If you are a wine lover there is no better pleasure than visiting France on a wine tasting tour. From touring picturesque vineyards and tasting local wine, to walking through medieval villages and sampling local food, wine tasting holidays in France are a fulfilling and aesthetic experience.
Interesting Trivia
- Wine came to France in 600 B.C. when a trade colony was established by the ancient Greeks at Marseilles, a city in southeast France.
How to pick a region?
Each wine producing region has a different way of naming and categorizing the wines because the production is intimately linked to the history, culture and cuisine of each region. So a visit to Bordeaux will be a totally different experience for you than a visit to Burgundy.
Wine lovers can pick a region based on their wine preferences.
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Bordeaux
- White-wine region: Alsace
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Bordeaux
- Red-wine region: Beaujolais
- Sparkling wine: Champagne
- Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille: Jura
- Pinot Noir and white wine made from green-skinned Chardonnay grapes: Burgundy
You can also visit the scenic villages of Provence, stay in a quaint little guesthouse, walk around vineyards, chat with wine producers, and sip on some local French wine.
Best Time to Visit
There are many wine-producing regions that are accessible and welcoming to the visitors, making wine tasting in France a year-round activity.
March – June: Pleasant weather and less crowd
Early July – August: Weather is just about perfect with long days of sunshine but too many tourists
September – November: Season for grape harvesting. You can also attend festivals celebrating the harvest
December: Weather is cold but wine producers will have ample time to discuss their wines and take you through the wine caves.
Just ensure that you seek prior appointment before visiting a vineyard.
Getting Past Language Barrier
Even though many vineyards and cellars are designated as “English-speaking” by local wine boards, the host’s fluency in English may vary. So it is advisable to install a language learning app on your smartphone or tablet to communicate easily.
For instance, you can install the ‘Learn French Quickly’ app by AlterGyan that contains more than 1200 most-frequently used French phrases voiced out by a native speaker. It is a free and handy tool that you can use to overcome difficulties in conversing with the locals when holidaying in France.
AlterGyan
Learn French Quickly is one of the most popular language learning apps offered by AlterGyan. It contains a list of 1200+ most frequently used French phrases voiced out by a native speaker. It is a quick and handy tool for anyone who wants to learn French for free.