10 Day Wine Tasting Trip Through France

Paris

Day 1: Spend a Memorable Day in Paris

You have arrived in the City of Light. After checking in at your hotel, situated in the Marais district, you will join a small group tour of this historic neighborhood. A charming, medieval atmosphere permeates this quaint district on Paris' Right Bank.

Here, historic mansions offer a glimpse into what life was like for the French nobility, while tucked away gardens offer quiet moments to soak up the beauty of this exquisite city. Later, head back out onto the bustling streets of the Marais. A mid-tour coffee break in a traditional Parisian café will be a welcome treat.

Sit back in your bistro chair, sip your café au lait, and watch the world go by as the locals do! After the tour, the rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure.

Paris - Bordeaux

Day 2: Venture to Glorious Bordeaux

This morning, a high-speed train will transport you to Bordeaux in two hours.  After arriving in this celebrated wine city, you can join a private tour of Bordeaux, which features the city's best landmarks. 

You will visit the Grand Theatre located in the heart of downtown and the monument to the Girondins and its fountain which was slated to become scrap metal during WWII; the Allée de Tourny, which played a major role in the architecture of this 18th-century city. Also visit the Place de la Bourse which was built by King Louis XV in the early 1700s, and rue St. Catherine which has been Bordeaux's “main street” since Roman times.

During the tour, you will learn about French customs and culture and get an excellent overview of the history of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux - Saint Emilion

Day 3: Delve Into the Celebrated Bordeaux Wine Country

Join your English-speaking driver for a delightful tour of this charming French wine region. First, you’ll visit a family-owned wine estate in Saint Emilion and taste its wines. Next, you will enjoy a delicious lunch, either in the town of Saint Emilion, or at an open-air winery terrace where you can dine among the vines.

In the afternoon, you will visit a top winery in Pomerol and taste the wines of the estate, discover the underground church of Saint Emilion, and drive through the picturesque vine-covered landscape of Saint Emilion and Pomerol where more wine tastings await. You will arrive back at your hotel in Bordeaux just in time to freshen up and enjoy an aperitif before dinner.

Bordeaux - Pauillac

Day 4: Taste the Wines of Magical Medoc

Today's route brings you to the best wineries of the Medoc region. After breakfast, you will set out with your private driver to visit the wineries in the towns of Margaux, Pauillac, and Saint Julien.

You will visit a family-owned cooperage and learn about the importance of French oak in Bordeaux wine-making, before enjoying lunch at a charming local brasserie.

After lunch, your excursion around this important wine region continues, culminating in a drive along the “Route des Chateaux”, the legendary castle road, before arriving back at the hotel in the early evening.

Bordeaux - Tours

Day 5: Arrive at the Gateway to the Loire Valley

After breakfast, you will set off by train to Tours, an enchanting university town on the River Loire. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your driver, who will accompany you to your hotel.

The full day is yours to spend at your leisure in this charming city. Spend some time exploring the picturesque streets, inviting shops, and traditional French cafés. A highlight of Tours is its impressive Gothic cathedral, Saint-Gatien, which dates from the 12th century.

As with every stop on this French wine tasting tour, you will be given a customized guidebook with recommendations for the best places in Tours and the Loire Valley, including important cultural landmarks, shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Tours - Chambord - Chenonceau

Day 6: Visit Loire Valley Châteaux and Vineyards

Today begins with a visit to two magnificent Loire Valley castles: the Château de Chambord and The Château de Chenonceau. As you make your way to these masterpieces of Renaissance architecture, take in the splendor of the passing scenery, for this truly is one of the most visually stunning regions of France. 

The afternoon focuses on wine tastings in the Vouvray, the capital of wine production in the Loire Valley. During visits to the Champalou and Jovly Vouvray wineries, you will learn about the distinctive wine produced in this renowned region. Good Vouvray chenin blanc is charming, firm, and delicate, exhibiting a nutty, floral, honeyed character with a rich flavor balanced by palpable acidity and bracing minerality.

Tours - Beaune

Day 7: Journey into Mystic Burgundy

Lovers of the great French Burgundy wine will be happy to hear that today, you will venture east to the beloved wine region of Bourgogne. Your private driver will pick you up for the three and a half hour drive across the beautiful French countryside.

Upon arrival in the medieval town of Beaune, you will have ample time to spend at your leisure.

You may choose to visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Beaune, which features an impressive collection of Flemish and Dutch paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Beaune

Day 8: Enjoy Intimate Visits to Côte de Beaune Wineries

Look forward to a full-day wine tasting excursion in the Côte de Beaune wine region today. But before you take your first sip of exquisite Burgundy wine, you will enjoy a private guided tour of the acclaimed Hospices de Beaune, a former hospital dating from the 15th century.

Your next stop will be a Côte de Beaune winery, where you will enjoy an entertaining tour led by one of the owners. At this distinctive winery, you will learn how this region's renowned vintages are produced and bottled. You will enjoy lunch at the winery, with the opportunity to taste a variety of wines with your meal of traditional Burgundy cuisine. As you enjoy your food and drink, a sommelier will personally visit each table to discuss the subtle nuances between each wine.

The day continues with an informative drive through the region, to a nearby town where you will visit a small family winery.

Beaune

Day 9: Visit the Elegant Vineyards of the Côte de Nuits

Today's wine tasting adventure will bring you to the wineries of the Côte de Nuits wine region of Burgundy. The day begins with a private guided visit of Château du Clos Vougeot.

Founded by monks in the 12th century, this Renaissance chateau has been lovingly restored to its full glory. The historical center of wine production in this region, this historic chateaux offers an excellent overview of how wine was made in the Middle Ages.

For today's lunch, you have the opportunity to enjoy a private wine tasting at a boutique winery followed by a meal in a typical Burgundy restaurant, or you may choose to enjoy lunch at a local vineyard with a tasting featuring a selection of five Grand Cru wines. You can take a leisurely stroll past the famous vineyards of Romanée Conti to examine the "terroir" of this famous region. Later visit a Côte de Nuits wine cellar for one more private tasting.

Beaune - Cdg

Day 10: Farewell, France!

If you have an early flight to catch this morning, you ought to take the 6 a.m. train from Beaune, which will arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 9:03 a.m. 

If you plan to spend a night or more in Paris before the return leg of your journey, you are welcome to extend your trip.

Safe travels home, and visit again soon!