8 of the Best Wine Routes in France

France is well-known as an epicurean destination – and in particular, as a haven for oenophiles. That’s because the country is one of the world’s most important wine producers, with a viticultural heritage stretching back thousands of years and a wealth of iconic winemaking regions, including Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. One of the best ways to get to grips with the different grape varieties and appellations (of which there are more than 300) is on a self-drive wine tour through France. There are eight official wine routes to choose from, all of which invite you to discover outstanding wines, memorable culinary pairings, gorgeous scenery and grand châteaux. One important tip: Be sure to plan your accommodation and transport well in advance to avoid the risks of drinking and driving. 

The oldest French wine route covers 170 kilometres between Marlenheim and Thann, taking in picturesque medieval villages and castles and providing an insight into the region’s unique blend of French and German culture. Fifty-one of the vineyards hold superior Grand Cru status, while grape varieties include Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir. Don’t have a car? Consider the open-top Kut’zig bus, a hop-on, hop-off service running between the villages of Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg Vignoble, Turckheim and Eguisheim. For a more sedate approach to wine travel in France, there’s also the adjacent cycle path. 

There are six wine routes in this region, spanning more than 200 kilometres and countless terroirs. But if you only have time for one Burgundy wine tour, the 60-kilometre Route des Grand Crus includes some of the most famous appellations. Starting in Dijon and ending in Santenay, it winds between a patchwork of hillside climats, or micro-vineyards, each with their own unique conditions. Here, winegrowers have been perfecting their art for a thousand years, resulting in some of the best Grand Crus made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligote and Gamay grapes. Points of interest include a historic hospital-turned-wine-estate in Beaune and a 12th-century Cistercian chateau in Vougeot. 

Starting in Blois and finishing in the port city of Nantes, the Loire Valley wine tour is the country’s longest. Covering 800 kilometres, it follows the path of the Loire River and immerses visitors in UNESCO-listed landscapes recognised for their exceptional beauty and historically important landmarks. These range from royal monasteries to troglodytic wine cellars carved into the region’s limestone cliffs. Because the route covers such a diverse area, you can expect to encounter a wide selection of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Light, fruity or rich in tannins, there’s something for every taste, with four main grape varieties including Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Melon de Bourgogne. 

The Bordeaux Wine Route isn’t a single trail but rather a collection of different Bordeaux wine tours exploring one of the best wine regions in France, where winemakers have been producing exceptional vintages for more than 2,000 years. World-famous Bordeaux wines include those of Saint-Emilion, Medoc and Sauternes; while grape varieties range from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to Cabernet Franc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. In total, the region offers 60 different appellations and more than 6,000 châteaux where you can sign up for a wine tasting, a workshop with an expert enologist, or a sommelier-led fine dining experience. 

A Champagne wine tour is a must for anyone interested in French wine tourism. Nearly 400 kilometres of signposted trails wind their way across the verdant Champagne countryside, allowing you to tailor your route to suit the time you have available. Don’t miss Reims with its 13th-century Gothic cathedral; or Epernay, home of 35 different Champagne houses including iconic names like Moët et Chandon and Perrier-Jouët. Stop in for a tour to hear about the unique process of creating the famous sparkling wine, from the selection of the finest Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Pinot Meunier grapes, to fermentation in oak barrels. 

With multiple Provence wine tour itineraries available, this gorgeous route in the South of France takes you from the Mediterranean coast to the lavender fields and mountains of central Provence. Synonymous with colour and sunshine, the region produces diverse wines derived from Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Vermentino, Cabernet Franc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It’s France’s biggest producer of AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) rosé, but also offers bold reds designed to complement Provence’s world-famous cuisine and fruity whites like those from Cassis, one of the oldest appellations in the country. Sights along the way include the Roman amphitheatre at Fréjus and Thoronet’s Cistercian abbey. 

The Jura Wine Route starts in Salins-les-Bains and finishes in Saint-Amour, taking you on an 80-kilometre journey across the steep, lushly forested hillsides of the Revermont region. Approximately 140 winemakers call this area home, using unusual grape varieties such as Savagnin, Poulsard and Trousseau to create one-of-a-kind wines. The route is littered with charming towns and villages including Poligny, Château-Chalon and Arbois. The latter is home to the house of Louis Pasteur, whose scientific study of the fermentation process paved the way for modern oenology. Pay a visit to the museum now situated on the historic property to discover why wine tasting in France would not be the same without his innovations.

Starting in Patrimonio and finishing in Ajaccio, the Corsican Wine Route runs for approximately 200 kilometres around the island’s coast, keeping the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean on one side and the serried green ranks of the vineyards on the other. The rich, varied terroirs you’ll encounter along the way are steeped in sunshine, nourishing exciting grape varieties including Nielluccio, Sciaccarellu and Vermentinu. Stop off at welcoming estates to discover rare vintages and benefit from expertise handed down from generation to generation of winemakers. Of the eight AOCs found on Corsica, the vineyards of the Figari appellation are the oldest, dating all the way back to the time of the Romans. 

Once you’ve chosen a wine route, you need to decide when to go. Weather-wise, the best months for a vineyard tour in France are from May to mid-October. If you like the idea of avoiding driving by booking a hop-on, hop-off bus or a similar service, consider that many are seasonal and will only run at this time of year. Harvest can be a fascinating (but busy) time to visit and takes place between August and October depending on the region and grape variety. And although the grapevines will have lost their leaves if you travel in winter, the quality of the bottled wines remains the same. This is often a cheaper and less crowded time to visit. 

Whichever time of year you choose to visit, you're sure to discover new wines, new experiences and possibly even new friends. If you'd like to explore other must-see spots in France, why not check out things to do in Dijon or Lyon's best parks?