wine tasting near Bordeaux or Cahors
 

It seems as though stopping to taste wine at the wineries themselves isn't a casual option in France like it is in Napa or Sonoma Valley. What can you suggest as a way to taste a variety of local wines?

Not counting the bottles we drink in the gite.

(I'm wondering if southwestern France has the sort of regional tasting rooms I found in the Vaucluse. The one at Gigondas was particularly nice -- very welcoming, helpful, and
reasonably priced.)

My family members are interested in St Emilion or Cahors in particular.

For Cahors, try Chateau de Haute Serre. http://www.hauteserre.fr/

George Vigouroux is considered to be the person who restored Cahors to its former glory.

Many of the smaller producers are not really geared up for tastings - too busy working.

You don't in fact have to go to the vineyard to taste wines. Vigouroux has several large wine shops, "Atrium' in Souillac, Cahors, Agen, etc., with a broad choice of his wine, and others from the region.


In Sarlat, the Cave du Benoit, and Julien de Savignac also have a good selection of local wine.

I know we stopped at a couple individual wineries just outside Cahors (follow the signs) and enjoyed tasting and buying their very inexpensive offerings. Speaking a little French helps. There is an excellent tasting room in Bergerac that carries a range of regional choices. And unlike Napa or Sonoma, they don't charge you.

Just six months ago, we found all kinds of places to taste wine in Languedoc-Roussillon, from "regional" places to individual wineries. Maury has a nice one, but we enjoyed traveling out to Lesquerde for a specific wine we knew we would buy a case of as a gift for the friends who loaned us their flat
:-)

The wine châteaux may not be geared up for the casual visitor, but you'll see dégustation signs all OVER the place where you can stop and taste.

on our visit to Bordeaux [albeit quite a few years ago now] some of the chateaux had open visiting. one we particularly liked was chateau prieure-lichine where we had a very informative tour in French, [most of which we understood] all by ourselves. it was only right at the end, when we asked the girl where she came from, that we discovered that she was as English as us!

the top chateaux may not welcome you with open arms, but you won't lack for places to try the wine. the local TI may be able to supply a list of chateaux and their opening times, or why not try google?

Thanks for your replies, everyone. The Chateau de Haute Serre looks wonderful -- and its offers of tours and tastings are just what I thought I wouldn't be able to find.

I appreciate your answers, and I'm looking forward to the wine.

There are wine tasting options in Bordeaux itself, near the Allée de Tourny and the tourist office, which offer the advantage of offering wine from the entire Bordeaux area.

More info:


http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/...l?lg=uk&id=239