French Cheese and Wine Tour

11 days

What do the French do better than anyone else? Many would say ‘wine’. Just as many, however, would also say ‘cheese’. This is the ultimate French gastronomic experience; traverse the entire country, enjoying not only the sights and sounds of France’s finest viticultural regions – but also the cheese and wines

Trip Highlights

  • Travel across the whole of France, staying in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Provence, Burgundy and Champagne along the way

  • Relax with a memorable wine tour along the famous Route des Chateaux in Bordeaux

  • Indulge yourself with a unique opportunity to taste the vast range of local cheeses from each region

  • Discover the Loire Valley on a private wine tour around Saumur and Chinon

  • Boutique accommodation with breakfasts included

from $3,641 per person

This is a guide price based on 2 people travelling together and sharing a room.



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Trip details

Day 1

After settling into your hotel in the heart of Tours, your tour begins proper as you’re whisked off to the Old City for a tutored tasting of three wines with accompanying canapés

Day 2

Your day in the Loire Valley starts with a visit to Château Chenonceau and its resplendent Renaissance gardens. Later in the morning you’ll get to explore the cellars and caves of a Loire Valley wine specialist and taste vintage drops of Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil. Then follows a cheese and wine tasting session, in which you’ll enjoy some of the region’s best local cheeses – such as Valençay, Crottin de Chevignol and Chabichou – before tours of the Château Clos Lucé and the Royal Château of Ambois

Day 3

Journey onwards to the stylish city of Bordeaux. Your wine and cheese tour continues here with a pre-dinner tasting with three wines, along with such well-loved cheeses as Bordeaux’s local Bethmale and Camembert varieties

Day 4

Your Bordeaux wine tasting tour continues along the famous Route des Châteaux, passing through the Margaux and Paulliac regions. Your English-speaking guide will chauffeur you to two classified growth or Cru Bourgeois estates – all these visits are followed by a wine tasting session

Day 5

Today, you’ll depart Bordeaux for Provence. Take the chance to explore Avignon’s picturesque squares, shops and galleries and see artists, actors, mimes and musicians plying their trade around the spectacular Palais des Papes. Then it’s on to a pre-dinner tasting where you’ll enjoy a range of the region’s most prestigious wines alongside a selection of local cheeses. A range of varieties rule here, from Reblochon to Beaufort to Raclette to Tomme de Savoie

Day 6

After breakfast there’s no time to waste as you meet your English-speaking guide and head off for your first Provencal wine tasting. Here’s you’ll learn secrets old and new as you compare the winemaking techniques of yesterday and today. Enjoy tasting at three Rhone Valley wine appellations

Day 7

Leaving Provence behind and heading northwards to Burgundy, you’ll arrive in Beaune, once home to the mighty Dukes of Burgundy

Day 8

Continue your historic Burgundy wine tour with visits and tastings at two of Beaune’s oldest, most esteemed wine cellars, one of which dates back to the 13th century. Then follow up with a cheese and wine pairing lunch (look out for Boucheron, Montrachet, Charollais and Epoisses de Bourgogne, here) at an estate in the heart of the Côte de Beaune vineyards

Day 9

Today, you’ll embark on the final leg of your journey towards Champagne. After settling into your hotel in the heart of historic Reims, it’s off for a champagne tasting tour at one of the region’s world-famous champagne houses

Day 10

Your champagne weekend continues with a memorable full day of champagne tours along the famous Route du Champagnes. Along the way visit two boutique family estates where you’ll be invited to explore the cellars, tastes their wines and share in their passion. The day includes a cheese lunch featuring some of Champagne’s finest cheeses, such as Chaource and Langres

Day 11

After breakfast at your hotel in Reims, time for a bit of last minute shopping before travelling home.

 

All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you

This sample itinerary is intended to give you a flavour of what we can do.

Enquire Now +44 (0) 20 8877 4940

“Thanks for taking the time and trouble to call. You really have set the standard by which we compare all other companies!! Thank you so much for organising a fantastic itinerary with such an interesting and varied range of stop-overs. We are already starting to think about next year’s trip to France so would welcome any suggestions.”

Hilary Alder

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