Hello! We are planning to tack a week on to a four-week-long European business trip this fall. We would like to stay in a single hotel/B&B from which we can take day trips. Our wine tasting preferences run to the smaller, less formal wineries, so places that are a bit off the beaten track are of particular interest to us.<BR><BR>We are considering Beaune - I've read some wonderful things about that area on this site - but are wondering if there are places that we're overlooking. In terms of wine, we are not picky. Anything of good quality is worth tasting, in our opinion.<BR><BR>Any suggestions for where to locate ourselves? Many thanks!

Mia-<BR><BR>What types of wine do you like? We've visited wineries all over France: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Languedoc, Champagne, Alsace, Loire Valley, Beaujolais, Provence, Sauternes, etc. We were lucky to visit some great places. Our best visits were with small producers in the Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Sauternes and the Rhone. Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne regions tend to get the most tourists and are typically well known. We didn't care a lot for Beaune and I'd recommend avoiding their Marche du Vin at all costs. If you'd really like to get to smaller, off the beaten path places, I'd try these:<BR><BR>In Provence--near Les Baux, Chateau Romanin: Own by the chef of the Michelin starred restaurant and hotel, Oustau de Baumaniere, this small chateaux has a personal and interesting tour. We had a private tour through the cellars here with are based on celestial movements. Very different from your typical winery tour--and they have a great little cab for good value. Another great winery in the area is Domaine Trevallon. And, the wineries of Chateaneuf-du-Pape aren't far away.<BR><BR>Another up and coming region I'd recommend is the Languedoc-Roussillon. We recently spent a few days touring through Banyuls and Collioure. The vintners were very welcoming, personal, and the wines were great values. Not as easy to find in the US as some others, but worth the trip. Plus the ocean views are an added bonus.<BR><BR>Finally, Sauternes. Less pretentious than Bordeaux, but the wines are equally impressive. 2001 was a banner year and you might get lucky and taste some of these from barrel. We're planning another visit here around Thanksgiving. Our second trip in as many years.<BR><BR>

Lori - <BR>Thank you so much for your response! The Languedoc-Roussillon region sounds wonderful, as does Provence. The idea of being near water is appealing, since our toddler will be with us and he's a big water fan. <BR><BR>As for what wines we enjoy, we like dry whites and big reds. Not big fans of Chardonnay or anything too sweet in the white department. The most common things for us to drink in our household are Oregon Pinot and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, if that helps.<BR><BR>Can you recommend good places (both town names and hotel suggestions) that would be good choices in those regions? <BR><BR>I'm so excited about this trip, but I'm also so overwhelmed that I don't know where to begin! Any help you can provide is more than welcome.<BR><BR>Thanks!

Mia, <BR>If you like pinot, the Cote D'Or is the place. We stayed in Beaune at a place called Hotel Grillon. It is a 3 star Logis-de-France (see their web site). It was wonderful and very good quality to price ratio. Our double was under 50 euro. We had a car so getting to the estates was no problem. There are also some excellent restaurants in Beaune: Ma Cuisine, La Beneton, Jardin des Ramparts. All great food and excellent wine lists. Unfortunately it is not near the water, unless you count the pool at the hotel. Sauvignon blanc is found in the Loire Valley which is not very far away-but would defeat your desire to stay in one place. <BR>Bon voyage-Gregg

Posted in response to a similar question, earlier today...<BR><BR>Author: Rex ([email protected])<BR>Date: 06/26/2002, 09:48 am<BR><BR>Message: A ton of good information is available at these two web sites:<BR><BR>http://www.french-wines.com/tourism.htm<BR><BR>(note: this is different from www.frenchwines.com - - also a good website but lacking this detail on the wine tourism regions)<BR><BR>and<BR><BR>http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/regions.htm<BR><BR>Bonne degustation, and...<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

toppers<BR>

IMHO, there is nothing better than the caves of Chateauneuf du Pape. The wine is the nectar of the gods and it is ony 15 minutes form Avignon.<BR><BR>If you have never had CDP, it is a very bold, large, highly tannic wine with a deep color, blackberry, jammy plum taste with spicy overtones that linger into a very long finish.<BR><BR>It is awesome!!<BR><BR>US