Creator of La Cuisine de Santé® at Eugénie-les Bains, the charismatic Michel Guérard, a chef with a three-star rating from the famous Michelin food guide, is also a wine producer in the Tursan wine district in the Landes region. ‘A cook,’ he says, ‘must know how to make bread and wine.’

How did you end up being a winemaker? 

As an apprentice in the 1950s, when we were still under the restrictions of the Second World War, I, like many other people, developed the art of resourcefulness. I had been involved, for example, in the making of white wine from a grape variety which is today banned, the Noah, which sends you a bit crazy … and which we used to cook fish. Similarly, we distilled, once a year, in total secrecy, a very good brandy. I’ve always thought that a cook should know how to make bread and wine. In the same way, just before we planted our grape vines at the Chateau de Bachen, I learnt, over the course of seven months at the wine science institute in Bordeaux, the essentials of this captivating profession. 

Which wine-growing traditions inspire you? 

The grape vine is constantly teaching you about life. I have always been impressed by the elegant fatalism with which the winegrowers here deal with being at the mercy of the weather. Then comes the joy of the grape harvest, which overcomes this problem, and the wine goes on inspiring passionate discussions.

Which traditional matches of food and wine do you like to overturn?

I have, on occasions, dared to mix caviar and sauternes! Or to propose a glass of almost frozen Barsac or Jurançon to soothe the heat of a chicken infused with ground pepper and grilled on burning embers, under the skin of which I had slipped in a purée of olives and anchovies. Try it, it’s divine! 

The Provence wine and vineyard route is one of the Routes de Bonheur, or pleasure trips, that Relais & Chateaux have designed for their clients. Gilles Ozello, a wine expert from L’Oustau de Baumanière Hotel, shares his knowledge of the best wine tourism destinations in the region.

Gilles Ozello, the wine expert, or sommelier, at L’Oustau de Baumanière Hotel, in Baux-de-Provence, likes to share his passion for his wine district with his clients. He has designed a wine route which passes through the most beautiful countryside, the most majestic sites and the most beautiful Relais & Chateaux hotels in the region: the Villa Augusta, the Chateau de Rochegude, the Mas des Herbes Blanches at Joucas, the Phébus & Spa, the Prieuré at Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, and the Maison d’Uzès.

‘I've been at L’Oustau de Baumanière for 30 years now, and I’m still enchanted by Provence. I love the fusion between the limestone and the olive trees, the contrast between the arid climate and the strong smells after the rain,’ says sommelier Gilles Ozello.

In this relaxed district, which has as many wine types as the Provence region, Gilles Ozello invites his clients to take this route so that they can see the full extent and diversity of the landscapes, and understand the geological, magical link between each district and its wine. You can sense, guess and finally understand this influence as you travel the wine route from the hill country of Rochegude, in the Drôme, all the way to the rough, dry slopes of Castillon-du-Gard. 

A diversity of colours and grapes characterise the wines of Provence

Diversity and colours are here for you to admire as you travel through these vineyards: the rounded wines of the Côtes-du-Rhône and Gigondas, the subtle, sweet wines from Rasteau and Baumes-de-Venise, the delicate blends of the wines from the Luberon, the strength of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the fruity rosés of Tavel. ‘I've been at L’Oustau de Baumanière for 30 years now, and I’m still enchanted by Provence,’ says this lover of the region, born near Aix-en-Provence. ‘I love the fusion between the limestone and the olive trees, the contrast between the arid climate and the strong smells after the rain. I love the Durance Valley and its light.’

With its diversity of grape types, wine districts and villages, Gilles Ozello never gets tired of Provence, where L’Oustau de Baumanière is one of the region’s most prestigious hotels, an institution of the Mediterranean lifestyle. 

The Hostellerie de Plaisance and the Chateau Pavie, at Saint-Emilion, have developed a new type of tour called ‘From Plaisance to Pavie’, which introduces you to fine food and the art of winemaking in the Bordeaux vineyards. 

Situated at the heart of Saint-Emilion, the Hostellerie de Plaisance is the ideal place to discover the famous medieval city and its world-famous vineyards, the first to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The themed tours created by Chantal and Gérard Perse, owners of Plaisance, have been enriched with a new addition, baptised ‘From Plaisance to Pavie’.

An ideal place to discover the famous medieval city and its world-famous vineyards, the first to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

On the programme: a dinner by chef Ronan Kervarrec, then a visit to the Chateau Pavie, which is also owned by the Perse family and is home to the first grand cru class A wine. At Plaisance, the chef proposes a five-course dinner, with a creative and contemporary menu based on a respect for tradition and local produce, moving between diversity, contrast, flavours and textures. After dinner, the evening continues in one of the 17 suites and rooms which have been renovated by the famous interior architect and designer Alberto Pinto.

At Chateau Pavie, ancient stones and flowers merge with a landscape of vineyards

The walk is followed by a 45-minute visit to Chateau Pavie. The stone buildings have been totally rebuilt, and merge with the beautiful landscape of vineyards. This is also a chance to discover the new wine cellar designed by Alberto Pinto. The interior decoration features the large arched arcades made of stones salvaged from the demolition of the Orléans railway station in Bordeaux.

At the heart of the wine cellar is a giant fresco (4.55 m by 3.40 m) entitled Grappe Symphonie, created by the artist Michel Pourteyron. The fresco's explosion of colour, ‘which swings from one side to another to express the movement of the grapes’, contrasts superbly with the simple alignment of the barrels. The visit concludes with a tasting of the famous Saint-Emilion vintage premier grand cru classé A.

Gourmet food, fine wine and wellbeing … Georges Blanc invites you to his magnificent village for a luxurious stay in the Bresse countryside, between Beaujolais and the Rhône Valley.

In 1933, the ‘Mère Blanc’ was designated the ‘best cook in the world’ by Curnonsky, the prince of all lovers of fine foods. Today, Georges, her grandson, is following admirably in her footsteps! At L’Ancienne Auberge in Vonnas, a replica of his great-grandparents’ auberge, Georges Blanc shares his passion for the local products of his native Bresse in this gourmet restaurant, which has been awarded three Michelin stars.

The Michelin-starred restaurant has one of the five finest wine cellars in the world, with nearly 140,000 bottles of exceptional wine.

At the stove since 1968, the famous chef never stops reinventing the district of Bresse through his modern and light gourmet creations. The Vonnas crêpe with salmon and caviar, or the famous Bresse chicken and foie gras, are just two delicious examples. Georges Blanc is naturally a fervent defender of the famous Bresse chicken, and is the proud bearer of the title of president of the official committee for origin-approved Bresse chicken!

Five hectares of fine food and wellbeing, with wine cellar, park and spa

Wine is also honoured: the restaurant has one of the five finest wine cellars in the world, with nearly 140,000 exceptional bottles of wine. You can taste the wines of the vineyard in the company of the head wine steward, or chief sommelier, during the course of an unforgettable visit. Georges Blanc is also a visionary businessman and has built a magnificent gourmet village in Vonnas. On the edge of the river, discover the coloured façades of the buildings, his five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel, and his new aquatic centre …

Give yourself a treat and relax for a few hours in the immense Carita Décléor spa. As night falls, take a romantic walk in the beautifully lit park. Stretch out your gourmet stay with a unique wine tourism experience by visiting the Hameau Georges Dubœuf theme park, the first wine tourism park in Europe. All the secrets of the famous Beaujolais wine will be revealed at this high-quality wine tourism site. 

Set among the vineyards, the luxurious Domaine de Verchant, near Montpellier, offers you a 360-degree view of the grape vines and a chance to taste their high-quality wines.  

A few minutes from the centre of Montpellier, the Domaine de Verchant offers you an enchanting stay at the heart of the 17-hectare vineyard. Two lines of oak and pine trees will lead you to an elegant mansion, renovated in 2007 into a prestigious five-star hotel. 

The hotel, restaurant, spa, pool and ‘beach’ offer magnificent views of the Languedoc vineyards.

At this unique and exceptional site, part of the Relais & Chateaux group since 2013, the hotel, restaurant, spa, pool and ‘beach’ offer magnificent views of the Languedoc vineyards  and the landscaped park. You can relax and take in the scents of the south, but also, at any time of year, enjoy the spectacle of the grape vines which produce rosé, white and red wines. You can also taste the wines at the restaurant, which serves Mediterranean cuisine. 

Méjanelle: An exceptional wine area

The young owner of the Domaine de Verchant has conferred the running of the vineyard to professionals capable of bringing out the best of this exceptional wine-growing area. In this soil characterized by rounded pebbles, typical of the origin-approved (AOC) Méjanelle wine district, the wine growers, under the Mediterranean sun, benefit from the influence of the mistral winds and sea breezes. The ancient grape vines are next to those which have been planted more recently. Roussanne has been added to the traditional Merlot, Grenache and Syrah vines. A moderate weeding of certain plots is undertaken to improve production and assure the health of the wines, guaranteeing an excellent harvest. 

Five aromatic and complementary wines

The grape harvest is done by hand, in crates. The grapes are sorted, destalked and then lightly pressed before being put into vats. The stainless steel vats, kept at a constant temperature, or the oak casks, allow for the production of high-quality red and rosé wines. Thanks to the strict control of the fermentation process and slow maturing in the vats, the aromas and flavours of the grapes are gently extracted. Three reds with complementary characters, a special rosé called ‘Petal of the Rose’, and a white created in 2005, form the characteristic range of the Domaine de Verchant wines, which you can discover in the wine cellar.

Nestling in the heart of an extensive vineyard, the Relais & Chateaux hotel Coquillade Village is the perfect place from which to visit Provence. Vineyard walks, wine cellar tastings and a spa ... Welcome to a great wine tourism location at the foot of the Luberon Mountains.

A path lined with cypress trees leads to an authentic Provençal village at the top of a hill. The five-star Coquillade Village hotel offers a breathtaking view over the Luberon mountain range and the mountains of the Vaucluse and Ventoux. The perfect place to discover the charm of the Provence region, this delightful hotel, affiliated to Relais & Chateaux, combines dignity, refinement and respect for the environment.

Eco-labelled since 2012, the village is composed of several exceptional medieval buildings, with the oldest dating back to the eleventh century, and a magnificent 1,500-m² spa.

Nestling in the heart of a 35-hectare vineyard, and eco-labelled since 2012, Coquillade Village comprises several exceptional medieval buildings, with the oldest dating back to the eleventh century. It also has a 1,500-m² spa. A paradise of wine tourism, Aureto offers exceptional wines from three different districts: 28.5 hectares in Ventoux, six hectares in the Luberon and the rest in the origin-approved Vaucluse wine district.

Wine tastings, workshops and vineyard walks

Situated within the vineyard, the wine storage building boasts remarkable technology and is constructed in harmony with the surrounding natural environment. A one-hour guided visit is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 6 p.m., followed by a wine tasting. The wine cellar, situated a few kilometres away, offers a full range of Aureto wine tastings. In this contemporary space you can also find accompanying products such as grape juice, olive oil or even the Marc de Provence brandy.

The Winegrowers Path, with three signposted walks, provides free access to the entire vineyard and its exceptional views. Would you prefer a guided walk? Meet at 10 a.m. at the wine cellar each Wednesday, from April to September! During this period you can also book introductory wine workshops, which teach you how to appreciate the colours and scents of different wines. An entertaining way to learn about wine tasting.

Winner of the 2019 Wine Tourism Trophies Golden Prize in the “Stay at the domain” category, discover the Chateau de Mercuès and its exceptional heritage dating from the thirteenth century. Stay in the renovated rooms and taste the black truffles, prepared by a great chef, and the renowned Malbec wines.  

The Roman-Byzantine Chateau de Mercuès, just outside Cahors, is not to be missed. Georges Vigouroux, a pioneer of the Cahors and Malbec wines, acquired the historic site in 1983. As well as restructuring the vineyard, which today covers 38 hectares, he took the visionary step of building a huge wine cellar, and indeed was one of the first to commission architects to design wine cellars.

‘From here you can see history coming towards you,’ said General de Gaulle after staying at the chateau.

Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux continued the work of his father. As the winners of national and international awards, the Malbecs from his cellars are among the best wines in the world. 

Make yourself at home in a thirteenth-century chateau

If the boost given to winemaking at Chateau de Mercuès was decisive in saving this distinguished residence, the investments on the inside weren’t overlooked either. The history of this thirteenth-century chateau makes this member of Relais & Chateaux a rare gem indeed. Seven hundred years! Few places can boast of such a history. ‘From here you can see history coming towards you,’ said General de Gaulle after staying at the chateau in 1954. In keeping with this heritage, Christine Vigouroux, in charge of the decoration, restored the bedrooms in a timeless architectural style that gives this Relais & Châteaux residence the ‘soul of a house’ in which guests feel at home.

A warm welcome from the wine district of Malbec

Julien Poisot, who will play you songs on the piano, provides creative and authentic cooking. The products are mostly local: lamb from Quercy, veal from Corrèze, and beef from Aubrac. The black truffles from Quercy are given pride of place on the menu, as the Vigouroux family has planted a thousand trees to produce their own Tuber melanosporum in the much sought-after wine district of Lalbenque. Yann Potet, master of the house, gives visitors a warm, sincere and unforgettable welcome, including a visit to the wine cellars. The hospitality is delightful, and the experience exquisite.   

Escape to the Beaune district for a stay in the five-star Relais & Chateaux hotels and gourmet restaurants. Take the back roads and enjoy a discovery tour of the Burgundy vineyards , guided by an app on your smartphone. Taste the wines which have made Burgundy famous. 

The Hostellerie de Levernois is situated a short distance away from Beaune, the departure point for a drive along the wine route and the discovery of the wine areas, or climats, of the Burgundy region, which has recently been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Plunge into the DNA of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, a fantastic wine tourism experience to enjoy on this site that has been shaped by human activities for the past 2,000 years, and is home to a unique craft and culture of winemaking. 

Here you take the time to enjoy life: everything has been thought of so that each guest can be carried away by the charms of the Burgundy vineyards.

Each climat of Burgundy is an area of a vineyard that has been carefully defined and officially classified for centuries. Each has its own history and benefits from unique climatic and geological conditions. Each Burgundy wine from a climat has its own taste and place in the official French hierarchy of wines (appellation régionale, village, premier cru, grand cru). 

A gourmet experience at a five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel

Nestled in a five-hectare park on the edge of a golf course, the Hostellerie de Levernois has 22 bedrooms, four large and well-lit suites, a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant, and an exceptional wine cellar and bistro. Here you can take the time to enjoy life: everything has been thought of so that each guest can be carried away by the charms of the Burgundy vineyards.

A fun walk and wine tasting in the vineyards of Burgundy

Equipped with your smartphone, take the back roads and discover the vineyards! Two apps will guide you during your journey. ClimaVinea offers a map of the climats of Burgundy, explaining the origin of their names as well as information about 132 significant vineyards. Balades en Bourgogne (Burgundy Walks) is an audioguide which offers detailed information about the Burgundy wine districts using geolocation.

It’s finally time to taste the wine which has made Burgundy famous! Visit the Maison Bouchard Ainé and Sons in Beaune and enjoy a tasting which is a journey of the five senses. Then go to the Château Corton André, at Aloxe Corton, in front of Corton Mountain, a perfect illustration of the climats of Burgundy, for a new wine tasting.