3rd March 2021 | Cork Talk | 7 minute read
Spring is in the air and we’re daring to dream of summer afternoons spent wine tasting in pretty French villages and vineyards. While it may be just a daydream for now, we’re seeing hope on the horizon for trips across The Channel in the not-so-distant future.
So, we’re taking you on a whirlwind tour across some of France’s most beautiful and prestigious wine regions – with a little help from our friends at Canvas Holidays on luxury camping spots that just so happen to be a stone’s throw away from these picturesque provinces.
We’re kicking off our dream trip with the oldest wine producing region in France, the Provence region. A landscape of rolling purple lavender fields, medieval monasteries and glistening seas, it’s sure to be love at first sight as you arrive in this romantic region. With a rich heritage dating back to 600 BC, there’s plenty of culture to soak up alongside the sunshine and outstanding natural beauty.
The theme of pretty purple and pink hues continues into the wines of Provence, with over 80% of all wine produced here being rosé (predominantly made from Grenache). Known for its delicate and dry, peach-tinted wines that express tart summer fruit flavours, this is most certainly a destination for enjoying your wine chilled – preferably on the French Riviera, alongside a light salad or local seafood dish.
For fairy tale-like Provence, we’ve chosen Campsite la Baume, as the idea of hopping between views of the Mediterranean Sea and the palm tree-lined swimming pool of this resort sounds like pure bliss.
Of course, no wine tour of France would be complete without a pit stop in the iconic Champagne region. The birthplace of sparkling wine, this is an enchanting little province in northeast France that’s left its mark on the entire world, both in a winemaking and a cultural sense.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll find plenty of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grown here (the holy trinity of grapes that make up Champagne wine) and legendary Champagne houses such as Bollinger, Moët & Chandon and Laurent-Perrier. So a Champagne tasting, or two, or three… is an absolute must when visiting this region!
Canvas Holidays have recommended their five star Campsite la Croix du Vieux Pont resort for bubbly lovers. Just over an hour away from Paris and only a short car journey from Champagne, this is a lovely spot in the countryside to have as your base.
Next we’re off to the châteaux-filled, rustic region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Home to the wondrous Cité de Carcassonne medieval citadel and famous Roman landmarks like the Pont du Gard aqueduct, this is an appellation for history lovers as well as wine buffs.
Being the largest region both in terms of size and volume of wine produced, there are plenty of vineyards to choose from when it comes to booking winery tours and tastings. Winemaker Gavin Crisfield is a producer of ours who’s based here, and has worked with our very own Buying Director, Andrew Baker on projects such as La Traversee. If full and fruity reds are your kind of thing, a wine tasting at Gavin’s estate would be right up your street.
For a place to really kickback and relax after an afternoon of wine tasting, it’s got to be Campsite les Mediterranees – Beach Garden. Here you’ll find everything you need to get into holiday mode, including a beach on your doorstep, massages and yoga classes.
We’re leaving the blazing sunshine briefly to explore France’s cooler climate Alsace region. Stretching along the Rhine River, this is a region that feels distinctly different to the rest of France, sharing a similar climate to Germany – which is why grape varieties like Riesling and Gewürztraminer thrive here.
A long, lazy amble through the pastel-coloured streets of Alsace, admiring the timber-framed buildings over a few glasses of crisp white wine sounds like a day very well spent indeed.
If you want to be right in the heart of Alsace, Campsite Le Ried is the place to stay. The leafy green surroundings of this resort make for a peaceful retreat in the centre of all the action.
Lovely Loire Valley is home to some big names in the wine world, such as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and is certainly one for your list if you enjoy a clean and fragrant Sauvignon Blanc. And with so many magnificent châteaux to visit, it has heaps of Old World charm as well as incredible world-class wines.
Offering captivating views that look as though you’ve stepped into a real-life fairy tale, it may come as no surprise that royalty have chosen to live in the Loire Valley since the Middle Ages. It’s also often referred to locally as the ‘garden of France’ for its luscious green landscape, and adored by foodies for its bustling food markets and exceptional local cuisine.
Nestled between the lakes of the Loire Valley is the five star Campsite Bois du Bardelet resort. Its serene and soothing surroundings are sure to help you relax, with the two lakes offering plenty of opportunity to go canoeing and fishing.
Next up, we’re off to the Corsica region to lose ourselves in a Mediterranean paradise of secluded sandy beaches, craggy rock formations and turquoise seas. Being so close to Italy, this region actually shares more in common with Italian wine regions in terms of climate and grape varieties than it does with France. Corsican wine is typically made from Italian grapes like Sangiovese, Sciacarello and Vermentino, so expect wine menus on this island to look quite different to what you’ve come to expect from France!
There are quite a few to choose from for this popular holiday destination, but our top choice from Canvas Holidays is Campsite Colomba. Located just 300 metres from Valinco Beach, it’s a great place for water sports, as well as for chilling in the resort’s spa facilities.
And finally, we’re rounding off our fantasy tour of fabulous France with perhaps the most popular of them all – the Bordeaux wine region. Bordeaux is the second most visited city in France, with wine connoisseurs flocking to the area for its charming scenery of riverside vineyards and ancient Gothic architecture. And, for many, this is the region to visit for the quintessential French wine tasting experience.
Here you’ll find world-famous appellations and communes such as Saint-Émilion, Sauternes and Pomerol, and countless wine producing châteaux where you can get your wine tasting fix. Overlooking the Garonne River that runs through Bordeaux is organic winemaking estate Château du Seuil, who you’ve probably heard us talk about before, and are definitely worth a visit!
Do Bordeaux in style with the five star Campsite Atlantic Club Montalivet retreat. A quick car journey from Bordeaux city and Saint-Émilion World Heritage Site, this stunning resort is located on the Atlantic coast, a short stroll from the golden sands of Montalivet Beach.
