35 Top-Rated Wine Tours in France for the Perfect French Wine Experience • Happily Ever Travels

Who doesn’t love having a delicious glass of wine while they’re on vacation? When you’re in Europe, it’s a must, especially if you’re in France.

France is one of the best places on the planet when it comes to wine, so here are my 35 top-rated wine tours in France for the perfect French wine experience.

So, get your favorite wine-drinking friends, loved ones, and relatives together, and let’s dive in!

The 35 Top-Rated Wine Tours in France by Region

So, without further ado, let’s pour ourselves a large glass and dive into the 35 top-rated wine tours in France. I’ve listed them by region to help keep them organized, so they’re in no particular order in terms of quality.

All of these experiences are super high rated by travelers from all walks of life, so you’re in safe hands choosing any of them!

Occitanie

1. From Montpellier: Wine & Food Trip to Pic Saint-Loup

Get a feel for the classic French farm-to-table cooking mindset on this four-and-a-half-hour tour around Pic Saint-Loup. Including pick up and drop off from central Montpellier, this tour takes you to two boutique wineries, complete with tastings, before indulging in a farm-to-table lunch overlooking the picturesque French countryside.

With the meal being at a family home, you can really get a unique feel for French life and culture, and feel like you’re in a home away from home!

2. Marché Victor Hugo Small Group Food Tour

If you want to experience amazing French wine and food with a local guide without having to leave the city, then this small group tour is for you. Travel around the Victor Hugo Market in central Toulouse with a local expert who will show you all the best food and wine stalls, as well as educate you on the local area and food origins.

This three-hour lunchtime excursion includes food and wine tastings along the way, so you can get a feel for the impact that cheese, bread, charcuterie, and more have on the way wine tastes and maybe buy a local bottle or two along the way.

Bordeaux

3. Saint-Émilion: Vineyard Walking Tour and Tasting

Want to learn more about what it takes to operate a family-run vineyard and winery? Well, on this super affordable walking tour and tasting in the prestigious Saint-Emilion wine region, you can do just that.

You’ll visit the Château Haute-Nauve vineyard where you’ll be guided around the grounds by either the mother or son of the family, giving you unique insight into the running of the winery.

Of course, after your walking tour, you’ll get to taste four of the Château Haute-Nauve’s most delicious wines and have ample opportunity to buy more!

4. Saint Emilion Day Trip with Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tastings from Bordeaux

If you’re looking to combine a tasty wine tour with a wander around picturesque and charming French towns, then you need to check out this tour. You’ll be able to join three different wine tastings and enjoy a guided tour around the historic town of Saint Emilion.

All this and your transfers to and from Bordeaux are included.

5. Medoc or St-Emilion Small-Group Wine Tasting and Chateaux Tour from Bordeaux

Fancy spending an afternoon indulging in amazing wine at not one but two chateaux near Bordeaux? This small group tour allows you to have a delightful afternoon sampling four different wines, visit a wine-making workshop, and get a delicious platter of local French cheeses, bread, and cured meats.

You can also opt to visit Saint Emilion, which is a super cool UNESCO World Heritage Site nearby.

6. From Bordeaux: Saint-Emilion Guided Wine Tasting Tour

Wander through the beautiful streets of Saint-Emilion with a local guide, sampling delicious wine from a local vineyard, and taking in the stunning architecture.

After your first tasting and tour around the town, you’ll journey out to a family-run vineyard where you’ll have another tasting as well as delicious cheeses, breads, and charcuterie. Sounds like the perfect afternoon in France to me!

7. Bordeaux Morning Wine Tasting Class

Want to spend the morning tasting delicious wines and learning all about the wine-making process? On this more educational tour, you’ll taste seven delicious wines, learn more about each wine, and how to get the most out of a tasting.

Afterward, you’ll even get to try and make your own Cuvee blend, which is super cool and unique! Where else can you try seven wines and make your own in just two hours?

8. Medoc Region Wine Day Trip with Vineyard Visits & Tastings from Bordeaux

Enjoy a full-day tour around the gorgeous Medoc wine region with multiple tastings all around the different towns and villages. Travel around the area in an air-conditioned minibus, stopping for lunch along the way.

You’ll get at least three different vineyard tasting experiences, one of which is actually in a growth chateau, promising outstanding Bordeaux!

Paris

9. Paris Wine and Cheese Lunch

If you simply want to sit down in a wonderful French wine cellar and sample wines from all around France, while pairing them with local cheeses and charcuterie, then this tour is going to be right up your alley.

Come along for a tasting of five wines from five different regions of France, and learn all about the wonderful world of French wine and cheese!

10. Paris Walking Food Tour in Saint Germain des Prés

Enjoy the history and food culture of the capital of France on this top-rated French walking tour around the oldest neighborhood in the whole of Paris – Saint Germain des Prés.

Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll wander around the best food and drink spots in the district, including three sweet shops, pastries, wine, bread, cheeses, and more. It’s a quintessentially French experience that you have to try!

11. Le Marais Paris The Original District Food and Wine Tasting Tour

As one of the first artistic districts in Paris, Le Marais has a very distinct cultural flair to it which is a must-visit in itself. However, this amazing food and wine tasting tour takes you to up to 10 different shops and stalls all around the district, allowing you to taste and try cheeses, pastries, bread, and wines, from all around France.

Who needs lunch when you can get a little something from everywhere?

Champagne

12. From Reims: Pommery Champagne Morning Tour & Tastings

After indulging in a lovely morning tour of the city of Reims with a local guide, head out to the UNESCO-classified cellars of the Champagne House Pommery for a tasting and a tour. This family-run vineyard is so iconic that it’s actually a UNESCO site—that’s insane!

Along the way, you’ll also visit other wineries to get your fill of delicious French wine.

13. Champagne: Champagne Masterclass with Lunch

Enjoy a Champagne tasting and masterclass in the historic Le Clos Corbier cellars, which date all the way back to the 1800s. As a family-run winery, you can learn all about the history of the winery and the processes they use to make excellent Champagne in the heart of the region.

During your masterclass, you’ll be able to sample six different wines and learn about the differences between them all, before heading out of the cellar for a delicious lunch.

14. Champagne Day Trip with 6 Tastings, Reims Cathedral & Family Winery from Paris

Check out the historic house of Nicolas Feuillatte, complete with a wine tasting with a local producer who can bring the history to life.

On this tour, you’ll combine six tastings with cultural excursions, like a trip to the stunning Reims Cathedral and a visit to the grave of Dom Perignon, the monk who created and developed sparkling wine in the Champagne region, making one of the first-ever Champagnes!

15. Reims Afternoon Tour to Epernay Region and Family Growers

Want to spend the day sampling world-class Champagne from boutique wineries and vineyards? Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t? This tour includes a handful of Champagne tastings around the Epernay region, with round-trip transport to Reims included.

You’ll also get to visit the UNESCO-listed Champagne Avenue in the heart of Epernay, which is the perfect photo opportunity!

16. From Reims Full-Day Maison de Champagne Family Growers and Lunch

With a maximum of only eight people on this tour, you can guarantee a more bespoke and private experience as you travel around the Epernay wine region in Champagne.

You’ll visit the famous Maison Boizel cellars, Champagne Avenue, and other family-run vineyards, before settling down for a local lunch at the historic Le Clos Corbier vineyard.

17. From Reims Full-Day Veuve Clicquot Family Grower & Lunch

Veuve Clicquot is a brand name that is synonymous with French luxury and Champagne all around the world. On this full-day tour from Reims, you’ll be granted entry into the prestigious Veuve Clicquot winery, where you can enjoy a full tour of the compound as well as a delicious tasting.

In addition to this, you’ll have another Champagne tasting included and a visit to the stunning Reims Cathedral!

Burgundy

18. Dijon: Cheese and Wine Pairing Session

Dijon may be best known for its delicious mustard, but you can also find world-class wine and cheese all around the Burgundy region. This super short one-hour tasting and pairing session in the heart of Dijon is perfect for travelers who are short on time or traveling on a budget.

In a wine cellar, you’ll have the opportunity to try a range of local wines and cheeses, and learn what makes certain pairings work better than others!

19. Burgundy Bike Tour with Wine Tasting from Beaune

Whizz through the stunning French countryside on two wheels with this amazing seven-hour wine-tasting tour in the heart of the Burgundy wine region. You’ll cycle from vineyard to vineyard throughout the Côte de Beaune area, stopping for tastings and tours in each spot.

Of course, you’ll stop for a delicious lunch to give you some more energy and keep you going on the bike for your final few stops.

Provence

20. Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour

As one of the most famous wine regions in the world, Chateauneuf du Pape is high on many wine lovers’ bucket lists.

Travel with a registered sommelier to four different wine castles between Avignon and Chateauneuf du Pape, finally stopping to sample the famous wines and enjoy the stunning surroundings of the chateau.

Don’t forget to buy a bottle or two on your way out!

21. Highlights of Provence : Chateauneuf du Pape & Luberon

Combine wine tastings with a historical and cultural tour of the Provence region on this all-day tour from Avignon. Check out the famous Pont Julien and the castle of Marquis de Sade while visiting the village of Roussillon which is known for its brightly colored houses.

In between cultural and history attractions, you’ll also be treated to two wine tastings, sampling local wines from the heart of the Provence region.

22. Provence Cru Wine Small-Group Half-Day Tour from Avignon

Want to spend half a day exploring some of the most prestigious wineries in the Provence wine region? Of course, you do! On this small group tour, you’ll journey to three different wineries for tastings and tours across the Vacqueyras, Gigondas, and Chateauneuf du Pape areas.

Specifically learning about and tasting Cru wines, you’ll discover what sets them apart from the lower-priced wines and what makes them truly special.

23. Provence Wineries and Luberon Villages Day Trip from Aix-en-Provence

Discover the beautiful Côtes de Provence St-Victoire winemaking region on this 10-hour tour around Provence. Along the way, you’ll join two different wine tastings to discover the unique blends and wines of the area before journeying onward.

You’ll experience the cute villages of the Luberon region, visit the Lourmarin Castle, and even wind around the foothills of St-Victoire Mountain. This tour has a little bit of everything!

24. Chateauneuf-du-Pape Prestige Wine Tour from Avignon

Want to focus solely on wines from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region on your Provence wine tour? This four-hour tour delivers just that.

Despite having just one wine tasting included, you’ll be able to sample a whole host of wines within that tasting and learn all about the certification process that designates these wines as some of the best in the world.

25. Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting

Looking to have a gastronomic experience without having to leave the beautiful coastal city of Nice? This tour might just be the one for you.

On this small group walking tour, you’ll be guided around Vieux Nice (the Old Town) by a local, learning all about the perfect Nicoise salad, trying Provencal wines, and sampling fresh, local food and drink from all around the area.

You’ll also be guided around the beautiful Cours Saleya Flower Market and Castel Hill, which provide great views of the bay below.

26. Nice Local Vineyards Small Group Half Day E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting

If you’re looking to explore the amazing vineyards just outside Nice, then this e-bike tour is a great way to do so! Spend half a day exploring the vineyards and local wine region, including a tasting at a family-run winery that specializes in Collet de Bovis wine.

As it’s an e-bike tour, you can breeze through the countryside at your leisure – no extra exertion necessary! Sounds like a perfect French afternoon, right?

Alsace

27. Alsace 4 Wonders Small-Group Day Trip from Colmar

Check out the beautiful villages and towns along the German border on this small group day tour around Alsace. Along the way, you’ll discover the four wonders of Alsace, which are the stunning villages of Eguisheim, Kayserberg, Ribeauvillé, and Riquewihr, known for their storybook vibes.

When you travel between these four villages, you’ll also join wine tastings that offer a mix of French and German blends, including Gewurztraminer, pinot gris, and pinot blanc.

28. Alsace Wine Route Wineries & Tasting Small Group Guided Tour from Strasbourg

Journey throughout the Alsace Wine Route, stopping off at three different vineyards and wineries along the way. You’ll be able to appreciate the subtle differences between the German and French-style wines that the Alsace region is famous for.

As well as these amazing tastings, you’ll travel through the fairytale villages of Dambach-la-Ville, Ribeauvillé, Mittelbergheim, and Riquewihr.

29. ICONICS Tour: 1/2 day on the Wine Route, visit of 2 Villages + Tasting

Spend half a day on the Alsace Wine Route, checking out two picturesque villages before heading to a local vineyard for a group wine tasting.

As there is an eight-person limit on this tour, you can be sure to get a bespoke and personal experience without having to pay the premium for a private tour. It’s a win-win!

Loire Valley

30. Loire Valley Wine Tour in Vouvray and Montlouis

On this half-day wine tour through the gorgeous Loire Valley, you’ll experience two amazing vineyards complete with tours of the facilities and production process, all the way through to a delicious tasting.

If you’re interested in the wine-making process, there is probably no better Loire Valley wine tour for you to join!

31. Picnic in the Vines – A Unique Loire Wine Experience

Is there anything more quintessentially French than a picnic of cheese, bread, and charcuterie with a glass or two of wine?

On this unique wine experience in the Loire Valley, you’ll get to tour the Château du Petit Thouars vineyard before joining a wine tasting, sampling the different blends and varietals.

Afterward, you’ll have a romantic picnic all set up in the vineyard itself where you can relax and enjoy local produce.

Rhône Region

32. Northern Rhône Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting from Lyon

Spend an entire day sampling up to 12 different wines in the picturesque Northern Rhône Valley. Yep, you read that correctly—12 wines!

You’ll travel to two different wineries in the Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie areas where you can meet winemakers, have a tour, and, most importantly, try the delicious local wines!

33. Beaujolais Segway Tour with Wine Tasting

Beaujolais is probably one of the most famous wines in the world, and this unique tour allows you to visit the region in a very unique way.

Jump on a segway and visit local wineries and vineyards that specialize in this light red wine, and enjoy wine tastings led by expert sommeliers and winemakers.

34. Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon

Experience the famous Lyon wine country, sampling delicious Beaujolais Nouveau and other Southern Beaujolais blends throughout the gorgeous countryside.

You’ll also discover what gives the unique Golden Stones of the region their distinctive color as you travel around medieval-era villages.

35. Beaujolais & Perouges Medieval Town (9:00 am to 5:15 pm) – Small Group Tour Lyon

Want to visit a family-run winery in the heart of the Beaujolais region? Spend the day at a local winery, where you’ll taste 4-5 different wines and learn all about the differences in the blends and varietals.

On your way back to Lyon, visit and tour the beautiful medieval town of Pérouges and appreciate the historic architecture.

The Best Wine Regions in France

Let’s find out the best wine regions in France. Honestly, you’ll be really hard-pushed to find a poor wine region in France, but there are some that are definitely world-renowned for their harvests, excellent wineries, and beautiful grapes.

Some of the most famous – and best – wine regions in France are:

Burgundy
Bordeaux
Provence
Champagne
Rhône Valley
Loire Valley
Alsace

Between those seven regions, you’re almost covering the whole of France. So, no matter where you’re planning to visit on your next French vacation, you can be sure that you’re going to be close to an amazing vineyard or winery.

The reason these regions are so good has a lot to do with the climate and the soil. This informs the quality and flavor of the grapes and influences how good the harvest is going to be.

Certain grapes grow better in different climates, providing different flavor profiles, for instance, Provence produces amazing roses (among other amazing wines), whereas other regions like Alsace focus more on white wines.

The majority of the wine regions in France will produce a mix of white and red wines, varying in dryness and ranging from light to full-bodied depending on the area, grape, and even individual vineyard.

How Expensive are Wine Tours in France?

The cost of a wine tour in France obviously depends on what’s included, which vineyards you’re visiting, whether it’s a private or group tour, and about a dozen other factors. On average, you’ll be looking at around $60–$100 for a half-day wine tour in France.

There are full-day excursions that are around $150-300 depending on different factors, and most of these include a full lunch. It all depends if you’re traveling out of town with a driver, whether you have a tour guide there at all times, and how many tastings you have organized.

The more packed the schedule is, the more expensive the wine tour is likely to be.

If you’re touring wine bars in the city with a local guide, it’s likely to be a shorter excursion of around 3 hours and cost between $40-70 depending on the city and the inclusions. Be careful as some tours might have additional fees for certain tastings or only have a set number of glasses included.

This should all be clearly listed on the site, so check before you book!

What to Look for in a Wine Tour

So, now that you know that there are so many wine regions to choose from, how can you narrow it down and find your perfect tour? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with some easy tips and tricks.

Transport

No one likes having to be the designated driver on a wine trip or a night out, so make sure that your wine tour comes with transportation included. A lot of tours will either pick you up from your hotel or from a central meeting point in the city or town.

Whether you’re on a tour around a few different vineyards or you’re just heading out of town to one place in particular, it’s always good to not have to worry about how you’re going to get back to your hotel after a tasting session!

Of course, there are also walking wine tours and bicycle wine tours through French cities and the beautiful countryside, so if you want more of an outdoorsy experience, perhaps opt for one of these!

Food and Drink

What’s a glass of wine without a platter of charcuterie and a huge bowl of olives? If you want a quintessential French wine-tasting experience, you need to find a tour that includes lunch, dinner, or at least some tasty local snacks.

If you can get an experience that pairs the different varietals and wines with set local dishes, there’s probably nothing better. They’re often more expensive experiences, but they’re absolutely worth it if you want to get the best out of the wine, try local food, and keep your tipsiness in check!

Touring the Vineyard

Many wine tours include a tour of the vineyard by either the owner or someone who works there, depending on the size of the operation. This is a super cool part of a wine touring experience as you learn all about the process of making the wine and what sets this vineyard apart from others in the area.

However, if you’re short on time, you might want to focus your time on the actual wine tasting instead.

Multiple Stops

Do you want to focus on one vineyard and have a longer experience there, or would you prefer to hop from place to place? Each wine region in France has hundreds of wineries and vineyards, most of which offer tastings and tours.

That means you can easily visit a few different vineyards in a small amount of time, especially if you have transport included in your tour.

However, if you stay in one place, you can benefit from a full tour, a few glasses of wine, and enjoy a long, luxurious lunch while you’re there. It’s a slower and more relaxing experience, but it does mean that you only get to experience one vineyard.

So, when it comes to visiting a series of vineyards or hunkering down at just one, it’s all about personal preference!

Boutique or Household Name?

With huge names like Veuve Clicquot, Dom Perignon, and more, there are so many high-end household wineries and vineyards to choose from in France. As they’re so established and well-known, you can easily find tours going to their vineyards from nearby towns and cities.

That being said, you might get more for your time and money by opting to visit smaller, boutique wineries. As there’s no flashy brand attached to the wine, it’s more about the passion for making wine and word of mouth to get their wine out there.

This means that you can often get a more personal wine tour experience, get more affordable high-quality wine, and try varietals and blends that you’ve never had before.

Group Tour or Private?

This one might come down to cost or to personal preference. A lot of the time, vineyards will have a minimum group number for tastings, while some will have a more open cellar door policy.

So, if you’re traveling solo and want a French wine-tasting experience, you don’t necessarily have to join a group tour.

If you’re traveling in a small group already, a private tour might actually work out cheaper, as you often pay for hiring the entire car or minibus rather than a per-person rate. You can also get a more bespoke experience and go at your own pace.

When you’re on an open group tour, you’ll be guided around different vineyards, all pre-organized, and be able to chill with like-minded people. It’s definitely a good option for solo travelers if you don’t want to sort out logistics on your own.

Visit a Vineyard or Explore Wine Bars?

Contrary to popular belief, a wine tour doesn’t have to be around a lot of vineyards. In fact, you can just tour a lot of wine bars or local wine shops that offer tastings.

Especially in larger towns or cities in France, these kinds of tours are super popular and are often walking tours that check out a few different places.

Of course, you’re not heading out of the city and getting the experience of being in the vineyard itself, but you do get to taste a lot of different local wines with experts in a relatively short amount of time. If you’re either short on time or don’t want to have to travel out of the city, these food and wine walking tours can be the perfect solution for you!

What are the Most Famous Wines in France?

Some of the most famous wines in France are actually types of wine rather than vineyard-specific creations. The most famous wines in France are Champagne, Beaujolais Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Saint Emilion to name but a few.

Many of these wines are specific to particular areas and regions. You’ll probably know already that Champagne has to come from the Champagne region of France, otherwise, it’s simply sparkling wine. These DOCs or Designation of Origin Certificates keep French wine, well French, and unique to the country.

You get blends and varietals that you can’t get anywhere else in the world. That’s why it’s one of the number-one wine destinations in the entire world!

Can You Do a Wine Tour on a Budget?

Simply put, yes, you absolutely can do a wine tour in France on a budget. With so many wineries and vineyards, there are plenty of affordable tastings and cellar-door experiences.

Many vineyards have public transportation links to the larger towns or cities, or you can hire a bike and cycle to the vineyard.

Quite a few vineyards will offer tastings for free with the assumption that you’re going to buy at least a bottle at the end. Others offer tastings for as little as 10 Euros, so if you don’t mind organizing your transport and booking the tastings yourself, you absolutely can do a French wine tour on a budget!

Can You Go on Wine-Tasting Vacations in France?

Looking to spend multiple days exploring beautiful vineyards in rural France? Let’s be honest, who isn’t? It sounds like a dream! Well, you’re not alone and there are actually hundreds of wine-tasting holidays in France.

You can stay in gorgeous chateaus, converted barns, and boutique hotels, and spend your days wandering around tasting whites, roses, reds, champagnes, and even sweet dessert wines. Some of the vineyards actually have rooms or deluxe glamping pods on site.

So, you can actually stay and wake up nestled by the fragrant vines! What’s better than that?

Price-wise, wine-tasting holidays in France can range from around $250 for a weekend all the way up to four-figure luxury stays. Oenotourism is definitely becoming a lot more popular though, so more vineyards and nearby hotels and properties are starting to launch their own wine-related packages.

Are There Wine Hotels in France?

Yes, there are hundreds of wine hotels in France. Some are actually on the vineyards themselves and some are simply themed to be all about wine.

So, if you’re looking to be in the main towns or cities and still want a wine-heavy feel to your accommodations, you can still get it with a wine-themed hotel, B&B, or Airbnb.

6 Tips for the Perfect French Wine Experience

Finally, let’s close out this guide with some quick tips for having the perfect French wine experience.

1. Pace Yourself

This one is really a no-brainer, but if you’re doing either a full or half-day wine tour, you’re going to need to pace yourself. If you’re knocking back three or four decent-sized glasses at the first tasting, you’re unlikely to make it to the third or fourth session!

Wine tastings are all about actually getting the feel and the flavor of the wine, rather than drinking a ton of the stuff. You’re likely only going to get around 50-100ml of each wine (for reference, standard small, medium, and large glasses are 125ml, 175ml, and 250ml respectively).

So, take your time, drink in your surroundings, and enjoy the experience as a whole!

2. Try Varietals You’ve Never Heard Of

Wine tours and tastings are a great opportunity to try all the new varietals that you’re not sure about or haven’t seen before. Given that you’ll be trying anywhere from 4-6 types of wine per tasting, there’s a lot of opportunity for new brews here!

Let’s be honest, when we’re buying a bottle in a store or an expensive glass in a wine bar, we don’t really want to risk spending money on something that we might not like. So, wine tastings are the perfect opportunity to broaden your horizons and add some new favorite wine styles to your repertoire.

3. Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions

One of the great things about visiting vineyards is the chance to learn about the wine-making process. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the process, about what makes one wine different from another, and any other question you can think of. These guys are the experts after all!

4. Water is Your Friend

Please bring a reusable, refillable water bottle along with you. I’m not saying you have to do one drink of water for every glass of wine, but hydration is absolutely your friend on a wine tour. If for nothing else, it helps to wash your mouth out and cleanse your palette between different wines.

Your future self will thank you!

5. Have a Decent Breakfast

Much like carrying a water bottle around with you, having a hearty breakfast will set you up for the day. You won’t get tipsy as quickly, so you’ll be able to enjoy the wine tour for longer and you also won’t get hangry mid-way through!

If you have a solid base of carbs and deliciousness before you head out, you’re going to have a much better experience.

6. Make No Plans for the Next Day!

Trust me, even if you drink a ton of water and eat filling breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, you’re still going to feel it the next day. Don’t book anything early in the morning or anything too strenuous.

You’re likely going to be a bit dehydrated anyway, so going on hikes or sunning yourself at the beach might not be great ideas. Plan for a ton of food and a relaxing day exploring France at a nice, glacial pace!