French Vineyards

Today you’ll join a wine tasting session in the Latin Quarter, within walking distance of your hotel. You’ll sample different wines from France’s various wine regions without leaving Paris.

A local English-speaking wine expert will introduce you to a great selection, including Burgundy reds and champagne from – where else? – Champagne. Over two hours you’ll learn and taste a lot. You may even be tempted to buy a bottle of your favourite wine and drink it at the hotel.

Take a trip to Le Marais, one of the most famous districts in Paris. You’ll pass Notre Dame on the way as you cross over the Seine.

Walking through Le Marais, you’ll be struck by all of the incredible shops and bars. It really is one of the most stylish places in the world. It’s also the heart of Paris’ gay scene.

You’ll meet your guide in the heart of Le Marais. There is so much history in this area you’ll benefit from the insights of a local expert. You’ll visit a classic French food market, as well as enjoying a tasting session at a French bistro.

If you want to experience a bit of nightlife head to Les Souffleurs, a nearby gay bar offering a very stylish, laid-back vibe.

Wake up bright and early and hopefully not too hungover. This morning you’ll be heading to Champagne, just two hours out of Paris. Here you’ll enjoy a private tour of the local vineyards. You’ll then be heading underground to explore the cellars where you’ll taste a selection of the champagnes.

It’ll then be time to head to Reims for lunch, where you’ll also be able to visit the famous cathedral, built over eight hundred years ago. It’s a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture – 25 French Kings were crowned here, the last in 1825. Reims had the misfortune of being right by the front line during WW1 and it endured heavy shelling. During WW2, Eisenhower set up his headquarters here. It’s a place of great historical significance.

You’ll then travel back to Paris. Evening at leisure.

It’ll be time to say adieu to Paris and take a train to the Loire Valley. Your driver will pick you up and take you to your chateau.

You’ll then explore the Bouvet Ladubay wine cellars. You’ll taste their celebrated sparkling wines, prepared in the “Methode Traditionnelle”.

In the Loire Valley you will find many castles from the Early Modern period. Take a trip to the Chateau de Chinon. This castle once hosted Joan Of Arc, France’s most iconic heroine. Here you’ll see great views of the Vienne river.

Take an early morning train to Avignon. Your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Day and evening at leisure.

Menerbes is a beautiful village. It has been the site of many conflicts during the Wars of Religion, but it’s very well preserved. Nostradamus was a fan of this village. He even predicted that you would one day be reading this.

You’ll be setting off on a truffle hunt with a local truffle hunter. In the evening you’ll wine and dine at the House of Truffles. This building was restored by Menerbes’ former mayor, Yves Rousset-Rouard. As well as being the local mayor, he also produced the famous erotic film, Emmanuelle.

You’ll be heading to the vineyards today for a guided tour of Provence’s wine region. This will include a trip to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Curiously, this part of France was once the seat of the papacy.

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste the wines and buy a bottle or two of your favourites.

You’ll be transferred to the station to take a train to Nice. In Nice a driver will meet you and take you to the airport for your return flight.