Road Trip - France - Wine
Discussion
This has been on the bucket list for some time. My wife has agreed that we can do a road trip in Europe as our holiday and our honeymoon! Not complaining but hopefully benefits for us both.
I will be taking my pride and joy which is a Mk1 Clio V6. We will be looking to do this over 2 weeks maybe a little longer (16/17 days) and it will be early July 2025.
We stay just outside Edinburgh and the ‘plan’ would be to get to Newcastle and get the overnight ferry to Amsterdam, Zeehavendagen.
I don’t want it to be a set agenda but more a vague plan with maybe a day or two of no driving – I’m the only driver. Happy to book places on the day for example.
My wife is big into her wine having just sat her level 3 WSET. So wine regions/vineyards are on the to do list. She is looking to get into this as a career, I would also like to learn more. She has also been a member/’angel’ of Naked Wines, I mention this just in case anyone else is a member and has visited anywhere. I think they have a forum, so we likely post something here.
Originally I would have liked to have done Italy and maybe Austria but thinking time wise we should just focus on France.
Locations:
Wine Regions (France) – Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bordeaux – bit of a trek?
Toulouse – I’d like to visit Concorde.
Monte Carlo – another bucket list
Does France have anything like Agriturismos?
I’d also like to avoid motorways as much as possible so any road suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Any other thoughts or experiences, suggestions would be great!
I will be taking my pride and joy which is a Mk1 Clio V6. We will be looking to do this over 2 weeks maybe a little longer (16/17 days) and it will be early July 2025.
We stay just outside Edinburgh and the ‘plan’ would be to get to Newcastle and get the overnight ferry to Amsterdam, Zeehavendagen.
I don’t want it to be a set agenda but more a vague plan with maybe a day or two of no driving – I’m the only driver. Happy to book places on the day for example.
My wife is big into her wine having just sat her level 3 WSET. So wine regions/vineyards are on the to do list. She is looking to get into this as a career, I would also like to learn more. She has also been a member/’angel’ of Naked Wines, I mention this just in case anyone else is a member and has visited anywhere. I think they have a forum, so we likely post something here.
Originally I would have liked to have done Italy and maybe Austria but thinking time wise we should just focus on France.
Locations:
Wine Regions (France) – Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bordeaux – bit of a trek?
Toulouse – I’d like to visit Concorde.
Monte Carlo – another bucket list
Does France have anything like Agriturismos?
I’d also like to avoid motorways as much as possible so any road suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Any other thoughts or experiences, suggestions would be great!
If you want to do some wine touring have a look at the Route des Grands Crus in Burgandy. https://www.beaune-tourism.com/explore/the-route-d...
If you stop in Beaune you can do this in a day, it's not a "hooning" drive but a nice route through a wine region on good (usually quiet) roads with plenty of stops available. I'd recommend a lunch at Calabria Ristorante in Pommard which is a inexpensive pizza/salad restaurant but with an excellent local wine selection!
For a stay in Beaune I love Hotel Le Cep which is a very traditional French style hotel in the town itself but with secure parking. If you specifically want it in a garage just ask. http://www.hotel-cep-beaune.com/en/ Be warned, as you're turning up in an interesting car the doorman (who will take your car and park it for you) is a proper petrolhead and will probably know more about your car than you do!
If you stop in Beaune you can do this in a day, it's not a "hooning" drive but a nice route through a wine region on good (usually quiet) roads with plenty of stops available. I'd recommend a lunch at Calabria Ristorante in Pommard which is a inexpensive pizza/salad restaurant but with an excellent local wine selection!
For a stay in Beaune I love Hotel Le Cep which is a very traditional French style hotel in the town itself but with secure parking. If you specifically want it in a garage just ask. http://www.hotel-cep-beaune.com/en/ Be warned, as you're turning up in an interesting car the doorman (who will take your car and park it for you) is a proper petrolhead and will probably know more about your car than you do!
I have very little experience of France so no help there.
But a friendly advice is to hit the fun roads on the way there, or take it easy on the way back. Especially if you plan to take a couple of bottles home.
We had a big jar of Nutella and a couple of bottles of red wine explode, mid drift in the Swiss alps on our way home to Sweden
But a friendly advice is to hit the fun roads on the way there, or take it easy on the way back. Especially if you plan to take a couple of bottles home.
We had a big jar of Nutella and a couple of bottles of red wine explode, mid drift in the Swiss alps on our way home to Sweden
Burgundy is great. We have done been three times now and hired electric bikes for a couple of days. So many places to stop and have tastings and great food. Obviously you can do it in a car but worth a few days - as above Beaune or Dijon a good base. Great value too - had a glass on Monrachet in the Hotel Monrachet that was slightly more expensive than the three course Michelin star lunch!
RicksAlfas said:
Second big endorsement for Logis Hotels. Generally family owned and run, often for multiple generations. Excellent food. Website/app allows instant booking. Gut feel is that Champagne and Cotes du Rhone without Bordeaux would be a more manageable itinerary. With the option of Monaco/Col de Turini. Even though Bordeaux is my nearest major wine region. Sounds like a fantastic trip.
BREMBOV6 said:
Happy to book places on the day for example.
Locations:
Wine Regions (France) – Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bordeaux – bit of a trek?
In the posher/more expensive regions/properties, I'm thinking mainly Burgundy and Bordeaux, you might need to book further ahead than on the day to get access to the properties you want.Locations:
Wine Regions (France) – Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bordeaux – bit of a trek?
You'll have a fair journey from Beaujolais to Bordeaux. How about splitting the trip in two, with the first one being something like:
Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone
and perhaps a second of: Loire, Cognac, Bordeaux, SW and Languedoc-Roussillon?
Edited for clarification: By "properties", I meant wineries.
Edited by trevalvole on Wednesday 30th April 14:12
There are proper wine routes created.
Beaujolais
https://www.beaujolais.com/en/visit/the-beaujolais...
The Champagne tourist route - very pretty, with the advantage of Reims, and the circuit. Not sure if you can stop for photos now
https://www.tourisme-en-champagne.co.uk/route-du-c...
Ah in fact
https://www.vinotrip.com/en/wine-trails
Beaujolais
https://www.beaujolais.com/en/visit/the-beaujolais...
The Champagne tourist route - very pretty, with the advantage of Reims, and the circuit. Not sure if you can stop for photos now
https://www.tourisme-en-champagne.co.uk/route-du-c...
Ah in fact
https://www.vinotrip.com/en/wine-trails
Edited by Byker28i on Wednesday 30th April 12:42
we did a road trip for our honeymoon - Loire valley first (great vouvray and cremant de Loire which at c. £7.50 a bottle is as good as champagne) amazing road alongside the Loire river and great chateaus to visit… we have also since stayed in Amboise which is lovely…
then down to Bordeaux / St. Emillion
wine museum in Bordeaux is very good, as are the underground cellars in St. Emillion…
superb vineyards to visit in the area…
we stayed between the two here: https://www.lechateaulamothe.com/en/castle which was amazing - the Black Prince’s hunting lodge - when we were there it was B&B only but with a fridge and crockery so we bought amazing foods at local markets, ate out at lunch and then cold foods in the evening sitting on the terrace by the moat… best place we stayed…
we then went on to San Sebastian for food exploration… but the time in France was all wine…
things we learned - an e39 M5 is brilliant for long distance road trips!
we hoped for temp. in the low 20s and got 45deg C in bordeaux / St. Emillion!
wine doesn’t keep in the car on a road trip… but every vineyard says… “not a problem, we can DHL it for a minimum of 6/12 bottles…” (we still have wine 6 years later having had a lot turn up the day after we returned!)
well done to your wife on WSET 3 that is superb - have a lovely time
then down to Bordeaux / St. Emillion
wine museum in Bordeaux is very good, as are the underground cellars in St. Emillion…
superb vineyards to visit in the area…
we stayed between the two here: https://www.lechateaulamothe.com/en/castle which was amazing - the Black Prince’s hunting lodge - when we were there it was B&B only but with a fridge and crockery so we bought amazing foods at local markets, ate out at lunch and then cold foods in the evening sitting on the terrace by the moat… best place we stayed…
we then went on to San Sebastian for food exploration… but the time in France was all wine…
things we learned - an e39 M5 is brilliant for long distance road trips!
we hoped for temp. in the low 20s and got 45deg C in bordeaux / St. Emillion!
wine doesn’t keep in the car on a road trip… but every vineyard says… “not a problem, we can DHL it for a minimum of 6/12 bottles…” (we still have wine 6 years later having had a lot turn up the day after we returned!)
well done to your wife on WSET 3 that is superb - have a lovely time
Depends on personal taste in wine, and what you want to see, I think. My experience is that whilst Champagne (obviously) has amazing wines, the scenery isn't terribly exciting or picturesque.
I'd absolutely add Alsace to your to do list. Amazing wines, beautiful scenery, drive down through the Vosges to get there, follow the wine route: https://www.wineroute.alsace/ south. Definitely stop in Colmar, it's really lovely. Similarly, Eguisheim, Wettolsheim and Wintzenheim have some fabulous producers. Josmeier and Albert Mann are the absolute musts. You'll probably need to book a tasting in advance for both. Continue on to Mulhouse to the motor museum https://www.musee-automobile.fr/en/ there for a pretty spectacular selection of rarities.
Personally, I'd continue on down into the mountains to drink my way round the Jura and Savoie. Amazing, unique wines, mountains and some great driving roads. From there you could either continue south and follow the Rhone, or head across to Beaujolais and start heading north through Macon and further towards Beaune and Dijon. from there, I'd head to Auxerre which is a really lovely understated city to go and glug a load of Chablis. Head back via Troyes and you could do Champagne if you wanted to.
As for places to stay, we love places like this: https://www.sawdays.co.uk/france/champagne-ardenne... This is just outside Troyes and is a working trout farm that has converted the old mill into bedrooms. Dinner is great fun, there's no restaurant, but the owner cooks dinner, if you want it and it's served at a big communal table with all the other guests. It's always the most fantastically random dinner party you've ever been to. Brits, Dutch, Belgians and French all round the same table.
Bordeaux, I liked, but don't feel hugely compelled to go back to. The Loire is really lovely too, but is quite a distance, certainly at it's western end from any other wine areas.
I'd absolutely add Alsace to your to do list. Amazing wines, beautiful scenery, drive down through the Vosges to get there, follow the wine route: https://www.wineroute.alsace/ south. Definitely stop in Colmar, it's really lovely. Similarly, Eguisheim, Wettolsheim and Wintzenheim have some fabulous producers. Josmeier and Albert Mann are the absolute musts. You'll probably need to book a tasting in advance for both. Continue on to Mulhouse to the motor museum https://www.musee-automobile.fr/en/ there for a pretty spectacular selection of rarities.
Personally, I'd continue on down into the mountains to drink my way round the Jura and Savoie. Amazing, unique wines, mountains and some great driving roads. From there you could either continue south and follow the Rhone, or head across to Beaujolais and start heading north through Macon and further towards Beaune and Dijon. from there, I'd head to Auxerre which is a really lovely understated city to go and glug a load of Chablis. Head back via Troyes and you could do Champagne if you wanted to.
As for places to stay, we love places like this: https://www.sawdays.co.uk/france/champagne-ardenne... This is just outside Troyes and is a working trout farm that has converted the old mill into bedrooms. Dinner is great fun, there's no restaurant, but the owner cooks dinner, if you want it and it's served at a big communal table with all the other guests. It's always the most fantastically random dinner party you've ever been to. Brits, Dutch, Belgians and French all round the same table.
Bordeaux, I liked, but don't feel hugely compelled to go back to. The Loire is really lovely too, but is quite a distance, certainly at it's western end from any other wine areas.
Edited by PedroB on Wednesday 30th April 13:09
Edited by PedroB on Wednesday 30th April 13:11
Edited by PedroB on Wednesday 30th April 13:12
This museum at Toulouse is excellent, and two Concordes!
https://www.aeroscopia.fr/en/diner-concorde-2025
https://www.aeroscopia.fr/en/diner-concorde-2025
BREMBOV6 said:
We stay just outside Edinburgh and the ‘plan’ would be to get to Newcastle and get the overnight ferry to Amsterdam, Zeehavendagen.
I'm doing similar at the beginning of July with a mate from the highlands We looked initially at the DFDS ferry from Newcastle overnight but it was insanely expensive .. £1400 return !!!
We ended up booking the Stena from Harwich to hook of Holland for less than a quarter of the price of the DFDS ferry from Newc ... £364 return
The premier inn at Harwich terminal cost is £45 for the night
Edited by Earthdweller on Wednesday 30th April 13:41
Thanks all! This is brilliant and some piecing together to do.
I've drove down to Dover before and it so painfully miserable that I said I'd never do it again. Newcastle is not a long drive for us plus I've heard it's nice on board so always fancied trying it and the start of our holiday to an extent but yes pricey £1.2k plus. Will give it some thought.
Real shame the Rosyth ferry is no more as that is about a 2 minute drive!
I've drove down to Dover before and it so painfully miserable that I said I'd never do it again. Newcastle is not a long drive for us plus I've heard it's nice on board so always fancied trying it and the start of our holiday to an extent but yes pricey £1.2k plus. Will give it some thought.
Real shame the Rosyth ferry is no more as that is about a 2 minute drive!
Any English vineyards year Folkestone. Stay over night, jump on the Eurotunnel, approx £95 each way is what we usually pay
If you're gong into Holland, driving through Belgium, then Wallonia and Flanders are the two wine regions. Anything interesting there?
Brugges - De Tuilerieën - Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Address: Dijver 7, Bruges Historic Center, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
Beautiful little hotel, great food and wine in the center
If you're gong into Holland, driving through Belgium, then Wallonia and Flanders are the two wine regions. Anything interesting there?
Brugges - De Tuilerieën - Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Address: Dijver 7, Bruges Historic Center, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
Beautiful little hotel, great food and wine in the center
Edited by Byker28i on Wednesday 30th April 15:29
Byker28i said:
Any English vineyards year Folkestone.
Chapel Down and Gusbourne both about 30 mins from the terminal. Both making great wines, no hotel on site at either, but there's a great Air B&B in Kenardington that's a nice 15 minute walk across the fields from Gusbourne,https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/50245500?source_imp...
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