Almost everywhere you go in France you’ll see signs for ‘degustation’ – tastings offered at the door of wine producers both large and small.
If you’ve never done it before it can seem a little daunting but with some simple courtesies it’s great fun.
So here are our 5 top tips for wine-tasting in France.
Wine tasting in France checklist
• Learn a few French phrases – little phrases like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ go a long way
• Time your visit – making wine is hard work, respect mealtimes and rest breaks
• Learn before you go – a little knowledge of the types of wine to expect in the area, and how they match your tastes, will help you make the right choice
• Buy a little – wine-tasting is free so be courteous, and take away at least one bottle
• Go with the flow – be prepared to try something new, and you may discover a new favourite
Break the language barrier
Fluent French speakers will find it easy, but if you have limited or no French at all it can seem an impossible task.
If that’s the case, then simply go to one of the larger outlets which cater for tourists and you’ll have no problems. We spent an entertaining half an hour at Château de Brézé with a young Australian steering us through a variety of wines from across the whole region.
These visits are fun and give you a feel for the types of wines available locally, but you’re unlikely to find any rarities, or come home with any unique travellers’ tales.
And at these larger tourist attractions there is no obligation to buy.
But if you’re prepared to shed your inhibitions and have a go, try the smaller vineyards.
Most wine-makers have enough English to talk about the wines, but your welcome will be all the warmer if you go armed with a few French phrases, a dictionary and are prepared to do a lot of arm-waving.
Time your vineyard visit
The majority of small vineyard owners work the fields themselves, assisted by just a couple of full-time staff and an army of volunteer helpers at harvest time.
This means they are usually busy from around dawn and by the time holiday-makers are up and about they’ve put in almost a day’s work. So please respect the midday break and visit before 11.30am or after 2.30pm, unless you have made an appointment in advance.
If you’re visiting during the harvest (which can be in September or October depending on weather) bear in mind they will be even busier than usual.
Do your homework
Knowing a little about the wines of a region before you go pays off. You don’t need to be an expert, but if the area you are visiting produces well-known wines you like it’s worth finding out a bit about them – where they come from, what grape variety and so on.
Wines from small producers vary from year to year and place to place but when you know what you already like, the owner can open bottles that will suit your taste, rather than just guessing.
Be prepared to buy a little
Vineyards in France don’t charge for tastings, so at the smaller places they will probably have to open up new bottles of wine for you to try. This represents an investment for them of time and money.
If you really don’t like their wine don’t feel obliged to pretend, but if there’s one that is okay (and most vineyards will produce one to your taste if you have done your homework) budget for buying at least one bottle.
Prices vary but you can usually get one for less than an entrance ticket to a castle.
And of course if you really like a wine, buying it by the caseload direct from the vineyard usually works out a lot cheaper.
Go with the flow
We have found some terrific wines through lots of different ways.
Friends recommendations are good (as long as you share the same tastes in wine) but most of ours have been found by chance.
If you like the house wine in a restaurant, ask where it comes from, it’s almost certain to be local.
We’ve found great wines through chats on Twitter and randomly choosing one from a road sign – we once went round the same roundabout three times, reading all the signs, until we found one we thought sounded fun.
It was a cracker!
And if you’re heading to the popular Loire region, check out the tours and tastings offered by Le tasting room run by English wine experts Cathy and Nigel Henton
Happy tasting.
Where to next?
• Crumbs Brewing
• Harvest time for English Wine
• 8 castles you can stay in