5 Unique Wine Cellars to Explore in France

Wineries are opening their doors to the public, offering a chance to explore a world that is both mysterious and magical. We’ve selected the most unique and unusual wineries and provided details on the tours they offer.

The Historic Winery: Les Crayières de Montquartiers

The quarries of Issy-les-Moulineaux, excavated in the 19th century, are now open to the public, allowing visitors to explore the wine cellars in this unique setting. These underground quarries, originally developed for chalk mining, were established in 1920. Over the centuries, wine merchants, mushroom growers, and brewers have also established themselves there. They have now been converted into wine cellars, among other things, housing nearly a million bottles. Dug 22 meters underground, the Montquartiers cellars offer bottle storage space for individuals, just 5 minutes from Paris.

These unique cellars offer guided tours through the galleries that trace the history of the chalk cellars; they also feature a dramatized tour led by an actor-guide. At the end of the tour, a tasting is hosted by the cellar’s sommelier.

For more information:

Les Crayères des Montquartiers, 5 Montquartiers Road

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

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

Located in the Loire Valley, on the edge of the Sologne region, La Cave de la Grande Brosse stands on the site of a former quarry believed to date back to the 10th century. In fact, stone from this quarry was used to build the foundations of churches in the region, as well as for the construction of castles such as Cevernu and Chambord.

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

For more information:

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

Wineries you can tour by bike or Segway

The Vouvray vineyard in Rochecorbon offers tours of the Grandes Caves Saint-Roch on Segways, the electric vehicles ridden while standing. Visitors will be equipped with a headlamp to explore the cellar’s tunnels. The guided tour lasts an hour and a half, inviting you to discover both the banks of the Loire and the Caves Saint-Roch, 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

Since 2012, visitors have been able to explore the underground cellars at Bouvet-Ladubay in Saumur by bike, thanks to a partnership with Anjou Vélo Vintage. Etienne Bouvet, the company’s founder, also helped establish the Saumur Velodrome. This unique tour offers guided groups of cyclists the chance to explore 5 km of tunnels… equipped with headlamps!

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

Wine Cellars and Sensory Exploration: The Louvre Wine Cellars in Paris

Located in the former mansion of Louis VI’s sommelier, the Louvre’s wine cellars have recently opened to the public, offering visitors a unique experience. Indeed, the world of wine is meant to be explored through the senses: each room engages a specific sense—hearing, smell, touch, sight—triggering a sensation that serves as a gateway to understanding and discovering wine. Taste, the final sense highlighted, is engaged at the end of the tour through a tasting of several wines. All in all, this cellar is the ideal place to discover the world of wine—particularly French wine—in a unique way.

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