Want to travel along France’s wine routes? In a few clicks, you can go straight to the heart of the vineyards where the precious nectars are made. Discover the secrets of the Champagne cellars, listen to the stories of the Bordeaux region or push open the door of a Provencal cellar with its legendary wine... here are the keys to plan your next trip to the heart of French wine country.
Champagne: Unlock the doors to the Grand Maison cellars
How about diving into the galleries of Champagne cellars? With its immersive 360° tour, Maison Perrier-Jouët reveals the secrets of a house inspired by the Belle Epoque, from plots of Chardonnay to ‘Eden’, a cellar dedicated to old vintages. The tour takes in other curiosities along the way: the graffiti left by prisoners of war between 1939 and 45, and an old bottle lift and works of art in a nod to Art Nouveau. And at Bollinger, you can (virtually) open the gates to a treasure: the Galerie 1829, an oenotheque of old wines found in 2010 in a forgotten cellar. The oldest dates from 1830, one year after the foundation of the house in the village of Aÿ.
Bordeaux: Discover the secrets of wine enthusiasts
Do you know what makes Bordeaux wines so special? Listen to the winemakers as they tell you the history of their land, with podcasts taken from the permanent route of the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. Enjoy little anecdotes in the form of appetisers before discovering this unique space dedicated to wine civilisations. And there’s an invitation into one of the region’s chateaux, too: at Cos d’Estournel, make way for an immersive stroll through the extravagant oriental palace, built as a cellar. The views of the huge stainless steel vat room, the barrel cellar and the tasting rooms at the Maharajah of Saint-Estèphe are truly breathtaking.
Burgundy: Learn the art of marrying Gothic and Grands Crus
Always wanted to explore the Burgundy wine routes? In a few clicks on this 360° panoramic visit, you can take the time to stroll between the flamboyant Gothic facades of the Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune, explore the cellars of the Chateau de Meursault or tour the Butte de Corton on the Route des Grands Crus. Before leaving, brush up on your knowledge with an online training course: four fun, thematic, 90-minute modules with the title of ‘ambassador’ as your goal. The course follows an eight-minute film explaining how geology helped create the 1,247 micro-terroirs in Burgundy, known as ‘climats’.
Panoramic virtual tours Burgundy wine course Video ‘La Bourgogne Cradle du Terroir’
Provence: Rosé, red and white – experience the whole colour palette
The intense light, the song of cicadas, the freshness of a glass of wine in the sweet evening... can you picture yourself there? Get in the mood with an ‘oeno-visio-apero’ organised by Madeleine from Château Barbebelle, one of the oldest estates in the Aix area. It’s the opportunity to learn the secrets of rosé, the iconic wine of Provencal summers. But did you know that wines in Provence are also available in red and white? Don your virtual reality glasses for a visit to the troglodyte cellars of the Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, where the special Chorégies cuvée was born in tribute to the lyrical festival of Chorégies d'Orange. Nothing but great art!
‘Oeno-visio-apero’ at Château Barbebelle Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes virtual visit
Alsace: Get up high on the wine route
In Alsace, wine routes mean flowery villages with half-timbered houses, fortified chateaux and vertiginous hillsides. To give you a taste of these magnificent landscapes, take a walk on the steep paths of the Guebwiller vineyard, between forest and rows of hillside vines. If you’re keen for more, enjoy a panoramic virtual tour of one of France’s most beautiful villages, Eguishem, wrapped around its chateau and surrounded by vineyards. Here you can even open the door of an authentic winemaker’s house in Mittelbergheim: Maison Boeckel, run by the fifth generation.
Guebwiller vineyard virtual visit Eguishem virtual tour Maison Boeckel virtual visit
By Anne-Claire Delorme
Globetrotting journalist anneclairedelorme@yahoo.fr
