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
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 $3,526 per person
This is a guide price based on 2 people travelling together and sharing a room.
Enquire online now
Trip details
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. Beaune is a wine aficionado’s haven, surrounded by famed vineyards and dotted with wonderul restaurants.
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 before dinner.
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 tasting, or 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 4940Our Recent Reviews
“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
Start Planning Your Holiday
Speak to our experienced travel consultants.
020 8877 4940 Enquire online
Book with confidence, we are fully ATOL bonded and ABTA members.
