Thursday, January 8, 2015

Try France Wine Tours For Getting A True Taste Of The Country

By Josephine Pennington


In Europe, a country that is visited more often than most others is France. This is because there is so much to see and do here, with something for everyone, whether you like history, art, the outdoors, beaches or fashion. It's the ultimate foodie destination too and the perfect way to enjoy the local tastes while admiring the scenery is with France wine tours.

If you're a true oenophile, your first trip should be southwest, to the Bordeaux region. This is one of the world's largest wine regions and by far its most famous. The regional capital is named Bordeaux too and with its location along the peaceful Garonne River, it makes for the perfect base. Here you'll find a wine museum which is a good place to visit before you head out to the world-famous vineyards and wineries.

Dijon is a city famous for its mustard and is home to some fascinating museums and historical sights. However, it's also the capital of the Burgundy region, another area renowned for its vineyards. With its lovely medieval towns, forests and beautiful lakes, the Burgundy region is great for lovers of the outdoors as well.

No celebration is complete without a bottle of bubbly and for this, there's only one place to go. The Champagne region, near the border with Germany, gave the drink its name, after all. A wonderful city to use as base here is Reims, since it's home to many champagne producers. Its cathedral is famous too since for many years it was the site of French kings' coronations.

An easy day trip from Paris is a very popular region with visitors. In the Loire Valley you won't only find a good variety of wines. The valley is also home to some of the country's most famous castles and other heritage sites. One city not to miss is Orleans, where Joan of Arc came from.

Another popular tourist region lies in the southeast, along the coast and the border with Italy. Provence is the ultimate foodie destination, renowned for fragrant dishes such as ratatouille. This area is also the center of France's perfume industry and the smell of lavender and jasmine will follow you pretty much wherever you go. Moreover, there are many vineyards that produce rose wines, perfect for enjoying in the sun.

The ultimate French destination is Paris. The City of Lights is the world's fashion capital and an incredibly romantic place to visit, with excellent museums such as the Louvre as well as many other sights, including the Eiffel Tower. While in Paris, try the many different wines served in the local eateries and make a list of where your favorites are from. Paris is so centrally located that you can then easily visit a specific region on a day trip from here.

Sampling great French wines is easy. One option is to book a day tour or even a longer tour package through a travel agency. Many offer packages that focus specifically on wines. Another option is to simply hire a car and explore at your own pace.




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