France is probably the most famous wine producing country in the world and offers a diverse choice of major wine growing regions. In fact, with the exception of a few areas on the north coast, there is commercial wine production in every region of France!
Being just one hour from Paris by train, most people assume we are quite a drive from any vineyards but to everybody’s surprise there are, almost literally, vines on our doorstep. The France Motorhome Hire depot is flanked by three world renowned wine regions.
We are based in perhaps the most known and loved of all French wine regions, Burgundy with the nearest vineyards just 25 minutes south of our depot. The closest Champagne vineyards are just an hour and 20 minutes to our east and The Loire Valley vineyards start an hour and ten minutes south west of us.
Whilst there is no denying that wine is a popular reason to drive through the vineyards, those who do not enjoy wine should not discount basing their trip in a wine region or two. For centuries in France, wine meant wealth so if you want to see the most spectacular architecture, discover the most interesting history and enjoy the finest gourmet cuisine, simply explore a French wine region. Driving through vineyards, you will also see wonderful scenery from rolling, vine clad hills to pretty villages and meandering waterways.
If your trip is unashamedly all about wine, there is a colossal amount to do and see in each region and with the excellent France Passion network offering free overnight stops in vineyards (to which we exclusively include membership and a guide book for your trip) you can truly immerse yourself in following the wine trails, visiting wine festivals and of course, tasting French wine as often as you like.
Whether your trip is to see where the wine is made, taste it with the makers, help with a wine harvest or even buy wine for a wedding, it is hard to imagine a better place to start your trip or a better way to enjoy it than from a motorhome.
Here are our favourite web resources for planning a vineyard trip
Burgundy
This website is managed by the Burgundy wine marketing board and has suggested wine trails to follow as well as a booklet listing appellations, individual vineyards, wine makers and wine festivals. You can download the maps and booklet too:
www.bourgogne-wines.com
For a slightly less wine biased guide to Burgundy, visit the region’s tourism website:
www.burgundy-tourism.com
Champagne
This website shows five Champagne discovery trails, lists wine makers and tasting options as well as campsites/overnight halts and other tourism information:
www.tourisme-en-champagne.co.uk/content/champagne-trail
For other tourism information in this region, including sites of The Great War, visit this website:
www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk
The Loire Valley
This website gives detailed information about the wine makers and wine trials of The Loire Valley:
www.vinsvaldeloire.fr/en/node/13075
For detailed information about the Chateaux and many other tourist attractions in The Loire Valley, here is the tourist board website:
www.loirevalley-france.co.uk
Other major wine regions of France
Find links to wine trials and vineyards for the Alsace, Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Jura, Languedoc, Provence and Rhone regions from this national French wine tourism website:
www.visitfrenchwine.com/en
For general tourism information on each of these interesting regions, follow the links to the regional tourist boards on our webpage here:
https://francemotorhomehire.com/plan-your-trip/regional-tourist-board-help/
Don’t forget, if you are visiting a wine region, you don’t need to be totally focussed on wine, take time to savour the other delights of these interesting, diverse regions and they will seduce wine lovers and teetotallers alike.
