France Self-Drive Wine Tours

Welcome to the world of France wine country tours (scroll to the bottom of this page to see our tours)! We can help you explore the rich and diverse landscapes of French vineyards and taste exquisite wines from the best French wineries.

At France Just For You, we offer a unique range of French winery tours that cater to everyone (such as our France for Wine Lovers tour!), from wine connoisseurs to those just beginning their wine journey. With our custom self-drive wine tours, you'll have the opportunity to explore various wine regions in France and indulge in the finest France wine tasting experiences.

Based on the type of experience you are looking for, we will be happy to organize wine tastings, recommend quaint wineries, or take you on a wine tasting day with a local sommelier, wine guide or wine lover. Whether you prefer strong tannic wines or lighter fruity wines, in France we have something for everyone!

 

French Wine Country Tours: A Journey Through Some of The French Wine Regions

Discover Bordeaux and Beyond

Our France vineyard tours will take you through the picturesque vineyards of Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, and the Médoc. You'll be able to explore quaint villages, admire the extravagant merchants' homes that line the banks of the Garonne river, and stroll along Europe's longest shopping street. By staying in St Émilion, the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards, you'll get a taste of the finest wines the region has to offer away from the tourist crowds.

Browse our sample tours of Bordeaux

The Loire Valley: Where History Meets Wine

We warmly recommend a visit to the Loire Valley (where the France Just For You team is based!), the land of enchanting castles and exceptional vineyards. Our France wine tours will take you through Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, and more, and you'll have the chance to visit charming wineries and experience the Loire Valley's fascinating history. You'll be able to take in the breathtaking sights of the Loire Valley chateaux, including Chambord and Chenonceau. We'll also recommend other hidden gems and less well-known wine-tasting experiences that most tourists don't know about!

Take a look at our Loire Valley tours

Burgundy: Experience the Charm of La Bourgogne

We aim to offer our travelers the best of French wine vacations by taking them off the tourist trail so they can experience 'the real' France'. In the heart of Burgundy, we'll arrange for you to stay in a beautiful B&B house owned by a local wine-making family. From there, you'll be able to explore the region's renowned vineyards and taste some of the world's finest red and white wines. Sébastien, one of the expert wine guides we work with, will take you on a unique off-road tour of the vineyards (so you can drink wine to your heart's content!), and help you discover the delightful hidden gems of Beaune and Dijon.

Check out our tours of Burgundy, France

Champagne: a Region of Rich History, Allure & Sparkle

A France wine-tasting tour would not be complete without a visit to the world-famous Champagne region! You'll stay in the areas of Reims, which has a world-renowned history in the world of Champagne production. We will recommend some of our favorite Champagne wineries you can visit on your own, and arrange for you to spend half a day on a customized private tour with an expert Champagne guide. Just let us know your wishes and preferences, and we'll take care of the rest. We'll also help you explore the beauty of Reims and its surroundings and discover local attractions. These include fossils and architecture, bustling markets, and a range of places to enjoy delicious cuisine, from small eateries to the finest Michelin-starred restaurants (a wonderful complement to luxury wine tours in France).

Get inspired by our self guided tours in Champagne

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the best time of the year for a wine tour in France?

Any time is a great time for a wine tour in France, especially because we drink and recommend wine-tastings that include older vintages. However, during the summer when it's very hot, it may not be as pleasant as when the weather is cooler. It's also important to keep in mind that wineries are extremely busy during the harvest season - from late August through September - and some may close to the public during this time. Apart from that, each region has its own specific peak seasons, so it's best to research the specific region you plan to visit before deciding on your trip dates. Alternatively, contact us and we will recommend the best time to visit the French wine regions you'd like to visit.

How do I plan a wine trip to France?

At France Just For You, expert trip planners Emilie, Laura and Clelia can plan the perfect custom wine tour of France, tailored to your interests and preferences. From organizing wine tastings and private tours with expert wine guides, to arranging your premium B&B accommodation and car hire, we've got you covered. Just let us know the type of wine, grape variety and French regions (e.g. Burgundy, Bordeaux, Loire etc) you like, and we’ll do the rest!

What is the wine capital of France?

This would be a tough battle between Bordeaux (which is often referred to as 'the wine capital of France'), Beaune in Burgundy (world-renowned for its very fine wines) and Reims-Epernay in Champagne. These are the most famous traditional wine cities in France. However, this has changed a lot in recent years, and lots of smaller wine regions produce now excellent wines as well. This means a wine connoisseur could be kept busy for months in France on a comprehensive wine-tasting tour.

Other fine wine-producing regions include the Loire Valley (most famous for its wine wines), Provence (famous for its rosé wines) and Alsace (known for the Alsace wine road). The Basque Country also has its own traditional wine called Irouléguy. If you book a tour with us, let us know your preferences when it comes to wine and the regions in France you would like to visit, and we will plan the perfect France wine tour just for you!

What is the most scenic wine region in France?

In our opinion, the Loire Valley and Alsace are the most scenic wine regions, though each wine region in France has its own unique charm and beauty. The Loire Valley is known for its stunning castles and rolling vineyards, and the Vosges mountains and the Alsace wine road in eastern France are beautifully scenic. In addition, Burgundy offers gorgeous picturesque landscapes and charming villages, and Provence has lovely sceneries that inspired the work of artists like Paul Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh.

We also particularly like smaller vineyards in very scenic places such as Irouléguy in the Basque Country, Caunes Minnervois near Carcassonne, and Bandol or Cassis on the French Riviera, which are gorgeous places.

All our self drive France itineraries will include recommended driving routes that will take you through gorgeous scenery.

Our self guided tours for wine lovers

Duration
20 days
Price
US$ 5920
Region
in Bordeaux, Basque Country, Carcassonne & Dordogne

This loop from Bordeaux will take you on a journey to the South West of France: vineyards, mountains, cliff-hanging fortresses and rolling hills. You will enjoy all the diversity of this unique part of France.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Duration
10 days
Price
US$ 3440
Region
in Bordeaux, Basque Country & Carcassonne

From the Unesco city of Bordeaux and the surrounding world-famous vineyards, to the mythical beach towns of Biarritz and St Jean de Lu z, feeling the fresh air of the Pyrenees foothills, and ending in the mysterious medieval town of Carcassonne . . . what a program!

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Countryside
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 3980
Region
in Basque Country, Carcassonne & Provence

This unique self-drive itinerary will have you cross the South of France from its Western coast in the Basque Country to beautiful Provence, with its cicadas and lavender fields.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Countryside
Duration
1 day
Price
US$ 400
Region
in Loire Valley

How to Get There If you are already in the Loire Valley, we can plan your day from your accommodation. If you are in Paris, you may take a 1 hour high speed train to Tours train station. For this special day, we plan for you to get an overview of the diversity of the Loire Valley.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Duration
10 days
Price
US$ 3430
Region
in Paris, Burgundy & Loire Valley

Discover French gastronomy in three regions famous the world over for their food and wines. Burgundy and the Loire Valley are actually arguing about where Coq au Vin was first invented. Burgundy is famous for wine sauce and the Loire Valley for river fish, fruits and goat cheese. And of course Paris is heaven to gourmets! You’ll find the best boulangeries in the world in Paris, and the food markets are amazing.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Duration
20 days
Price
US$ 5720
Region
in Burgundy, Loire Valley, Normandy & Paris

This is the best itinerary to thoroughly discover the Northern part of France: Burgundy vineyards, Loire Valley castles, Normandy WWII history . . . and ending in the most famous and beautiful capital in the world - Paris.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Countryside
Duration
10 days
Price
US$ 3740
Region
in Paris, Normandy & Loire Valley

Get a taste of the real France in very typical regions, famous for their cultural heritage as well as their sweet way of life.

Wine Tasting
Heritage & History
Countryside
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4780
Region
in Provence, Burgundy & Paris

Explore Eastern France, from South to North . . . colorful Provence, Burgundy vineyards, and of course the city of lights: Paris! We recommend that our travelers fly into Marseille and out of Paris (which is not always more expensive and much more convenient than Paris on both ends).

Wine Tasting
Countryside
Art & Museums in France
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 3680
Region
in Burgundy & Loire Valley

Explore and fully experience two "very French" regions, both famous for their gastronomy, wines, beautiful landscapes and very rich heritage.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Countryside
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 4450
Region
in Normandy & Loire Valley

Normandy & the Loire Valley are 2 regions of France you should not miss: the climate is mild, the people are very welcoming and history is around every corner.

Wine Tasting
WWI & WWII Battlefields
Countryside
Duration
16 days
Price
US$ 4600
Region
in Loire Valley, Dordogne, Carcassonne & French Riviera

Explore French culture and history in three of its most representative regions: the Loire Valley, Dordogne and the Riviera, with a nice stop in Carcassonne.

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Art & Museums in France
Duration
13 days
Price
US$ 3680
Region
in Loire Valley, Dordogne & Provence

Let yourself be carried away by three of the most iconic regions of France. From the Vallée de la Loire's "sweet life" to Dordogne's castles and Provence's colorful landscapes, you'll have a most enjoyable and memorable journey!

Wine Tasting
Towns & Villages
Countryside

Our Travelers’ Reviews

Wendy
I was going to plan a trip for my daughter and I and quickly got overwhelmed. We didn't want to go on those tours that have you going for morning until night. We wanted to be able to take our time and enjoy our trip. That's when I found Emiliee. We wanted to stay for 3weeks and really experience France, and Emiliee did just that. Her guide books …
Tracey & Sandra
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I …
Debbie
Emilie is amazing. Going to Normandy has always been a dream of my husbands and luckily for us we found Emilie to plan our trip. Our hotel in Paris for the start of our trip was located perfectly. Within walking distance of so much for our first two days before we picked up the rental car she had arranged for us. Then onto Normandy and the Loire …

Our Travelers’ Photos

Lucelle & Alan
From South Africa
Meeting their host - Mr le Prince - in a Castle in the Loire Valley
Elizabeth
From Canada
At her B&B in Normandy
Athena, Joanne, Don & Paul
from the US
Spending a day biking in the Loire Valley
Beth, Moira & Ron from USA
Enjoying a Wine Tasting in Burgundy
John & David
David & John from Canada
Chocolate & Wine tasting in Carcassonne
Shelley, Andy, Dianne & Bob
from the US
On the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Heather
From Australia
At her ancestor's gravestone on Northern France
Sonia & Peter
from Canada
in Carcassonne Medieval City
George
Enjoying a wine of glass in the B&B garden near Mont Saint Michel
Cathy & Rich
from the US
Walking Mont Saint Michel Bay
Kathy & Bill
From the US
Biking in Burgundy for a day - near Chateau de la Rochepot
Sue, Steve, Janet & Denis
From the US
Enjoying a relaxing lunch