At the Château d'Aigle, both the novice and wine aficionado can get a close-up look at wine-making history and promotion. First peruse display casks, bottles, presses, and winemakers' tools within the wood-beamed chambers of the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin (Museum of Viticulture and Wine), in the chateau. Some living quarters are reproduced, and there's even a collection of costumes worn over the centuries at the local Fête des Vignerons. The separate Musée de l'Étiquette (Museum of Wine Labels), in a timbered attic in an adjacent warehouse called the Maison de la Dîme, chronicles the history of prestigious vintages through a collection of labels representing more than 50 countries and dating back 200 years. You need go no farther for a tasting: the Pinte du Paradis wine bar is just downstairs, overlooking the vineyards. The château is closed for renovations until the first half of 2007.
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