Discover the most unusual wine cellars in France

Wine cellars are opening their doors to the public, offering the chance to discover a world that is both mysterious and magical. We've selected the most unusual and unique cellars, detailing the tours they offer. This is an opportunity to learn about, or rediscover, these places so essential to the winemaking process in a truly original way. Let's take a closer look at these historically significant locations!

The historic cellar: Les Crayières de Montquartiers

The quarries of Issy-les-Moulineaux, excavated in the 19th century, are now open to the public, offering visitors the chance to discover wine cellars in this unique setting. These underground quarries, originally opened in 1920 for chalk extraction, have also been home to wine merchants, mushroom growers, and brewers over the centuries. They have now been converted into wine cellars, housing nearly a million bottles. Located 22 meters underground, the Montquartiers cellars offer bottle storage for individuals, just 5 minutes from Paris.

These unique cellars offer guided tours of the galleries, retracing the history of the chalk quarries; they also offer a theatrical tour led by an actor-guide. At the end of the tour, a tasting is organized by the cellar's sommelier.

For more information:

The Montquartiers Chalk Quarries, 5 Chemin des Montquartiers 

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

La Cave de La Grande Brosse: a wine cellar in a former quarry

Located in the Loire Valley, at the gateway to La Sologne, La Cave de la Grande Brosse occupies the site of an old quarry that dates back to the 10th century. Indeed, the stones from this quarry were used to build the foundations of churches in the region, as well as for the construction of castles such as Cevernu and Chambord.

The Cave de la Grande Brosse offers a guided tour of its galleries winding 40 meters underground. This is followed by a guided tasting of the estate's wines, led by the owner-winemaker Philippe Oudin.

For more information:

Philippe Oudin – Winemaker
1180 Plaine de la Grande Brosse, 41700 Chémery

The cellars that can be visited by bicycle or Segway

The Vouvray vineyards in Rochecorbon offer a Segway tour of the Grandes Caves Saint-Roch, an electric vehicle ridden while standing. Visitors will be equipped with headlamps to navigate the cellar galleries. The guided tour lasts an hour and a half and offers the opportunity to discover both the banks of the Loire River and the Saint-Roch Cellars, where a well-deserved wine tasting will take place.

For more information:
Blanc Foussy – Grandes Caves Saint Roch
65 Quai de la Loire
37210, Rochecorbon
France

The underground galleries of the Bouvet-Ladubay cellars in Saumur can be explored by bicycle, a service offered since 2012 through a partnership with Anjou Vélo Vintage. Etienne Bouvet, the founder of the winery, also contributed to the creation of the Saumur Velodrome. This unique route allows groups of cyclists, accompanied by a guide, to explore 5km of galleries… with a headlamp!

For more information:
Bouvet-Ladubay Cellars
11, rue Jean Ackerman
Saint-Hilaire Saint-Florent
49400, Saumur
France

Cellars and sensory awakening: The Louvre Cellars in Paris

Located in the former private mansion of Louis VI's sommelier, the Louvre cellars have recently opened to the public, offering a unique and unforgettable experience. The world of wine is explored through the senses: each room engages a different sense—hearing, smell, touch, sight—triggering a sensation that serves as a way to open oneself up to and discover wine. Taste, the final sense highlighted, is explored at the end of the visit through a tasting of selected wines. Overall, this cellar is the ideal place to discover the world of wine, particularly French wines, in an unusual way.

For more information:
Les Caves du Louvre , 52 rue de l'Arbre Sec, Paris, 75001