MORNING LIST
Discover exceptional wines and champagnes without taking the road again, and in the process offering yourself a spa, an immersive experience, a local menu… it is again possible, and affordable. For a change of scenery by cultivating your palate – but not only – follow the guide!
A spa in the heart of grapes, in Martillac
Because it is the absolute benchmark for wine tourism in the Bordeaux region, because it is also the pioneer. The place has all the assets: just 15 kilometers south of Bordeaux, it nestles in the vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, icon of Pessac-Léognan wines. This real hamlet with traditional Aquitaine architecture is home to three restaurants, a spa (with the famous Caudalie treatments with grape extracts), but also the possibility of bike rides in the vineyard or in the 8 hectare forest which adjoins it, dotted with of land art. We drink the wines of the estate, we eat the vegetables from the vegetable garden. From swimming pools to cooking classes, from the castle cooperage to the boat trip, it’s impossible to get bored.
Les Sources de Caudalie, chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte, Martillac (Grironde). 61 rooms, from € 270 per night. Sources-caudalie.com
In a barrel, in Thouaré-sur-Loire
The idea is certainly absurd. But with a small dose of humor and relaxation, it has its charm. Sleep in a barrel on a wine estate and, for one night, put yourself in the skin of a grape berry. No maceration or fermentation on the program, but rustic comfort with camping accents (bring your own sleeping bag or rent a sleeping kit).
The concept was imagined by the federation of independent winegrowers of the Pays de la Loire, and implemented here, fifteen minutes from Nantes, in the town of Thouaré-sur-Loire (Loire-Atlantique) on the banks of the river. The small 3.5 hectare vineyard produces three cuvées, two whites in Muscadet and Coteaux d’Ancenis, as well as a light red, but also a sparkling grape juice. The Marchais estate also has surrounding vines and offers many other vintages for tasting.
Vineyard Marchais, La Blandinière, Thouaré-sur-Loire (Loire-Atlantique). From 97 € for two, including the night, breakfast and a bottle of wine. Vignoblemarchais.fr
Great tasting and Burgundian menu, in Gevrey-Chambertin
Burgundy winegrowers are sometimes criticized for having difficulty opening their doors. Jean-Louis Trapet, one of the most respected of Gevrey-Chambertin (and even of the whole Côte de Nuits), has decided to open a guest house directly.
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