Traveling in the French countryside or in the bustling city of Paris affords abundant opportunities for wine-tasting. A wine-tasting tour of France can encompass visiting palaces, fortresses, cathedrals, museums and natural attractions, while sampling some of the world’s most famous vintages. Although Italy and Spain produce more bottles of wine, France retains its status as the country producing both the greatest variety and the highest quality of wines.

A true wine-tasting does not entail getting a buzz. Instead, you hold your wine glass by the stem so as not to affect the temperature of the liquid. Hold the wine up to the light to appreciate its color. Slowly rotate the glass in your hand to release the flavor. Sniff the wine. Take a small sip and swish it around your mouth, and then spit. Of course, many people omit this final step. It is fine to drink the wine, too, but you will lose your ability to distinguish between wines after awhile. Some French wineries supply a bucket for spitting, while others save the best wine for last so that it can be the sample that is swallowed.

The benefits of wine-tasting in France are numerous. You can view picturesque vineyards, visit farm towns, see medieval villages, meet people and enjoy the relaxed pace of the countryside. It is relatively simple to take a wine-tasting tour, because so much of the country is devoted to wine. Tourist offices, guides, wine cellars and vineyards are all equipped with information. Maps of the wine country are detailed, and there is ample signage. Look for the word “Degustation” to signify a spot for wine-tasting. The popular regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne have more services for tourists.

If you are in Paris for a short stay and lament that you cannot get to the wine country, take heart. Several of France’s wine-tasting regions are reachable in a day trip from the city. Hire a guide and drive, or take the train to Champagne or a little further, to the Loire Valley or Burgundy. Private drivers are a bit more expensive, but can take you to the small local cellars and family vineyards that you might otherwise miss.

Champagne is home to G.H. Mumm, Piper-Heidsieck, Taittinger and Pommery. In eastern France, Burgundy offers legendary wines as well as great mustards and cheeses. Near the German border, Alsace offers white wines. Lyon and Provence, in the Rhone Valley. are a gourmand’s delight. See the vineyards at Beaujolais, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Luberon and Cotes du Rhone. Southwest France offers the Bordeaux region, which contains over 8,000 chateaux. Nearby, Dordogne offers Bergera and Cahors wines. The Loire Valley, south and west of Paris, has Montlouis and sparkling wines.

Most large wineries are open for wine-tasting every day. Smaller wineries may require advance notice of your arrival. Reserve a day or so in ahead of your arrival and you shouldn’t have a problem. Some smaller operations do not charge for a tasting, but it is assumed that visitors will purchase a bottle.

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