The Wine tourism experience in France.

Awareness around wine tourism is relatively recent in France despite the existence of tourist wine roads like in Alsace which date back more than 60 years.  While France can offer travelers an undeniable authenticity of wine appellations, and fabulous wines produced there, it still has progress to make with regard to the quality of the “experience” offered to visitors.

Even if everyone is constantly telling us to drink wine in moderation, the challenge of wine tourism today consists of going further and promoting the discovery of destinations through particular wines. But it’s also about learning the heritage linked to these wines (culture, history, gastronomy, know-how, and art of living …)

Thus, some countries such as France have focused on encouraging wineries to develop this experience, particularly through the creation of various tourism labels that reward the most welcoming winemakers. This offer is still a little new, but we all know it’s not easy to get an appointment to visit a winery in France.  Most winemakers cannot afford the luxury of being fully dedicated to receiving wine tourists.

Wine tourism has a sense of purpose to bring added value for winemakers and tourism professionals. Enticed by the visits, tastings, the direct purchase of wine, or by the consumption of products. All being related to accommodations, catering or various activities. However, it is first and foremost the content and the relevance of the experience that allows the traveler to have an authentic immersion within an appellation and thus to make you feel as one with the area. Wine is about emotions, the satisfaction that comes from meeting and sharing an experience with a winemaker will make memories to last a lifetime. While also learning techniques that are used by professional tasters to develop a sophisticated smell and taste memory.