Wine vacations to explore the premium white wine regions of France

At a glance

Trip Summary

To end the day in style, you will then visit the Château of a highly regarded producer of Sauternes. The full tour will be followed by a tasting of the estates’ sweet wines. You will be taken back to your hotel at the end of the day. In the evening a three course gourmet dinner will be served in a premium city centre restaurant. Your dinner will be accompanied by three local wines.

On the morning of day three, check out of the hotel and board the 11:28 train to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. The journey will take 2 ¾ hours. Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station is located less than ten minutes from the hotel by taxi.

After settling into your Comfort room at the 4* Oceania l’Univers, a pre-booked and pre-paid taxi will take you to a nearby premium Vouvray estate. Here, your guide will accompany you on a tour of the domaine and cellars, concluding with tastings of five of the region’s white Chenin Blanc-based wines, including the domaine’s Réserve Spéciale. Tastings of local delicacies such as cheeses and rillettes will be served alongside the wines.

On day four, you will take a short train ride to Amboise. In this historic town, a truly unique tasting session of three Vouvray wines paired with local cheeses will then take place in the cellars of a reputed wine merchant, who specialises in old wines (some of which date back to the forties). There is a strong chance that you will be able to taste wine from your birth year! Also included in Amboise is entry to Château Clos Lucé, the former home of the famous Leonardo da Vinci.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and make your way back to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station. There, board the the 11:39 train to Champagne-Ardenne. The journey takes about 3 ½ hours.

After checking into your Privilège room at the 4* Hotel de la Paix and spending a relaxing evening in the city of Reims, you will be picked up by an English-speaking guide at your hotel on the morning of day six.

Today, you will enjoy a full day transported Champagne tour, visiting two small, family-run Champagne Houses, as well as a large, prestigious estate. During your tour, your guide will present to you the entire process of creating the magic that is Champagne and the legends, traditions and culture behind it. Your visits to two small producers will offer a diverse range of tastings to compare Champagnes from different regions. The tour will pause at lunchtime for a three course meal in a local restaurant, with a glass of wine, water and coffee. The tour day will end in style at a large, prestigious Champagne House in Epernay. This will usually be Champagne Mercier or Champagne De Castellane, and after a full tour of the estate and cellars, a flute of Champagne will conclude your visit.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. At Champagne-Ardenne station, board the 13:18 train to Strasbourg. The journey will last in the region of 1 ½ hours.

After settling into your Classic room at the 5* Regent Petite France, a tutored tasting session of three Alsace wines will take place in a chic wine bar, accompanied by a platter of local cheeses and meats.

On day eight, guests will enjoy a full day transported and guided wine tour in the picturesque Alsace vineyards. Firstly you will be taken to Mittelbergheim, a traditional wine producing region, officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Here, you will experience a wide variety of tastings including Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner and Riesling. Afterwards, you will be driven further into the vineyards towards the quaint winery village of Dambach-la-Ville, located at the heart of the Alsace wine region. Here, you will enjoy a second tasting session in a typical ‘caveau’ (the name given to local wineries). After free time for lunch, it is on to Riquewihr and Ribeauville, to enjoy two afternoon tasting sessions in some of the most highly-regarded wineries.

On day nine, you will again meet your English speaking driver/guide at a central meeting point. You will have a half-day tour of further areas in the Alsace wine region. Travelling along the breath-taking Alsace ‘Wine Route’, you will admire the stunning landscape en-route to the picturesque winery village of Obernai. After a guided walking tour of Obernai, you will enjoy a tour and tastings at a local winery.

You will then continue along the Alsace ‘Wine Route’, to your second and final tour and tasting. At the end of the tour, you will be escorted back to Strasbourg, where the rest of the afternoon will be free to do as you please and explore all the wonders that this captivating city has to offer.

You may wish to spend the time strolling along the narrow cobbled streets and visiting such national and international sights as the Gothic Cathedral, the European Parliament and La Petite-France. Included in your travel pack will be a Strasbourg pass, which offers discounts for numerous attractions, as well as free entry to one museum, free entry to the Cathedral’s viewing gallery, entry to see the famous clock, a half day bike hire and a complimentary river cruise.

Finally, no trip to Alsace would be complete without dining in a traditional winstub. Meaning “wine lounge,” winstubs epitomise the Alsatian way of life. Originally open to the public for wine-growers to sell surplus wines, winstubs are convivial, country-style restaurants, with red-checked table cloths and wooden tables, where diners enjoy carafes of wine accompanied by small, simple dishes. Here, you will have the opportunity to sample regional specialities, such as Sauerkraut, Baeckaoffa and tartes flambées. Dinner is included as part of the package price and the meal is accompanied by a Cremant and a local Riesling.

On the morning of day ten, check out of the hotel and make your way to the train station. Board the 11:10 train to Beaune via Besançon-Viotte and Dijon-Ville. The journey will take around six hours (including changes).

Upon arrival in Beaune, check into your Charme room at the 4* Hotel de la Poste.  As always we would be delighted to book you a table for dinner if required.

On day eleven, you will visit the famed appellation of Puligny-Montrachet, where you will be welcomed as guests at one of the biggest names in the village. The experience will include an hour spent in the vineyards, learning all about the work undertaken here, before returning to the winery, where you will enjoy a tour of their estate and cellars. Following the tour, you will be invited into their tasting room, where a broad tasting of six wines from the Côte de Beaune (including Premier Cru wines) will be offered alongside a delightful three course lunch. The owners and staff are very gracious hosts and the wine tastings and meal always prove both enjoyable and enlightening. A pre-booked and pre-paid taxi will escort you to and from the village.

Check out of your hotel on the morning of day twelve and board the 9:13 train to Tonnerre via Dijon. The journey time should take around 3 ½ hours. Tonnerre is the closest station to Chablis and is located about 20 minutes away from your hotel by taxi.

Upon arrival in Chablis, check into your Comfort room at the 4* Hostellerie des Clos. You will then have some free time to relax and explore your surroundings.

On day thirteen, the morning is entirely dedicated to learning about the region’s unique terroir and vineyards. After a stop in the vineyards, you will visit a local producer to see the wine-making process from press to bottle and taste their full range. Your guide will be pleased to recommend a suitable restaurant for lunch and in the afternoon, you will be taken through the Auxerre vineyards to marvel at the fantastic panoramic views in Irancy. Here, you will also visit an enormous wine cellar carved into the side of a cliff for a tasting of sparkling wines. For the final visit of the day, enjoy a tour and tastings of the principal Burgundy varieties (Chardonnay, Aligoté and Pinot Noir) as the guests of a wine-maker in Auxerre.

Also included is a three course dinner with wines, water and coffee in the hotel’s gourmet restaurant.

Check out of your hotel on the morning of day fourteen. A private transfer will be arranged between Chablis and Sancerre during the course of the day. The journey time should be in the region of 1 ¾ hours.

After checking into the hotel and enjoying a complimentary bottle of Sancerre in your room, you will be met by an English-speaking guide on the morning of day fifteen, for a full day transported tour of the region.

During the course of the day, you will visit various Sancerre vineyards, where your guide will explain in detail the specifics of the unique terroir which allows the appellation to produce its world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, and the work which takes place throughout the year. In the morning, you will visit a highly-regarded producer of Sancerre wines for a full tour of the wine-making process from press to bottle and tastings of five wines. You will also taste the local Crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese with a reputed cheese affineur.

There will be free time for lunch and your guide will be more than happy to suggest a suitable restaurant depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day. Before being taken back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon, you will be taken to visit a winery across the river in Pouilly-Fumé for a full tour and tastings of five wines in a different style to those tasted earlier in the day. In the evening, a five course wine tasting dinner will be served in a fabulous Michelin-starred restaurant in the village. Each course will be perfectly paired with a different wine.

On day sixteen, check out of the hotel.

Region Map

Outline Itinerary

• You will be welcomed as the guests of the Grand Cru Classé Château Pape Clément, where following a tour and tasting class of five wines, a gourmet picnic lunch will be served in the stunning gardens.
• In the afternoon, you will be taken to visit the estate of a premium producer of the region’s world-famous sweet Sauternes wines. As well as having a full tour, you will have the opportunity to taste a selection of the Château’s botrytised wines.
• In the evening, a three course gourmet dinner will be served in a premium city centre restaurant, accompanied by three local wines.

Day Three

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Make your way to Bordeaux Saint Jean station and board the 11:28 train to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, arriving at 14:10.
• Upon arrival in Tours, check into your Comfort room at the 4* Oceania L’Univers.
• After settling in, you will be taken by a pre-booked and pre-paid taxi for a tour and five tastings with local delicacies at a top Vouvray winery.

Day Four

• After breakfast, your tour day will comprise of:
• Return rail travel between Tours and Amboise.
• A tasting session of three old Vouvray wines with cheeses in the cellars of a wine merchant in Amboise.
• Entry to Château Clos Lucé.
• In the evening, a three course dinner will be served in a premium brasserie in Tours with drinks.

Day Five

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Make you way to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps station and board the 11:39 train to Champagne-Ardenne.
• Champagne-Ardenne is about 15 minutes from Reims by taxi.
• Upon arrival in Reims, check into your Privilège room at the 4* Hotel de la Paix enviably located in the heart of the city centre just off the main square.

Day Six

• After breakfast, meet your guide at a central departure point a short walk from the hotel. Your tour day will comprise of:
• Tours and tastings at two small, family-run Champagne Houses.
• A three course lunch with drinks in a local restaurant.
• A tour and a flute of Champagne at a large, prestigious Champagne House.
• You will be taken back to Reims at the end of the day.
• As always we would be delighted to book you a table for dinner.

Day Seven

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Make your way to Champagne-Ardenne station.
• Board the 13:18 train to Strasbourg, arriving at 14:43.
• Upon arrival in Strasbourg, check into your Classic room at the 5* Regent Petite France, ideally located in the city centre.
• In the evening, a tutored tasting session of three Alsace wines with cheeses and meats will take place in a chic wine bar.

Day Eight

• After breakfast, meet your English-speaking guide at a central departure point in the city centre.
• Your tour day will comprise of tours and tastings at four wineries in the Alsace vineyards, with free time for lunch.
• You will be taken back to Strasbourg at the end of the day.
• In the evening, a three-course dinner with a Cremant and a local Riesling will be served in a traditional Alsatian winstub.

Day Nine

• Your tour day will comprise of: In the morning, meet your English-speaking guide again for a half day tour.
• Your tour will comprise of a walking tour of the town of Obernai with tours and tastings at two wineries.
• After being taken back to Strasbourg, the afternoon will be free to explore the city. Included in your travel pack will be a Strasbourg pass, which offers discounts for numerous attractions as well as free entry to one museum, free entry to the Cathedral’s viewing gallery, entry to see the famous clock, a half day bike hire and a complimentary river cruise.

Day Ten

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Make your way to the train station and board the 11:10 train, arriving in Beaune at 17:00 (via Besançon-Viotte and Dijon-Ville).
• Upon arrival in Beaune, check into your Charm room at the 4* Hotel de la Poste located in the town centre.
• As always we would be delighted to reserve you a table for dinner if required.

Day Eleven

• Taxi transfers will be organised for you between Beaune and Puligny-Montrachet.
• There, you will enjoy an entertaining vineyard workshop, followed by a cellar tour and a three course tasting lunch with six wines at a premium producer in the village.

Day Twelve

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Board on your train departing at 9:13 from Beaune and arriving in Tonnerre at 13:30 (via Dijon).
• Tonnerre station is located 20 minutes away from your hotel in Chablis by taxi.
• Upon arrival in Chablis, check into your Comfort room at Hostellerie des Clos.
• Enjoy a free afternoon and evening to explore your surroundings independently.

Day Thirteen

• After having breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by your English-speaking guide, who will accompany you throughout the day. Your tour day will comprise of:
• A tour of the Chablis vineyards to learn about the unique terroir.
• Tours and tastings at 3 wineries (one in Chablis, one in Irancy and one in Auxerre).
• In the evening, a three course dinner with wines, water and coffee will be served in the hotel’s restaurant.

Day Fourteen

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• We will arrange for a private vehicle to pick you up in Chablis and take you to your hotel in Sancerre.
• Upon arrival in Sancerre, check into your Vineyard View room at the 3* Hotel Panoramic.
• A bottle of Sancerre wine will be waiting for you in your room.
• You will be given a free afternoon and evening to explore the village and relax.
• As always, we will provide you with a list of recommended restaurants and we would be delighted to reserve you a table at any of these for dinner.

Day Fifteen

• After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day. Your tour day will comprise of:
• Time in the Sancerre vineyards, where your guide will explain in detail the specifics of the unique terroir in Sancerre which allows the appellation to produce its world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, and the work which takes place throughout the year.
• A visit to a highly-regarded producer of Sancerre wines for a full tour of the wine-making process from press to bottle and tastings of five of the Sancerre wines.
• Tastings of the local Crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese with a reputed cheese affineur.
• Free time for lunch. Your guide will be more than happy to suggest a suitable restaurant depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day.
• A visit to a winery across the river in Pouilly-Fumé, for a full tour and tastings of five wines in a different style to those tasting during the morning.
• In the evening, a five course wine pairing dinner will be served in a Michelin-starred restaurant in the village.

Final Day

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out at the hotel.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Package Prices

• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Considerable discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.

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