France’s legendary gastronomy, wines and cultural tradition are no small reasons for the fact that France is the world’s most visited nation. In her new 8-part series, Searching for France, which airs on CNN from Sunday April 12, follow award-winning actress Eva Longoria as she discovers the best of France with knife and fork in hand. With Grape Escapes, you can retrace her steps for yourself…
At Grape Escapes, we’re a close-knit team of self-confessed food and wine lovers, and we’ve been crafting bespoke vacations through France for more than twenty years. We’ve put together some example tours to inspire you – you can book these exactly as they come or customise them to suit you and your travel partners.
Searching for France navigates some of the country’s most luxurious and renowned establishments. You can enjoy a similar experience on a luxury wine tour that takes in the very best of France with Grape Escapes – this eleven-day trip starts from £9209 per person. All of our bespoke tours can include private visits and tastings at the region’s prestigious wineries, both small and large, but we also offer gastronomy-focused wine tours to inspire the foodies out there. If Michelin-starred dining is your thing, we can take you to several establishments in one trip – starting from £6362 per person, you can dine at three different triple Michelin-starred restaurants in Champagne, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley on a seven-day trip. We can also put together trips through the Vallée de la Gastronomie: a vacation inspired by the culinary odyssey that Eva Longoria embarks on.
Read on for some of the destinations Eva visits in the series, all of which you can discover with us.
Paris
Eva’s time in France’s iconic capital is sure to be filled to the brim with some of France’s very best pastries, but not without a few Michelin-starred spots too. World-famous chef Alain Ducasse has 21 Michelin stars under his belt, including two at the extravagant Le Meurice in Paris.
There’s also the Ducasse sur Seine, or other gastronomic boat cruises, which enable guests to taste brilliant food while cruising down the Seine – go in the evening to watch the sunset and the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
Alsace
Searching for France will be sure to show how Alsace is a region of France unlike any other. Bordering Germany to the east and north, Alsace has seen stretches of history under both French and German rule, forming an entirely unique culture that can only be found in this corner of France.
Wander quintessential towns and villages made up of half-timbered buildings, and dine in the traditional winstubs: why not try the region’s gastronomic symbol, sauerkraut. There are also 170 kilometres of vineyards spanning the Route des Vins d’Alsace and the stunning forests and lakes of the Vosges Mountains are a sight to behold.
Bordeaux
Eva Longoria’s travels take her to some of Bordeaux’s most prestigious institutions, from the Michelin-starred restaurants of Maison Nouvelle and Le Prince Noir to the world-renowned wine estate, Château Angélus. Your vacation with Grape Escapes can take you to discover the very best of luxury Bordeaux. Embark on a private tour of the famous vineyards of the Médoc or Saint-Emilion and experience this five-star wine and gastronomy for yourself.
The thriving city of Bordeaux shows how wine is such a central part of the culture with its wine museum, Cité du Vin; a must-do on the itinerary of anyone looking to learn something new before they get into the tasting.
Brittany
France’s northwesternmost region, Eva Longoria’s visit to Brittany focuses on the coastline. Although this region is not known for its wine, visitors can taste sublime seafood such as oysters and the rare Atlantic blue lobster. We can design a bespoke trip taking in the very best of this region in the northwest of France.
Burgundy
Rich in history, Burgundy is known for its heartwarming cuisine and excellent quality wines. On a Grape Escape, visit wineries that Eva Longoria visited in Searching for France, such as Domaine Dujac, a wonderful, family-run estate in the Côte de Nuits.
Provence
It’s no secret to us that Bouillabaisse, the fish stew from Marseille, is one of the dishes you have to try in your lifetime. It’s a personal favourite of Louise, one of our French specialist luxury travel consultants, so she’ll make sure it plays a part in any trip she puts together for clients visiting the region.
In Provence, see lavender-infused, sun-kissed landscapes that Eva Longoria speaks of, and taste the world-renowned food and wine that makes this region famous.
Book Now
To start planning your food and wine adventure through France, inspired by Searching for France, drop us an email or give us a call on +44 1920 468 666. We’d be delighted to help.
