Top 6 most original wine tourism activities

Would you like to see the chateaux and vineyards of the estates from a different angle? We propose six unusual activities around wine, designed by the wineries to help you discover their land, their vines and the work they do every day. Far from the simple "visit + tasting", we propose you various activities to share alone, in couple, in family or between friends!

The escape game in the vineyards

Forget about hiking through the vineyards under a blazing sun! At the Domaine de Pierre et Bertrand Couly, in Chinon, the winemakers have found an original way to visit andwine tastingof their property.

Solving riddles and puzzles offers a unique moment in the heart of Bertrand Couly's personal cellars.

For a maximum of one hour (3 to 8 players), you will have the opportunity to rack your brains on enigmas reputedly impossible to solve! If you like Rubik's Cube, insurmountable challenges, wine and beautiful landscapes, this offbeat trip is made for you!

A night in a barrel

"This weekend, I spent the night in a barrel". You will amaze your office colleagues on Monday morning by telling them about your weekend!

Yes, this is what the Domaine du Rocher des Dames, in Beaumes-de-Venise, offers you in the Rhône. The cosy and hushed atmosphere, as crazy as it may seem, will quickly put you at ease ... even though you are in the middle of the vineyards!

If you opt for this unparalleled wine tourism experience, you will be able to stroll through the 22 hectares of vineyards operated by the Couly family. And to finish, why not combine business with pleasure? The winemakers offer you a tasting of the Château's wines.

The nudist harvest

For those who love nature and freedom, this is THE meeting not to be missed. Pierre Deshors, winemaker and owner of the house, welcomes every year grape pickers ... a bit special! For the second edition of these naturist grape harvests in Crest, in the Puy-de-Dôme, they were 22 volunteers determined to harvest the grapes, all naked!

You will have the opportunity to live an experience in the open air, without barriers, and in a good mood. It is in a relaxed and free atmosphere that you will participate in the cutting of the grapes and that you will be able to learn more about the viticultural techniques.

The program is attractive so don't hesitate, drop your pants!

A tasting in a bomb shelter

Discover how to taste a wine, recognize its aromas ... in a bunker? It is possible. The idea was developed by Edouard Miailhe, whose father built this fallout shelter during the Cold War. At Château Siran, it is in the basement that we taste the vintages!

Indeed, the oldest vintages are kept in a bunker, the oldest of which dates from 1912. Welcomed by the cellar master, you will be able to taste more than a hundred years of vintages, more than 6 meters underground. For the amateurs ofwine tourism unusual, this is clearly a must-see!

Stroll through the vineyards in a limousine

For the lovers of strass and spangles, the Château de Loudenne, in the Médoc, offers a particular stroll in its vineyards! If you don't know this great name of the Bordeaux region, the Château de Loudenne is: the only château in the Bordeaux region that has its own private harbor, art exhibitions by fashionable artists and wine tasting sessions. Classy!

In addition to these unconventional services, the institution offers limousine rides in the heart of its vineyards: this is the height of wine tourism sophistication! During this tour of a little over an hour, the tasting is commented and offered. One would expect nothing less given the standing ...

If you want to discover a magnificent castle and its vineyards and you are tired of wearing out the bottom of your shoes ... you know where to go!

A dinner 55 meters above the ground

Discovering high-class food and wine pairings 55 meters above the ground, on a suspended table? Yes, it is possible! The cellar of Tain, historical actor of the wine production of the Rhone Valley, proposes an original experience to learn everything about the Crus de récoltants (and yes, the institution deals only with producers harvesters).

You will taste the most prestigious appellations of the Rhône such as Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph or Cornas, all under the sign of a high level wine tourism. And it's on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the house that you will get into the air with wine tastings and gastronomic dishes.

If you are not afraid of heights, if you like wine, go for it!

If you prefer, we can also give you some tips on how to plan a wine tourism itinerary more classic.

Lucas Chartier for Les Grappes