Once upon a time there was a truffle and wine-growing estate – organic and biodynamic – with a thousand and one sensory experiences for the whole family.

This is the fairy-tale environment on the limestone plateau of south Champagne surrounded by vines and forest, where the Dumont family opens the doors of Domaine de Mondeville to foodies.

In this magical universe, wine lovers will enjoy a cellar tour where they’ll discover how champagne is made, with guided tastings for the adults and an introduction to aromas for children.

But the fairies have more than one trick up their sleeve: a trip into the vineyards and the mysterious Clairvau forest, hunting truffle with Pino the dog, a highly-unusual evening, a fantastic treasure hunt, tasty zero-waste Goûton-Mâchon...

So many enchanting activities to enjoy with your loved ones!

The Center for the Sensory Interpretation of Champagne Wines has been given a make-over for 2021, giving way to Pressoria, a one-of-a-kind museum where tribute is paid to the five senses. In 2022, it won the “Outstanding Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the “Creative and Original Activities” category.

In the old pressing center steeped in the history of the Maison Pommery, this new, modern space offers a unique, sensory and immersive experience where you’ll uncover all the secrets of the wine of kings.

An interactive journey combining architectural features and fun technology will take you a "a trip from the terroir to the bubbly" at a pace that suits you best, putting the spotlight on the vines, the work behind the wine and the champagne-making process.

The excitement continues at the Instant Terroir restaurant overlooking the historic hillsides of Aÿ-Champagne, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here the cuisine by Alexander Fortuné is made from local products taken to a new level by a wide range of wines and champagnes.

It’s the ideal place to spend a sparkling day! 

From Chinon to Sancerre via Touraine and along the Loire, nearly two-thirds of the tourist wineries here are already committed to an environmentally-friendly approach or are converts to organic farming. And the authentic nature of the products, together with their local origins, are now guaranteed by the regional food label: « Produit en région © du Centre ».

Not far from Château de Chenonceau, Mathilde Sauvète and her family produce organic wines: AOC Touraine Chenonceaux, Touraine and Crémant de Loire. As authentic as they are surprising, these wines reflect the terroir where they are grown. Domaine Sauvète opens its doors to inquisitive visitors keen to discover the métier of winegrower on a treasure hunt and other unusual walks surrounded by the estate’s vines, including by Segway.

Further to the east, in the Berry, Chantal Wilk and Jean Tatin (joined by their daughter Maroussia in 2010) grow vines sustainably on the Domaines Tatin family estate. Their wines – AOC Quincy (exclusively white) and AOC Reuilly – retain all their historical, cultural and qualitative dimensions. A natural sparkling wine rounds off the range to accompany the celebrated Tarte Tatin, which is native to neighbouring Sologne. To soak up the atmosphere, nothing beats a food and wine tasting prepared by the chef alongside a peaceful stay in the estate's stables: dating from the 18th century, they have now been refurbished as a gîte.

Near Chinon and Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Nicolas Paget’s vines are grown organically. Driven by his passion and convictions, this staunch champion of nature produces his own cuvées with three appellations: AOC Chinon and AOC Touraine in red, and AOC Touraine Azay-le-Rideau in white and rosé. And there’s no shortage of activities at Domaine Paget: a picturesque picnic in the vineyards, a tasting meal with local products… or – even more of surprise – a pulsating outdoor escape game!

Very close to the Château de Menetou-Salon – and to the north of Bourges – Pierre-Emile Fraiseau pampers his vines before bottling his AOC Menetou-Salon whites, reds and rosés with great respect for the terroir. Pierre-Emile works the soil of his nine-hectare vineyard by hand, continuing the family tradition in a manner that is both natural and full of quality. To the great delight of visitors, Pierre-Emile’s parents own a gîte and guest rooms in a 19th century building erected in the heart of Domaine Fraiseau Leclerc.

Winner of the 2021 Wine Tourism Trophies Golden Prize in the “Education and Environmental Protection” category, Château Haut-Bages Libéral works to preserve its terroir by championing organic and biodynamic viticulture.

Winner of the Wine Tourism Trophies Golden Prize 2021 in the “Architecture & Sceneries” category, the Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne house hosts visitors in a splendid building that chimes in with the brand’s sparkling world.

Located in the prestigious Côte des Blancs, the site blends harmoniously into the landscape, mirroring its deep roots in the vineyard’s identity.

Behind the bay windows that reflect the surrounding vines, the spacious hall is the starting point for a tour that combines sensory experiences with digital technologies.

The decoration and design create different atmospheres that are guaranteed to plunge you into the world of bubbly on a whirlwind discovery tour that is as fun as it is educational!

“Outstanding Offer” of the 2023 Wine Tourism Trophies in the "Gastronomy in the Vineyard" category, Maison Bourgeois has been cultivating the art of vines and hospitality for several decades.

The breaks on offer at the hotel-cum-restaurant and wine estate - located at the foot of the Côte des Monts Damnés in the Sancerre vineyards - are as re-energising as they are delightful.

With its 12 bedrooms, gastronomic restaurant, bistro and 72 hectares of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations, the Bourgeois family invites curious visitors who are passing through to take the time to taste the sweet life of Sancerre.

There’s more than enough to enjoy an exotic wine tourism experience in the picturesque village of Chavignol!

Winner of the 2021 Wine Tourism Trophies Golden Prize in the “Promotion of a terroir” category, the Maison des Vins Côtes de Provence is a gateway to the vineyards and terroirs.

With a vinothèque that’s home to 800 labels, a weekly selection of 16 wines for tasting and oenological workshops, the venue celebrates the great diversity of the Côtes de Provence appellation.

Visitors can explore the interactive panels in the company of five sommeliers to find out all about every stage involved in producing the cuvées and their typical characteristics.

As well as being a real showcase for the region's wine-making expertise, the Maison des Vins Côtes de Provence strives to transmit a passion for wine to a broad audience.

Winner of Wine Tourism Trophies Golden Prize 2021 in the "Gastronomy in the vineyard" category, Château de Berne invites guests to enjoy the authentic, generous taste of Provence.

Located in the home of the Côtes de Provence appellation, Château de Berne is a venue that brilliantly combines the delights of the vineyard with the finest food.

Surrounded by a forest, a 143 hectare vineyard, an olive grove and a vast vegetable garden, the estate is a hymn in honour of the terroir of Provence.

With its sweet smell of the Midi, the setting is an endless source of inspiration for the chefs in the estate’s three restaurants: Le Jardin de Berne with its Michelin star, Le Bistrot and La Table du Chef.

Les Caves Duhard make way for Les Caves Ambacia on the edge of the Loire, wowing wine lovers with their unique oenological experience based on the five senses.

In 2023, Caves Ambacia won the “Outstanding Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the “Art, Culture & Savoir-faire” category.

 

In 2024, the “Outstanding Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the "Stay at the Domain and Gastronomy in the vineyard" category was awarded to its bistro Oppidum overlooking the Loire river. 

The history of Les Caves Ambacia dates back to the 15th century when Louis XI tasted the delicious wine produced in the local vineyard on a visit to the royal château at Amboise. Captivated by its aromas, Louis ordered that the wine should be promoted for sale on the Tours market. A few centuries later, in 1874, the Duhards – a family of coopers from Amboise – moved to Les Caves in turn and became wine merchants. Five generations have come and gone, creating an outstanding collection of Vouvray wines.

Building on this history, Les Caves Ambacia are now home to a very special universe, a clever combination of heritage from the past and modernity conceptualised as a multi-stage tour.

It all starts with a sensory trail –a fun way to open the door to a world of wine by awakening each of the five senses: hearing, sight, touch, smell and taste are harnessed to discover a wide range of different families of aromas. There then begins a fantastic journey through 500 years of life in the Odyssey of the Vintages. Three films screened onto the walls of the cellar – including one in 3D – immerse viewers in the history of Loire Valley, introducing them to the local region’s assortment of wines.

And how better to end the tour in style than with a tasting in the cellars accompanied by a sommelier’s expert comments? This is the opportunity to savour the estate's various vintages alongside a platter of gourmet food while learning all there is to know about tasting techniques and food and wine pairings.

On leaving this spot steeped in history, young and old alike will have had their curiosity satiated and their senses awakened!