France and wine, A long history that has caused much ink to flow. It was the Greeks who, around 600 BC. AD planted the first vines in the south of Gaul. From the 2nd century BC. AD, the Romans then the Gallo-Romans gradually developed the wine production on all the territory which forms our country today. During the Middle Ages and the centuries that followed, the wines were perfected. This movement leads to the emergence of very different beverages from each other, which current producers continue to improve.

To make consumers better known, they have invented tourist routesallowing travelers to reconcile the pleasures of discovering their treasures and their region. In France, the number of wine tourists is estimated at 5 million French and 2.5 million foreigners (survey by Atout France). There are some 1 4 000 tourist cellars as well as around 30 museums and sites linked to wine. A serious matter, therefore.

This file which, unlike wine, is to be consumed without moderation, shows you the main routes to follow, whether you are a certified oenologist or a simple walker thirsty for superb walks.

The Alsace wine route

Located on hills, the Alsatian vineyard is sheltered from oceanic influences by the Vosges massif and benefits from significant sunshine. It is a hundred kilometers long and covers around 15,000 hectares spread over 119 municipalities.

In the aftermath of the First World War, the winegrowers set out to produce white wines made from typical grape varieties: riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, muscat d’Alsace, sylvaner, pinot blanc, klevener. To this list, we must add the Crémant d’Alsace which stands out by being effervescent and the Edelzwicker which is a blend of several grape varieties.

The pinot noir is the only red or rosé variety in the region. These wines obtained their appellation of controlled origin (AOC) from 1962. There are three: Alsace, Alsace grand cru, Crémant d’Alsace. Marketed in an exclusive type of bottle, the Alsace flute, wines from this region are normally drunk in long-stemmed tulip glasses. But you do as you want.

The road

Invented in 1953, the “Alsace wine route” is the oldest in France. Over more than 170 kilometers, it winds along a north-south axis through hills.

From Marlenheim to Thann, you pass through 67 communes made up of vineyards and very pretty flowered villages which seem to have been built for postcard photographers! But no, you are here in a region rich in a long history and a unique way of life: half-timbered houses, ramparts, castles, old churches and winstubs, these dainty inns that resemble temples dedicated to Bacchus.

The producers, for their part, provide you with tasting cellars. Marked by signs and information terminals, this road provides access to 38 wine trails, also dotted with information panels. Crossing the vineyards, these paths lead you up the hills where great views await you. To see in particular on the course: the cities of Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Colmar and the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle in Orschwiller.

Bordeaux wine routes

Yes, even if national pride must suffer, it must be admitted that it is to the English that we owe the development of Bordeaux wines. When Aquitaine was under their domination during much of the Middle Ages, they got into the habit of tasting Clairette, a light red wine, and suddenly favored local viticulture and trading.

As we know, reds are always very popular, but the region also produces dry or sweet whites and rosé wines made from red grape varieties. The latter, for the most part, are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, while the white wines are made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle grapes.

The Bordeaux region has more than fifty appellations of controlled origin, thousands of castles (properties) and hundreds of trading houses; it has been calculated that the wine activity provides one in six jobs in Gironde. Some of its wines are among the most prestigious in the world: Pétrus, Yquem, Mouton Rothschild, Cheval Blanc, Laffite-Rothschild, Latour, Margaux.

Roads

Benefiting from the humidity brought by the Atlantic Ocean, the 120,000 hectares of Bordeaux vineyards enjoy a temperate climate (short winter). They are discovered through five tourist routes dotted with wine houses. Their starting point is of course Bordeaux, whose streets in its very elegant city center should be walked: already a pretty road.

The Medoc road, between the north of Bordeaux and the Pointe de Grave. This is where you find the great classified growths and a lot of bourgeois growths (Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Moulis). For your viewing pleasure, you have prestigious castles and mansions. Many tracks offer cyclists walks through vineyards and pines.

The Saint-Emilion-Pomerol-Fronsac road is located east of Bordeaux, on the right bank of the Dordogne. The vineyards crossed are those of Saint-Emilion, Fronsac, Côtes de Castillon, Côtes de Francs. To see: the medieval village of Saint-Emilion (listed as World Heritage by Unesco) and hilly landscapes with superb views.

The Blaye and Bourg route is taken north of Bordeaux, it crosses the Blayais and Bourgeais (Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Bourg). To discover: views of the Gironde estuary, hilly landscapes, troglodyte villages, Romanesque churches, vestiges of Gallo-Roman villas and, in Blaye, a citadel built by Vauban.

The Graves road, south-west of Bordeaux, runs through vineyards on the edge of the Landes forest. This micro-region forms the cradle of Bordeaux. If red wines are produced there, the whites are famous there (Cérons, Barsac, Sauternes). Notice to amateurs: castles offer luxurious guest rooms in a dream environment.

The Entre-deux-Mers route file southeast of Bordeaux in the region, that is to say between Dordogne and Garonne. The wines here are both red, rosé and white (Cadillac, Haut-Benauge, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont). Are to visit country houses (Créon, Sauveterre de Guyenne) and abbeys (La Sauve Majeure).

Burgundy wine routes

The family of Burgundy wines extends its territory between Auxerrois and Mâconnais. Its vineyards cover a total of almost 29,500 hectares and benefit from 101 appellations of controlled origin.

Grapes which are, mainly pinot noir, chardonnay, gamay, aligoté, one draws red, white and rosé wines (clairet). These are monks who, in the Middle Ages, began to structure the production of wine, by creating “clos” (properties) and “climates” (specific production areas) around their abbeys; the best known are Cluny and Cîteaux.

Dukes of Burgundy and kings of France then reinforced these bases on which still largely rest today the Burgundian wine economy to which contribute four thousand domains all highlighting their own characteristics (basements, microclimates).

Roads

The Burgundy wine archipelago has four main tourist routes that can be followed separately or in their continuity. They are presented below in a north-south direction.

The “Yonne vineyard route” crisscrosses as its name suggests through the department of Yonne. One of the kings of this course is Chablis. Regarding the visits, the traveler is spoiled here: Auxerre, Tonnerre, Vézelay. Note: the first route is within driving distance of Parisians. Bringing you south of Joigny, it makes you discover the Jovinien vineyard.

The “Route des grands crus de Bourgogne” is considered a royal road. It indeed crosses the part of the Côte-d’Or where the most prestigious vineyards are located. After visiting Dijon , you reach the old village of Marsannay , then the canton of Gevrey-Chambertin and the vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges where you have the 12th century castle of Clos de Vougeot , seat of the famous Brotherhood of Tastevin (the tastevin is this cup in which we taste the wine in the cellar). Then, it is the Côte de Beaune (city which deserves a stop, especially for its hospices), Pommard, Volnay and Meursault.

The “great wines route” extends the route of Grands Crus from Santenay. Up to Saint-Gengoux-le-National, it takes you on a tour of the Chalonnaise coast, passing from one charming village to another: vineyards, hedged farmland, Romanesque churches, castles, the Canal du Center, etc.

The “Mâconnais wine route- Beaujolais” takes you to Saône-et-Loire; it is dotted with “Follow the cluster” signs. This is where the wines of Mâcon, pouilly, saint-Véran, passetoutgrain, viré-clessé (many are white) come from. When you reach the Rhône, you arrive in Beaujolais territory (saint-amour, juliénas, chénas, windmill, flowery, chiroubles, morgon, Régnié, côte de brouilly, brouilly), sometimes associated with divine Burgundy beverages, sometimes considered separately. To see: the town of Macon, the remains of Cluny Abbey, Romanesque churches, in Tournus, the rock of Solutré. The tourist route stops at Romanèche-Thorins.

The champagne routes

A royal wine the reputation of champagne comes from its own qualities, but also from the fact that it was in Reims that the kings of France were crowned from 898 to 1825. We imagine that the festivities were not watered until ‘water.

This wine has not always been sparkling. It was in the 17th century that benefactors of humanity, such as the monk dom Pérignon of the Benedictine abbey of Hautvillers, found the winning formula. The use of cork and bottles with thick glass (which prevents the bottle from exploding) Allowed champagne, a very international drink, to travel and guaranteed success around the world.

It is found blanc de blancs, brut brut, brut, semi-dry, sweet, grand cru, great brand, brut without year and rosé. To benefit from the AOC Champagne, you must use the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grape varieties. The vineyard covers 35,000 hectares and is made up of four areas: the Reims mountain, the Marne valley, the Côte des blancs and the Côte des Bar.

The road

Most of the Champagne vineyards are located around Reims and Épernay, cities where you can visit vast cellars in small vehicles. But wherever you go, you will find champagne houses and producers who will be happy to explain some of their secrets to you. 26 of them have received the “Point accueil” label, which guarantees good reception.

In the north, it is the green massif of Saint-Thierry and the mountain of Reims, wide low relief plateau covered with vines. By making a detour to the west, it is the Marne valley, rich in beautiful views, then, past Épernay, we arrive on the side of the Côte des Blancs. The vineyards are less and less visible when you head south. They are found after Troyes, between Bar-sur-Seine and Bar-sur-Aube., In the Côte des Bar.

The champagne routes

A royal wine the reputation of champagne comes from its own qualities, but also from the fact that it was in Reims that the kings of France were crowned from 898 to 1825. We imagine that the festivities were not watered until ‘water.

This wine has not always been sparkling. It was in the 17th century that benefactors of humanity, such as the monk dom Pérignon of the Benedictine abbey of Hautvillers, found the winning formula. The use of cork and bottles with thick glass (which prevents the bottle from exploding!) Allowed champagne, a very international drink, to travel and guaranteed success around the world.

It is found blanc de blancs, brut brut, brut, semi-dry, sweet, grand cru, great brand, brut without year and rosé. To benefit from the AOC Champagne, you must use the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grape varieties. The vineyard covers 35,000 hectares and is made up of four areas: the Reims mountain, the Marne valley, the Côte des blancs and the Côte des Bar.

The road

Most of the Champagne vineyards are located around Reims and Épernay, cities where you can visit vast cellars in small vehicles! But wherever you go, you will find champagne houses and producers who will be happy to explain some of their secrets to you. 26 of them have received the “Point accueil” label, which guarantees good reception.

In the north, it is the green massif of Saint-Thierry and the mountain of Reims, wide low relief plateau covered with vines. By making a detour to the west, it is the Marne valley, rich in beautiful views, then, past Épernay, we arrive on the side of the Côte des Blancs. The vineyards are less and less visible when you head south. They are found after Troyes, between Bar-sur-Seine and Bar-sur-Aube. In the Côte des Bar .

Loire wine routes

Anjou, bourgueil, chinon, coteaux-du-layon, gros-plant, menetou-salon, muscadet, pouilly, sancerre, saumur, touraine, vouvray… In all, 68 appellations make up the great family of Loire wines, each from a particular terroir, from Sancerre to Nantes. They are red, rosé and white (the latter are numerous), some being effervescent (Gamay grapes, Cabernet Franc, Cot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay).

In the Nantes region and in Anjou, the climate is temperate, under oceanic influence, which diminishes starting from Saumurois and Touraine. The Loire and its tributaries, bordering the vines, everywhere provide a moderating function and favor the existence of microclimates. Sweet France of the Loire Valley. The kings of France, but also of England, once masters of these lands, have greatly favored the creation of vineyards in the region.

Roads

Several routes allow each to discover a part of the vineyards of the vast set of Loire wines. Four of them form the “vineyard route” and take you around the Loire Valley (listed as World Heritage by Unesco), a region rich in castles. It is dotted with signs and wine houses that tell you which winemakers you can go to for tastings. Proposals for hikes by bike or on foot are made to amateurs.

The first route is called “Between the ocean and Champtoceaux”. It is the region of Nantes, of the medieval city of Clisson and of muscadet.

We continue “Between Champtoceaux and Saumur”, domain of Anjou wines, Saumur, Layon, Crémant de Loire. To see there: Fontevraud Abbey, troglodyte sites, the cities of Angers and Saumur and their castles.

“Between Saumur and Chenonceaux”, it is Touraine, the country of Rabelais. The wines to taste are chinon and bourgueil. There are many sites to see. There are the castles of Chinon, Amboise, Chenonceaux, Langeais, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, the city of Tours, the abbey of Bourgueil, the tuffeau cellars, very clear stone of the region.

“Between Chenonceaux and Saint-Aignan”, we head towards Sologne through the Cher valley and plateaus where we produce Touraine wines. To visit: the castles of Chaumont, Cheverny, Chambord, Valençay and Blois, city where it is good to walk.

Last route, a little behind, “The Loir Valley”. The vintages of jasnières, coteaux du loir, coteaux du vendômois, less known than other Loire wines, are tasted in cellars dug into the rock. The city of Vendôme and the troglodyte villages are part of the sites where to stop.

The “tourist route of the vineyards of the Heart of France” then takes over. You are now in the Center of France where the vineyards form islets on both sides of Bourges. Those of Menetou-Salon, Quincy, Reuilly, Châteaumeillant are relatively far from the Loire, while those of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Coteaux du Giennois form a whole dominating their course the course of the river. Push a little east and you are in Burgundy.

The Côtes du Rhône wine route

The Rhône Valley vineyard covers six departments, from Vienne to Avignon. Or nearly 80,000 hectares. The region’s climate is characterized by the presence of the mistral, this violent wind necessary for the development of the vine, but also by frequent rains, hot temperatures and exceptional sunshine.

The grape varieties are made from varieties from three wine-growing areas. Cinsault, Clairette and Bourboulenc are grape varieties born in the French Mediterranean regions. Grenache, carignan, mourvèdre originate from Spanish provinces. Finally, the syrah, the roussanne, the marsanne and the viognier come from wild vines from the Dauphin forests.

The road

To discover the Rhône Valley vineyard, no less than thirteen routes are available to you! Difficult to describe them all in detail, but here are five that visitors particularly appreciate:

To the north, the tourist route of Grignan-les-Adhémar , which extends from Saint-Restitut to Allan, will allow you to explore a region magnificent: landscapes of vineyards in the middle of lavender, scrubland where the cicadas sing, plantations of olive trees, truffle oaks, aromatic plants. Tourist curiosities abound in the surroundings: visit mainly the villages of Chamaret, Montségur-sur- Lauzon, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Grignan and La Garde Adhémar.

The Drôme Provençale also has some nice surprises in store for you. Enjoy the landscapes while visiting the medieval towns of Taulignan and Vaison-la-Romaine, the Cistercian abbey of Bouchet or the troglodyte village of Barry.

You can also explore the surroundings of Avignon. Center of Christianity in the 14th century, Avignon is famous for its museums, its superbly preserved ramparts, its old town, but also for the imposing Palais des Papes and the famous Saint-Bénezet bridge. Real architectural gems!

The Ventoux AOC route extends further east, from Apt to Malaucène. Medieval alleys, forests, vineyards… Here is the ideal place to stroll. The tourist attractions are numerous: let us quote for example the cathedral and the old town of Apt, the fountain of Vaucluse, the medieval castle of Gordes or the ochres of Roussillon.

One last example? The Dentelles de Montmirail: magnificent mountains which dominate the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône. The region is famous for its small villages crowned with their bell-towers: Gigondas, dominated by its vestiges, Séguret, classified among the “most beautiful villages of France”, Beaumes-de-Venise and its splendid chapel of Our Lady of Aubune.

The Jura wine route

Jura wines are not new; Indeed, they are cited by Pliny the Younger from the year 80 AD. The latter speaks of ” this famous grape from Viennese which enriched the Sequanie “. Sequania, we give it to you in a thousand, this is the current Franche-Comté.

The Jura vineyard covers only 1,850 hectares, and yet it has a great diversity of terroirs. Traditional cultural and oenological practices have been preserved over the centuries, which no doubt explains the current reputation of Jura wines. However, nothing was won: in the 19th century, the vineyards were devastated by phylloxera and the winegrowers worked hard to revive quality viticulture. Their efforts were rewarded! In 1936, Arbois wines obtained their appellation of controlled origin (AOC).

Diversity is what best characterizes the Jura vineyard: five grape varieties, six AOCs, two hundred professional farms with varied profiles. There is something for everyone: red and rosé wines, white wines, yellow wine, but also sparkling wines (Crémant du Jura), sweet wines (Vin de Paille), mistelles (Macvin du Jura) Products with character, varied and typical, which will delight your taste buds.

The road

The Jura is a top choice destination for wine lovers. But you will also appreciate its superb landscapes, it’s astonishing heritage, its generous nature and its picturesque villages. Whether you are backpackers, nature lovers, gourmets or curious, you will not be disappointed.

To the south, discover the Côtes du Jura appellation wines, around Beaufort and then up towards Lons-le-Saunier, Voiteur and Poligny. The pretty village of l’Etoile, a few kilometers north-west of Lons-le-Saunier, is also worth a detour: you can taste yellow wine, white wine and straw wine, famous in Franche-Comté. Take the opportunity to visit its vineyard houses, its three castles and its washhouses.

Further north, Château-Chalon is a tourist hotspot, which also produces one of the best yellow wines in the Jura. It belongs to the list of the most beautiful villages in France! Finally, stop at Arbois where the landscape is typical of Revermont. Enjoy its rich historical heritage and its yellow wine.

Along your route, do not hesitate to stop to enjoy the riches of the region: the towns of Lons-le-Saunier, Poligny and Arbois, the waterfalls ofBaume-les-Messieurs , the Grotte des Planches, the castles of Frontenay , Arlay, Pin and Rosay, but also the sublime village of Château-Chalon or the Salines de Salins-les-Bains.

The Languedoc wine route

Languedoc cannot go unnoticed: it has a vast 40,000-hectare vineyard stretching eighteen appellations. No wine is like another. Only common point: the Mediterranean. ” It is from this that the mild winters come, the freckles of hot and dry summers, the aromas of garrigue and the winds carrying spray “, we can read on the AOC Languedoc website. The Languedoc vineyard stands out for its varied landscapes: leaning against the flanks of the Cévennes, nestling at the foot of the Pyrenees, hanging on the Corbières Massif or nestling in an amphitheater of the Montagne Noire…

Languedoc wines have sometimes suffered from a bad reputation. But in recent years, Languedoc winemakers have redoubled their efforts and today we find excellent wines on the land of Faugères, Saint-Chinian and Minervois. The year 2007 represents in a way a consecration, with the official recognition of the regional appellation AOC Languedoc.

The road

Languedoc is renowned for its superb landscapes. In this region, there is no “wine route” per se. However, you can enjoy a very nice route from Faugères, in the north, to Carcassonne, in the south.

Start by stopping in the pretty little village of Faugères, whose dominant grape varieties are carignan, cinsault, grenache, mourvèdre and syrah. The windmills that surround Faugères are full of charm. While continuing your road towards Carcassonne, think of stopping at Cabrerolles. You can visit the castle as well as the Notre-Dame-de-la-Roque chapel.

You will then enter the Saint-Chinian vineyard, in the Languedoc hinterland. It is surrounded by around twenty villages which produce one of the greatest vintages in the region. A little further south, Saint-Jean-de-Minervois is a pleasant stopover. If you have the opportunity, taste the “petit grain” muscat produced by local winegrowers: it is excellent.

You are now in the Minervois country, land of the first Languedoc vineyards, straddling the Aude and the Hérault. The fortified town of Minerve is one of the riches of French heritage. It is also part of the list of “most beautiful villages in France”. The landscapes are impressive: gorges, natural bridges, limestone plateaus.

Then, all you have to do is head to Carcassonne, which shares the Malepère appellation with thirty-two municipalities. This wild and unspoiled region combines the grape varieties of the Southwest (Merlot / Cabernet) with Mediterranean such as Grenache Noir and Cinsaut. If you have the opportunity, take a few strolls around the Caroux and Espinouse mountains in Hérault: a little natural treasure above the vines.
The Provence wine route

Provence as soon as we mention this name, we can’t help but think of the sunny climate, the mistral, the song of the cicadas and the books of Marcel Pagnol. This region is also famous for its vines, brought by the Phocaeans already 2,600 years ago.

The Provençal vineyard extends over nearly 200 kilometers from east to west, from the Alpilles to the Estérel massif. Located in the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône and Var (with a plot in the Alpes-Maritimes), the appellations coteaux d’ Aix-en-Provence , coteaux varois en Provence, Côtes de Provence and the names of terroir Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire and Côtes de Provence Fréjus produce wines of great aromatic diversity.

Provence is renowned for its fruity and generous rosés, which you will enjoy with pleasure on hot summer days. The Provençal vineyard also produces remarkable reds and airy, tender and delicate whites.

The road

Provence is vast. To explore it, you can follow different routes which will be presented to you below from east to west.

At the eastern end of the Var stretch the vineyards of the coasts of Provence Fréjus. Listed as a “city of art”, Fréjus is the ideal place to breathe the sea air while visiting the Roman amphitheater.

If you have a slight preference for the appellation Côtes de Provence, set off to explore the Var! The entire west and north area are made up of alternating hills and limestone bars sculpted by erosion. Further east, facing the sea, stand the crystalline massifs of the Moors and Estérel. Taste the delicious wines of Bando land Cassis, and if you have the courage, push up to Bouches-du-Rhône and make a stop in Marseille.

If you are looking for seascapes and intrigued by the appellation Côtes de Provence La Londe, head south-west of the Maures massif, around Bormes-les-Mimosas, La Crau, Hyères and La Londe les Maures.

Further north visits the town of Brignoles, once the summer residence of the Counts of Provence. It is the appellation area of the Var hills in Provence. This land is distinguished by marked reliefs which peak from 600 to more than 1,000 meters for the Sainte-Baume massif, where the Saint-Maximin abbey is nestled.

Finally, you can discover the pretty town of Aix-en-Provence, with beautiful old houses and shaded squares. At the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, dear to the painter Cézanne, is the vineyard on the coasts of Provence Sainte-Victoire. The appellation area of the Aix-en-Provence hillsides extends from the Durance to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the Rhône valley in the west to the Sainte-Victoire mountain in the east.

The Savoie wine route

The origin of Savoy wines goes back to Antiquity: Latin authors such as Pliny and Columelle already mentioned, in the 1st century AD, the Allobrogie vines. Needless to say, their words were particularly complimentary!

The vineyards of Savoie spread unevenly and discontinuously over four departments of the Rhône-Alpes region: Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isère and Ain. If the vines cover 1,550 hectares in Savoie, they only cover 170 in Haute-Savoie, 130 in Isère and 90 in Ain! Despite its small size, the Savoyard vineyard has four AOCs, twenty-two vintages and twenty-three grape varieties.

The road

Savoy is renowned for the beauty of its landscapes in the heart of the Alps. If the region is popular with hikers and sports enthusiasts, it will also appeal to wine lovers! In Savoie and Haute-Savoie, the winegrowers are ready to welcome you and let you taste the product of their passion.

Here are three circuits that you can follow separately or in their continuity:

To the south of Chambéry, set off to discover the Abymes and the Apremont, whose vines overflow onto the Isère. If you have the opportunity, stop at Montmélian to taste the chignin-bergeron, a remarkable white wine.

On the edge of the Epine massif and near Lake Bourget, it is the soil of Monthoux, Marestel and Jongieux. Further north, you can visit the Chautagne vineyard, on the banks of the Rhône. Savor the pinots and gamay, with aromas of red fruits, as well as the mondes with violet scents. Also discover the vineyards of Seyssel (AOC since 1942) And the frangy appellation wine.

Finally, around Lake Geneva, you can taste quality white wines: ripaille, crépy, marignan and marin. Don’t forget to taste the ayze, a delicate sparkling wine produced according to a traditional method.

Savoy has a lot to offer. During your journey, you will be surprised by all kinds of natural and architectural wonders. Autumn is the ideal season to discover this region, which has a superb golden coat.

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