Are you itching to try some wine at a Languedoc vineyard, but find it slightly daunting? Me too. Visiting a domaine can be bewildering, especially when you don’t speak the language. So local wine expert, Louise Hurren, has kindly agreed to give us a rundown of the region’s most visitor-friendly vineyards.
“Let’s face it: if you’ve done a bit of wine tourism in (say) South Africa or California, you’ll have to agree that Languedoc wineries don’t always come up to scratch when it comes to welcoming visitors. Clean toilets, pleasant tasting facilities and maybe something for the kids (and other non-wine drinkers) to do would all be plus points. Oh, and where’s the food when you’re feeling peckish? And who’s driving?
So I’ve compiled a short list of places in Languedoc where you can taste wine without fear. Go forth and swirl, sip, spit and swallow. These are tried, tested and tasted for you. Everyone speaks English (more or less) and “gets” wine tourism and how it’s supposed to work. Enjoy!
Want to know how wine is made?
Domaine Treloar (near Perpignan)
This Brit-and-Kiwi-run winery offers an educational tour called “How Wine is Made”. Take a trip round the vineyard and winery with winemaker Jonathan, in English or French, followed by a tutored tasting. Learn how the combination of terroir, vineyard management and winemaking decisions determine the style and quality of wine. Cost €10 per adult (reserve ahead). Our tip: pre-order a home-cooked lunch for €15 per head. Rachel is a good cook, and it will save you schlepping around looking for a decent restaurant. Try the wines you’ve tasted with some food, see how they stand up.
Domaine Treleor, 16 Traverse de Thuir, 66300 Trouillas (near Perpignan)(04 68 95 02 29; info@domainetreloar.com) www.domainetreloar.com
Opening times: 9 am – 6pm, Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday year-round.
Love bubbles and stylish white wines?
Château Rives-Blanques (near Limoux)
Dutchman Jan and his Anglo-Irish wife Caryl are charming people who make very highly-reviewed white wines in the cooler Limoux area, near Carcassonne. Their sparkling wines are particularly special (Rives-Blanques is recommended by French wine mag La Revue du Vin de France as one of its ‘must visit’ vineyards). If you want to splurge on a special meal afterwards, drive five minutes along the road to Domaine Gayda‘s restaurant, with its fabulous views across the Pyrenees (for a cheaper, less formal option, they also have an outdoor dining and BBQ area with funky straw hut huts). You can also taste and visit the winery here.
Château Rives-Blanques, 11300 Cépie (near Limoux)(04 68 31 43 20; 2010@rives-blanques.com) www.rives-blanques.com
Opening times: by appointment.
Travelling with kids?
Domaine de Combebelle (near St Chinian)
An organically-farmed domaine situated high on a hill. Group visits and tastings are €30 for a group of 1-6 people (€5 per additional person): book in advance. There’s fun for all the family because at the foot of the hill is a goat farm: stretch your legs with a good walk downhill to pet the goats, taste the cheese and let everyone run around. If you want to let your hair down and stay a few days, they have a comfy gîte which comes with use of the owner’s 12-metre swimming pool, with stunning views. On a Sunday morning, the food market in Saint-Chinian (10 minutes by car) is a must-see.
(04 67 38 09 86; wine@combebelle.com) www.combebelle.com
Opening times: 4pm – 7 pm Thursday to Sunday from April to October.
An easy drive from Montpellier
Mas de l’Oncle (Lauret)
A small-but-perfectly-formed winery run by friendly Frenchman Fabrice. In the heart of a village, this recently-renovated domaine is clean and tidy, has an attractive barrel room with some informative displays, and a courtyard where you can sit, sip and soak up the rays. They make AOC Pic St Loup (if you’re feeling energetic, you could climb the Pic in the morning and reward yourself with a tasting afterwards) and host a range of wine-related walks, visits and tastings in spring and summer: check their website for details. Bonus point: in the same village, the wonderful Auberge du Cedre is THE place to book for your lunch or dinner (ask for a table on the terrace and take a look at their excellent, extensive wine list).
Mas de l’Oncle, Place Miolane, 34270 Lauret (30 minutes from Montpellier)(04 67 67 26 16; contact@masdeloncle.com) www.masdeloncle.com
Wine in 3D (déguster, dîner, dormir… )
Domaine Virgile Joly (Saint Saturnin)
Virgile Joly is the poster boy of Languedoc’s organic wine movement. He’s also the star of a book (Virgile’s Vineyard) and an all-round nice chap. His tasting room is tucked down a tiny back street, but if you park near the village square, you’ll spot his offices easily (check the ancient wine-making equipment parked outside). Earnest but personable, he’ll tell you as much (or as little) as you want to know about wine making in the south of France. After your tasting, head back to the main square for a meal at Le Pressoir. Recently reopened, this is a reasonably-priced, smartly decorated spot with a shady terrace, a wood-burning oven and a neat list of local wines (including Virgile’s, naturally). There are two nice, new gîtes in the village too, just a few doors up from the restaurant. So if you want to go the whole hog, you could sip, sup, and then sleep. How convenient…
Domaine Virgile Joly, 22 rue du Portail, 34725 Saint-Saturnin (04 67 44 52 21; virgilejoly@wanadoo.fr). www.domainevirgilejoly.comOpening times: Monday-Friday 9am – 6pm, Saturday 2pm – 6 pm
Try before you buy
La Maison des Vins (Saint Chinian)
You know that awkward feeling when you walk into a wine shop and don’t know what you want? Hundreds of bottles on the shelves, and no idea which one to choose? The chap behind the counter asks if he can help: cue tricky conversation as you try to explain, in French? Forget it. At this place, they have those cool machines that dispense tasting measures of wine, into a glass, for you to try. For FREE. With 30 wines to try, you’re sure to find something you like.
Tel. 04 67 38 11 69. Email maisondesvins@saint-chinian.com. www.saint-chinian.pro/index.cfm
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9am – midday, 2pm – 6.30pm, Saturday 9am – midday (open Sunday mornings in summer)
Wine tasting for softies
Vin en vacances
The problem with visiting vineyards is that someone has to drive. Languedoc wine domaines tend to be found in remote spots that aren’t served by public transport, so you’ll either be spitting, or appointing a designated driver who’s not going to have that much fun watching you swallow. The answer to your prayers is Wendy Gedney, a bubbly British woman who runs fun, friendly and informative wine tours, in English, in Languedoc. She’ll drive you around for a day’s wine touring in her air-conditioned minibus, take you for a tasty lunch, give you the low-down on Languedoc’s wines, appellations and wine makers, and deliver you back to your departure point at the end of the day. No hassle. Day tours start from €95 euros per person, departing from Montpellier, Pézenas or Carcassonne, more details available on the website.
www.vinenvacances.com. Email wendy@vinenvacances.com. Tel. +33 (0)6 42 33 34 09″Louise Hurren has lived in Languedoc since 2002, where she works as a marketing and PR consultant, helping French clients (mainly in the wine and tourism sectors) promote themselves to an international audience. She speaks fluent French and perfers to see her glass as half-full, rather than half-empty.
For even more ideas of things to do in the Languedoc, check out Languedoc.e.greeters. This is the great Facebook page Louise runs for Herault Tourism where locals share their best tips of what to see and where to go in the region.
Montpellier and more 