West of the city, the Compagnons de Maguelone association opened Domaine du Grand Puy or “Mas Nouguier” in 2019, a solidarity-based space with a focus on fine food and the good life.

It’s impossible to remain unmoved as you first glimpse a 17-hectare agriparc complete with a listed, and fully restored, 18th century manor house. It is in this breathtaking setting, nestled in the heart of the new Grisettes eco-district and accessible by public transport, that the Compagnons welcome the public to tailor-made events and tourism and cultural activities. The 1,200 m2 property is multi-purpose, with a seminar room that can be divided into 4 rooms, and an extensive terrace and patio.

The association decided to turn this unique location into a solidarity-based and socially responsible venue with a focus on integration. In the estate’s bistro style restaurant, people with disabilities serve the meals and help the chef in the kitchen. The “farm to table” concept reigns supreme, with short supply chains using local suppliers and 100% organic market garden produce grown by the Compagnons de Maguelone. The result is breathtaking, with small, tasty and original dishes that draw on Mediterranean cuisine.

The Agriparc's wine and olive oil production follow the same techniques as those the association employs on the island of Maguelone. The market garden operates along agroecology and permaculture lines. All in keeping with the spirit of the site, as archives show that as early as the 18th century the Domaine employed numerous production methods, from vine cultivation, olive growing and traditional market gardening. All with techniques in use to this very day.

As for the wine, visitors can take a stroll among the vines and herbs before joining a beginners wine tasting session, sampling Domaine de Maguelone's organic wines. An opportunity to learn more about the winemaker's techniques and the secrets of the terroir.

Visitors are sure to be charmed by the Compagnons’ humane approach, the chef's creativity and the beauty of this haven of peace and quiet!

Sleeping beneath the stars takes on a whole new meaning at Les Cabanes de l’Arbousier. A truly unique, and supremely comfortable, way to discover this vineyard just 10km from Montpellier. Relaxation guaranteed!

Surrounded by vines, sea and mountains, Domaine Saint Jean de l’Arbousier dates back to 1235 and is a former Templars property that has been in the same family for four generations. Its plots span 110 hectares and contain 40 hectares of vines surrounded by arbutus trees (arbousier in French) and umbrella pines.

Within this dreamlike landscape you’ll find four tree houses that offer guests an exciting, yet intimate, experience. And designed to offer the perfect break, as well as protect the environment. The tree houses were built without damaging the trees or their branches. And their presence does nothing to inhibit the trees’ growth. The interior of this alternative accommodation also rises to the sustainable tourism challenge, with dry-flush toilets and rechargeable lighting.

After a peaceful night’s sleep in the open air, 21st century Swiss Family Robinsons can enjoy a visit to the wine cellars or an introduction to wine tasting in the capable hands of a wine pro. Wine fans will discover the secrets behind the grape varieties and the estate's red, white and rosé wines, certified organic since 2013.

What better way to end your visit with a walk on the trails that criss-cross the site’s vast conservation area.  As you stroll, information panels explain the flora and fauna you’ll encounter along the way. You're sure to meet some of the farm's animals too, to the delight of kids and their parents. And don't forget the treasure hunt, a hit with all the family!

A unique and eco-friendly way to explore the Languedoc wine region. With an added bonus: breakfast on the terrace!

Maison Rémy Martin is a must for any visit to the Cognac wine region. Alongside its wide selection of private tours it also offers a fun cocktail-making workshop.

Cognac fans will begin their day in the historic Maison’s cellars, where they will uncover the secret to the age-old skills that lie behind these golden eaux-de-vie.

Visitors will then get to sample Rémy Martin cognacs during a tasting session. This will help them to identify the full aromatic palette before attempting to incorporate these aromas into their cocktails. Either on their own or in a team, they can let their imagination run wild while following the advice of a professional mixologist.

The workshop ends with a tasting of their cocktail creations, served with delicious gourmet bites.

In the heart of the Loire Valley, Les Sources de Cheverny is a peaceful haven and the perfect place to enjoy the finer things in life, surrounded by vineyards and forest.

Created by the founders of Les Sources de Caudalie, this vast wooded estate boasts 49 elegant rooms located in both the Château du Breuil and a further five delightful properties.

Two restaurants, L’Auberge and Le Favori, showcase the local terroir while the wine bar celebrates the region’s wines.

A wide range of wellness activities are available, from yoga to exploring the area by bike or on horseback, a spa, Vinothérapie® treatments, and much more. A break that is both luxurious and revitalising awaits those in search of the good life in the Loire Valley!

Looking to get away? Les Sources de Caudalie offers visitors a wine-themed experience in a “buco’chic” setting, where luxury, peace and serenity are the order of the day.

Surrounded by the vines of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Alice and Jérôme Tourbier welcome visitors to their one-of-a-kind original property.

Whether it’s for a few hours or a longer stay, the perfect break awaits wine lovers in search of relaxation and sophistication.

From wine tasting and tasting classes to cellar visits, Aurélien Farrouil gourmet dining with a focus on south-west cuisine by Chef Nicolas Masse, staying overnight in a deluxe room, vineyard activities, Vinothérapie® in a trendy “in and out” spa, tour of the Bay of Arcachon in a “pinasse” boat, and much more. Welcome to the true source of wellness!

As an added bonus, each Saturday Head Sommelier Aurélien Farrouil offers a Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting session.

Located between lakes and mountains, the vineyards of the Savoie region are a hidden alpine treasure. Fans of adventure can join tour operator 1786.travel on exciting trips to discover these stunning landscapes.

Breathtaking scenery awaits travellers keen to explore Savoie in all its winemaking splendour on this three-night and four-day trip.

With a host of iconic wines, and over 20 different grape varieties grown on the slopes of the alpine mountains, the region boasts a strong identity and a dual culture as a mountain and winemaking region. Over the course of the trip visitors are completely immersed in the local viticulture and oenology during day trips to four wine estates and cellars across the different vineyards.

From vines planted with Chignin and Apremont, to plots of Jongieux and the Combe de Savoie wine route, each excursion is a chance to meet with and chat to winemakers during a wine tasting session. Perfect opportunities for the vine-growers to explain with passion their special know-how and the terroirs that they cultivate throughout the year.

Each day trip includes lunch in a typical Savoyard restaurant, where a taste sensation awaits. Diners can look forward to sampling a local cuisine that showcases the depth of alpine gastronomy, alongside the diverse fruity and floral aromas of the region’s wines.

The accommodation is as exciting as the activities on this wine trip! In a picture postcard setting at the foot of the Massif des Bauges mountain range, Château des Allues offers elegant rooms that open onto the fresh mountain air and the sweet scent of the vines. The perfect chance to experience a simple, yet authentic, slice of château life!

The sea of vines at Château de Fourques, located on the outskirts of Montpellier, extends over 50 hectares. A bucolic interlude awaits visitors all year round in this green vineyard setting.

It’s with a smile on her face and a sack full of anecdotes that the winegrower receives curious visitors passing through Juvignac. The wine is all about women here, the family vineyard passed down from woman to woman for five generations. Lise welcomes oenophiles with a tale about her property and the idiosyncrasies of her profession that’s as passionate as it is fascinating.

The visit begins with a walk amidst the vines. The winegrower guides her guests through the different rows, introducing with great enthusiasm the terroirs and grape varieties that characterise the vineyard. The plots require their own special care at every time of year. As part of the team that keeps the estate going, everyone has a role to play in pampering the grapes that will produce the various cuvées.

After this great breath of fresh air, the tour continues in the cellars, where the winemaking processes are explained in detail. This is also an opportunity for visitors to taste the grape must that is taken directly from the vat and to learn about the flavours of the raw wines before they reveal their full character. To round off this oenological experience, a fun tasting of bottled wines is organised in the cellar, all accompanied by a plate of local specialties. Reds, whites and rosés – each colour forms part of the estate’s output, which even includes a few small deli delights made from the vines, such as grape vinegar, grapeseed oil and wine jelly.

The landscapes in the vineyard – like the wine that is preserved in barrels – never stop changing with the seasons, making each visit to the estate unique. From winter to summer, only one thing remains unchanged: when you cross the threshold of Château de Fourques, you’ll find vines all around and your head in the clouds!

Looking to get away from it all in Nouvelle-Aquitaine? Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Saint-Émilion wine region and its neighbouring appellations of Pomerol and Fronsac contain a wealth of exceptional wine tourism sites. It’s relaxation guaranteed!

Travelling through the region there are wine-growing landscapes and stunning châteaux as far as the eye can see. Here they are as used to tending the vines as they to tending to the needs of visitors. Proof can be found in the growing number of quirky and fun places to stay.

At Château Franc Mayne guests get the chance to sleep among the clouds in a tree house. Located in the majestic canopy of hundred-year-old cedar trees, the accommodation has a magnificent view of the vines and the village of Saint-Émilion. Visitors to Domaine de la Romaningue can also scale the heights to dream under the starry sky: tree houses fill the vast agro-wine estate, alongside habitable bubbles and trailers, all against the stunning backdrop of a former Templars Commandery.

The Bassin du Tertre de Fronsac is another haven of peace and quiet, this time with chalets built entirely from wood. Adventurous wine lovers can expect to spend a peaceful night midst the calm of a flower garden, interrupted only by the lapping of a carp pool and the scent of the vines.

Some night-time experiences are more immersive than others, and with good reason! Not far from Saint-Émilion, Château de Bonhoste’s guests can stay inside actual foudres – large wooden vats – that were built by a cooper and are usually used for winemaking. At Château La Mothe du Barry, the sandman also visits concrete vats that were once used to store and age wine but have now been transformed into rooms at this bed and breakfast property.

And finally, Château de La Rivière is the perfect romantic getaway in the hills above Fronsac overlooking the Dordogne river. With five sumptuously decorated rooms, this charming property offers guests a combination of sophistication and relaxation.

One thing’s for sure, staying overnight in and around Saint-Émilion is a dream come true!

Dijon invites the inquisitive to a wine tasting hosted in a mystery monument in Bourgogne’s “City of Dukes” every Thursday evening from mid-July to early October.