago, the wine expert or sommelier Kelly McAuliffe, who introduces you to the diversity of the vineyards. One of the highlights of his wine tours is meeting the winemakers, showcasing the unique experiences they provide. 

What’s special about your wine tours? 

I offer a variety of wine tours covering the vineyards of the whole Rhône Valley, an incredible mosaic of wine areas. These circuits are always tailored to the precise needs of the client, be they wine professional or tourist. In the Gard region, I love to introduce people to the Tavel and Lirac wines, but also to Gigondas, Cairanne, Rasteau and Séguret, from closer to the Vaucluse region, not forgetting the wines of the Luberon and Ventoux. All these little villages are part of the areas and official wine districts of the Rhône, which I love to travel through. Each time, I explain the history of the vineyards, the wine districts, the wine varieties, and the incredible diversity, not to mention organizing meetings with the winemakers, which is always a unique experience. 

What do you like the best?

I particularly like to go to the Côté des Dentelles de Montmirail, at Gigondas, in the  Vaucluse region, and wander through the charming lanes of the medieval village of Séguret, one of the most beautiful villages in France. At the end of the day, you can admire the stunning sunsets.

You were the sommelier (wine expert) at Ducasse and Christian Étienne. What are your preferred combinations of food and wine?

A Gigondas red with lamb. The fatty taste of the lamb combines wonderfully with the tannin taste of this Côtes-du-Rhône wine. Or a Côte-Rôtie red with a slice of foie gras pâté and pigeon accompanied by a chicken sauce with a touch of ... liquorice.

Can you describe the Rhône wines in a few words?

Full-bodied and authentic, because they are real wines, made in vineyards which have retained their human dimension. And finally their diversity, because this is what makes the wines of the Rhône Valley so rich.

Head of the wine cellar at the Chateau de Berne, in Provence, Brigitte Guiet enjoys sharing her passion for her work with wine enthusiasts. Each day, she prepares her wine cellar to provide the best experience to her numerous visitors. 

The heart of the Chateau de Berne seems to be beating here, in the wine cellar you manage.

There is always something happening in the vineyard, whether it be our guests or the general public … The Festival Food Truck is a real success and our jazz picnics liven up all the Sundays during summer! The wine cellar is the nerve centre of our vineyards, which attract more than 60,000 visitors each year. We work closely with the hotel, the restaurants and the spa. Entry to the wine cellar is free. We of course welcome our guests, who receive a bottle of Viognier wine when they arrive, as do visitors to the vineyard who are curious to discover our wines.  

What type of wine tastings do you offer?

We offer a range of wine tastings. From a simple visit to the cellars to a vertical tasting of all wines of the same colour, and moving on to suggestions of which foods go with which wines, everything is tailored to the level of knowledge of each person.  

Which places would you recommend to visit to understand the wines from this region? ​

The Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions at Draguignan gives you an understanding of the ancient skills of the winemakers of Provence. I also recommend Thoronet Abbey, built by Cistercian monks in the twelfth century, who even then were cultivating the first grape vines on our land. And then there is the House of Wines, at Arcs-sur-Argens, which offers the most complete map of all the Provence wines.

Acknowledged as one of the best winemakers in the world, Alain Brumont has revived the Madiran wine and the Tannat grape variety. Today his Chateaux Bouscassé and Montus (AOP Madiran) vineyards produce world-class prizewinning wines.  

You have developed a genuine philosophy? 

I’m like the foot of the vine. I have come from the ground, I was born next to vines, and I live in partnership with my environment: the best soil and climate. I want to express the idea that I have about this environment, to interpret the essence of the soil, the climate and allow people to enjoy this alchemy in a glass five, 20 or 30 years from now .... I want to offer the best interpretation of the Gascony region and a wine to accompany all the important moments and events in life.

And a very personal method? 

Each portion of my vines is separated by wood to protect them from contamination; I am one of the rare winegrowers who doesn’t use insecticides! I only use water from our springs, which come out of our unpolluted hills. Our vines have grass growing around them, the land is rich in ancestral plant life and the vine rows are perfectly orientated so that the grapes get 15 hours of sunlight each day. Each grape receives individual attention (200 hectares of vines are pruned five to seven times a year). That is almost a world record!

Is the winemaking also performed in a special way?

We hope to nourish the imagination of the wine tasters by telling a story: about humanity, a particular place, a specific soil, a civilization ... To give them sensations of taste, smell and even touch. These are the elements of winemaking. It is the art of composing the ideal division between the grape varieties and the land and giving your wine something special, which will make it unique and exceptional.  

On foot or horseback, enjoy an unusual discovery tour in a mountain vineyard! Taste Savoie wines and local produce with the winemakers. 

In the company of Bernard Vissoud, a mountain guide and wine expert, take a walk or go for a horse ride to discover the Savoie vineyards, for half a day or several days. Admire the sublime panoramas and explore the high tracks which open onto the Alps and lead to the winegrowers’ wine cellars. Taste the Savoie wines with them, accompanied by cheeses and local cured meats, known as charcuteries. For less sporty types, Bernard also offers trips to the local vineyards by car, or on a Segway: all you have to do is ask!

At the heart of the Savoie vineyards, the Chateau des Allues is a charming place to stay, with its stylish rooms and large organic garden. On the menu: natural cuisine, Savoie wines and an enchanting landscape.

A charming manor house transformed into a stylish guest house, the Chateau des Allues is a magnificent and friendly stop on the Savoie Wine Route. In the dining room, Stéphane is passionate about his cooking, which uses the produce of his 88 square-metre organic garden and is accompanied by Savoie wines. Attending to your every need, he will give you his recipes, the names of his favourite restaurants, and reveal the secrets of his organic garden during a special workshop. Ask him for a list of the best walks in the Savoie vineyards and enjoy the magnificent views. 

Spoked wheels, soft leather, gleaming brass and a wine tasting! All the ingredients are here for a unique and delightful getaway in a vintage car in the heart of the Armagnac vineyards.

Sitting in your gleaming vintage convertible, you are invited to one of the more unusual wine tourism trips: travel through the most beautiful vineyards of Armagnac in a vintage car which takes you back in time to a slower pace of life when vehicules drove at 40 km/h. Guided by a chauffeur dressed in period costume, you will taste Armagnac brandy, that precious nectar, at various chateaux, vineyards and villages along the way, including Larressingle, the ‘little Carcassonne’ of the Gers region, and Lavardens, recognized as one of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’.