The Domaine du Château Castigno is located in the heart of the sweet-smelling garrigue and gently rolling landscape of the Saint-Chinian vineyards. The château’s hotel complex, which goes by the name of Village Castigno, offers lovers of the good life a highly relaxing stopover. This destination received the "Exceptional Offer" prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies 2022 in the "Stay at the Domain" category.

The accommodation comes in various forms – including chambre d’hôte or holiday home rentals – and is full of Provençal charm, and with all the promise of a lazy stay… just right, in fact, for a “digital detox”.

You’ll be far from the frenzy of all things digital and technological, meaning you can enjoy the time to escape and chill out every day surrounded by the world of wine: take a stroll and a picnic in the vineyards or enjoy a spot of well-being with some “vino-thérapie”, a gourmet-gourmet workshop and an introduction to oenology…

Village Castigno and the estate invite you to let go and discover the real art de vivre.

A number of vineyards in Roussillon organise grape harvests for the general public in late summer. They’re the ideal opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes of this work that is so bound up with tradition.

The grape harvest, which heralds the culmination of a year devoted to tending the vines, is an important moment in the calendar for each and every winemaker. It is also a unique opportunity for the curious wine lover to meet the producers, learn about the harvest, and gain insight into the expertise involved in making wine. Participants join a colle, a team of grape pickers, and are invited to share a pleasant, friendly time in the company of enthusiastic experts.

Each estate runs its own programme for beginners. Visitors to Les Vignerons en Terres Romanes are welcomed at the afternoon harvesting, which takes the form of an exploratory walk through the heart of the vineyard. Here apprentice winemakers learn the techniques of pruning and weighing, find out all about measuring the alcohol content and help the grapes on their way to the stalk separator and press. In short, you’ll “harvest” a wealth of knowledge about the basic stages involved in making wine.

You can discover the grape harvest under Roussillon’s summer sun… or under the stars!

 

Vignobles Dom Brial, which has been awarded the special Vignoble et Découverte label, organises mid-night harvests: picking at night-time safeguards the grapes from the vagaries of the sun and oxidation, and produces wonderful cuvées. Pickers are kitted out with lamps on their head and buckets in their hands as they get down to work in the cool of the evening.

The harvest is first and foremost a time of celebration. The unmissable Fête des Vendanges – Wine Harvest Festival – in Banyuls-sur-Mer is attended by over 10,000 visitors. This special event is a highly festive and sociable occasion with a Catalan barbecue on the beach – a unique way of bringing an iconic wine experience to an end.

Muscat de Noël is the heir to a tradition that was taken up anew two decades ago. This “Christmas Muscat” was originally served back in the Middle Ages during feasts for noblemen from Barcelona.

Muscat de Noël, which is bottled at the end of the grape harvest, receives a special mention in the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP (Protected Designation of Origin).

The Muscat’s sparkling aromas combine marvellously with a wide range of savoury – and sweet – dishes! Foie gras, cheese, touron nougat, rousquille biscuits and panellet deserts: it goes with any and everything!

In Perpignan, or in the towns and villages along the Roussillon Wine Trail, this sweet wine will brighten up your end-of-year celebrations with its delicate golden sparkle.

It’s the latest thing – paddle-board-cum-wine-tasting excursions combining a spot of wine tourism with a little light sport.

These highly unusual outings will introduce you to the famous sport of stand-up paddle-boarding while teaching you about the wines of the Bay of Paulilles.

Standing upright on a board, you’ll use your paddle to propel yourself across the most beautiful parts of the Côte Vermeille, where pine trees and terraced vineyards overlook the Mediterranean with its pebbled beaches. Paddling from creek to creek, you’ll discover the rich and diverse wines produced by the local growers.

Come and enjoy a tasty holiday outing steeped in adventure!

Explore Roussillon’s wine country from the sky with Canigou Airlines! Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or simply curious and intrepid, take to the sky for a unique, full-on flight in a paramotor.

A tandem paramotor is a strange beast, a cross between an ultralight and a paraglider. A pilot will be by your side to give you a guided commentary as you fly over the vineyards of Roussillon, including more than a dozen wine estates.

A series of vineyards boast the most splendid landscapes between Mont Canigou and the Mediterranean.

With the wind in your hair, fill your lungs with fresh air and let yourself be carried away by the region’s natural beauty. And, once the excitement of the flight is over and your feet are firmly back on the ground, the estates you’ve just seen from on high will open their doors to give you a personalised tour.

Maison Cattin is opening a new and innovative visitor centre in Voegtlinshoffen where you can explore and taste the wines of Alsace.

Maison Cattin, founded in the heart of Alsace’s vineyards in 1720, is a veritable institution for the region’s wine industry. A new space has just opened next to the historic winery that has been the hallmark of this family firm for thirteen generations. Measuring 2,400 m², the new cellar is topped by a planted belvedere made of glass and boasting spectacular views over the vineyard, the Trois-Châteaux d’Eguisheim, the plain of Alsace, the Black Forest and the Swiss Alps. It is, in short, a visitor centre worthy of this exceptional winemaker, showcasing the wealth of Alsatian wines.