In Occitanie, the wine estates of the South West, Languedoc, Roussillon and Rhône Valley offer families a wide variety of exciting vine-themed activities.

Wine tourism isn’t just for adults! For proof of this look no further than this selection of estates in Occitanie, each with an experience more exciting than the next.

Some of the region’s estates have developed escape games to delight young and old alike. Over in the Hérault region, Domaine Guinand organises these games in the open air, followed by a tasting of local produce and a prize draw. Close to Fronton, visitors to Château Boujac have 45 minutes to wrack their brains and find a way to escape from the cellar. In summer, the estate combines tasting and games by adding wine and cooking workshops to its repertoire. In Coteaux du Quercy AOP, visitors are tasked with solving riddles in the Randoland trails. Cooperation is the key to reaching the end of these fun trails, designed to suit all ages!

In the Lot region, Château de Haute-Serre has also developed an escape game that offers visitors an original experience. It also provides cookery lessons, orienteering on foot or by bike as well as tasting workshops and much more. In summer, families can feast on a picnic hamper and play games in a rural setting with a stunning view of the vines. While in September, visitors can step into a winemaker's shoes as they enjoy a half-day of grape harvesting.

Strategy games aren’t the only fun to be had in Occitanie's wine estates: a host of connected activities are also waiting to be enjoyed. Château Mourgues du Grès, with its 4-kilometre-long educational trail, is a perfect example of this high-tech approach. Visitors can learn more about the Costières de Nîmes AOP terroir by following the Bluetooth tags that can be read on the MourguesdugresConnect app. In several of Occitanie’s wine regions, and in the Gers region in particular, another app known as Ampélograf has been developed for visitors aged 8 and over. Kids can play educational games with a focus on the world of winemaking while their parents enjoy a tasting.

In Occitanie’s wine estates, families can expect a wealth of fun experiences and memorable moments.

The region of Occitanie is packed with artistic nuggets that cast vines in an entirely new light. There's something for everyone, whether you're looking for architectural curiosities or more contemporary art!

Architecture fans will be impressed by Tavel’s cooperative cellar, the first in France to be officially listed as a Historic Monument. As well as by the cooperative cellars of Roussillon, including the Grande cave de Terres des Templiers with its underground cellars and century-old vats. Château Saint Louis and its incredible circular cellar are also worth a visit, as is Château Monluc, birthplace of the famous “Pousse Rapière”. Its original and stunning cellars are sure to surprise!

Close to Narbonne, Cave Castigno has been entirely redesigned by Lionel Jadot and is another architectural wonder. Impressive when viewed from above due to its wine bottle shape covered in cork oak, the building is 80 metres long and 5 metres high. Between Agen and Cahors, two tasting lodges are also sure to catch your eye. The building at Clos Triguedina boasts a modern design, while the lodge at Château de Chambert offers a 180 degree view of the vines. 

The wine region also caters to contemporary artists with L’Art en Cave®, a unique concept that pairs their artwork with a special cuvée. An example of this can be found at Cave de Saint-Chinian where some of the works are printed onto bottle labels to extend the reach of this wonderful art. Further south, five of the region's artists have given the vats at the Cave Coopérative de Nissan-lez-Ensérune a new lease of life. Close by, Château Puech-Haut with its monumental Barrik-Art and collection of 160 wooden vats, is a place you won’t want to miss. In the Lot region, you’ll want to explore the cellar at Château Saint Sernin with its exhibition of artist-decorated casks, bottles and corks. The estate also offers visitors the chance to sponsor a vine stock and follow its growth.

For an open-air experience head to Château Le Bouïs, whose “Land’Art” exhibition celebrates traditional winemaking methods and can be explored during a visit to the estate. Over at Vignobles de Montagnac, visitors can hike along a marked trail dotted with 14 stone statues sculpted by artists.

Why not take your trip to the next level and spend the night in a concrete vat? You can at Domaine de Riberach!

From the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, and the rivers Garonne and Rhône, Occitanie is alive with the abundant natural world that shapes its landscape. And in the vines, the region’s winemakers are going green.

Proof of this can be seen in the 1600 producers and 25 hectares of vineyards that have been converted to organic farming methods, making Occitanie the largest organic wine region in France! What's more, an increasing number of environmentally-friendly methods are being used.

An example of this can be found at Château de Chambert, a standard bearer for biodynamic methods in the Lot region thanks to the passion and drive of Philipe Lejeune. Each of the estate’s parcels is tended in harmony with its ecosystems to capture the purest expression of terroir in the bottle and showcase Cahors AOC at its very best.

Over in the Tarn, Château de Mayragues has over 20 years of experience in the field of biodynamic winegrowing. The estate also offers two guest rooms, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in this unspoilt winemaking landscape and the Gaillac wine region's gentle way of life.

Maison Cazes is one of Roussillon’s iconic wine estates and boasts 220 hectares of biodynamic vines. In the historic site’s tasting room or gourmet restaurant the estate’s Vins Doux reveal their aromatic palettes with hints of terroir.

At Abbaye de Valmagne, in the Hérault region, the Gaudart d’Allaines family continues the winemaking traditions of the site's Cistercian monks by focusing on an environmentally-friendly strategy. At the end of a visit, the estate’s organic wines can be tasted either in the monk’s former refectory or the hostel restaurant.

Retired rugby men have also become ambassadors for Occitanie’s wine terroir. At Mas des Colibris, Sébastien Galtier produces high-quality organic wines, while Gérard Bertrand has seen two of his biodynamic cuvées win a world title!

Other stars have also been drawn to Occitanie by a taste for excellence: the actor Pierre Richard at Domaine Bel-Évêque, and the former owner of Maison Cartier Alain-Dominique Perrin at Château Lagrézette, also play their part to promote the region’s exceptional wines.

Rue des Vignerons is a platform that allows you to book visits to some of the finest wine estates across France.

Nestled in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Chêne Bleu is the winner of the 2020 Wine Tourism Trophies Golden Prize in the “Gastronomy in the vineyard” category.

In the early 1990s, when the ninth century priory was just a ruin, husband and wife team Xavier and Nicole Rolet fell in love with Domaine de la Verrière and decided to not just renovate it completely but also add a wine cellar and open a guest house.

From April to October, Victor Guérin, a young international chef specialising in “Provençal-Japanese” fusion cuisine, delights visitors with his dishes, each a perfect match for the estate’s wines. The produce is local and often grown on site.

All year round, Chêne Bleu organises numerous wine tourism activities, including tasting workshops, and “apéro bleu” drinks every Wednesday during the summer months!

In 2023, Domaine de Fontenille won the “Exceptional Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the "Gastronomy in the Vineyard" category.

Duché d’Uzès, Tavel, Lirac, Clairette de Bellegarde, Costières de Nîmes… Names that evoke the gastronomy and iconic produce of the Gard region, from truffles to olive oil and wine!

On the right bank of the Rhône, the Gard vineyards of the Rhône Valley, with their 11 AOPs and 3 IGPs, are an expression of terroirs that are influenced by the river’s geology and climates, round pebbles and the mistral. Here, grape varieties such as Bourboulenc, Roussane, Marsane, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsaut produce wines of character.

While these vineyards contain diverse landscapes ideal for hiking, canoeing, cycling, and river tourism, the land has also been enriched by the men and women who have passed this way in years gone by. Unmissable sights include the Pont du Gard, a masterpiece in Roman architecture and engineering, the strollable town of Uzès, and also Beaucaire and Nîmes, cities of art and history with a rich and colourful historical and gastronomic heritage. The Abbey of Saint-Gilles, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its ties to the Santiago de Compostela pilgrim route, is also worth an extended visit.

But for a complete immersion there’s nothing like a unique experience to discover local know-how and titillate the taste buds.

Reason is why Château Mourgues du Grès and its connected winemaker's trail are a must. Visitors can stroll between vine, garigue and orchards as they watch videos that detail estate life through the seasons and learn about its diverse environment. There’s also a chance to enjoy a tasting of organic wines among the vines and savour a winemaker's picnic featuring local seasonal produce.

History buffs can travel back in time in the ancient Sernhac tunnels that run from the Pont du Gard aqueduct. They’ll be joined by the owners of Domaine de Poulvarel, who will open their modern cellar, built from Pont du Gard stone, and ensuring the optimal temperature to age and store the wines. For the full experience and a perfect refuge, head to the heart of the village and Les Aires Passagères – awarded the European Eco-Label – for self-catering gîtes and bed and breakfast.