Wines and spirits France

Christophe Andiné is a sommelier. In 1997, he decided to create his own cellar. Today, it offers more than four hundred references of wines, spirits, champagne and aperitif wines. On Friday evening, he invites those who wish to discover the samples received in the week. On Saturday, he selects a cru to make him discover his clientele. Christophe offers neither grocery products nor crockery, he is a «pure bazaar» and ensures that his cellar is turned to all wine regions in France and the world.

Jean-Luc and Guy Deyres are at the head of this family estate founded in the 1950s and have been producing vintage armagnac since 1973 and white brandy from the folle blanche grape. For the armagnacs, there are 4 different grape varieties on 5 hectares of vines: ugni blanc, folle blanche, colombard and baco. The estate distills with a Sier still dating from 1901, in continuous with single heating. The vintage armagnacs are bottled as and when they are sold. Visits are possible to the estate, the wine-making cellar and the ageing cellar.

Jean-Marie Bechtold is at the head of this 12-hectare farm, which has been certified organic since 2010. Part of his parcels are cultivated in the Grand Cru Engelberg, a rare terroir of oolitic limestone. A disused quarry that cuts through the hillside provides a glimpse: over a depth of 30 meters, the geological strata constitute an exceptional terroir. If the Rieslings coming from the Grand Cru Engelberg are famous, another terroir is interesting: the place called Obere Hund, very favorable to excellent Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Since 1888, this family business has been transforming fruit into drinks and bottling them. It diversified its range in 1953 by creating fruit juices. Today, more than forty products are offered: pure juices (apple, grape, pear, apple-mango, apple-quince...), organic juices (organic tomato, beet, blueberry...), based on concentrate, nectars, syrups and cider with fruits coming from Alsace, processed on the spot and sold in the store. You can drop off apples and leave with juice and cider, at a preferential rate.

In this house created in 1900, the art of master craftsmen distillers has been passed down from generation to generation since the beginning. The representative of the fourth generation, Henri-Pierre Girardot, will share with you his passion for his profession and will make you discover the house products, including the Golden Strawberry, registered in the inventory of the culinary wealth of the Centre region. The fruits used are rigorously selected, most of them come from the region in order to guarantee the quality of the finished product. You will find on the site ideas for cocktails.

In the Roy family, wine is a passion that is passed on from generation to generation. Anne-Cécile has taken up the torch lit by her great-grandfather. She continues the action of her father who, already 50 years ago, wanted to produce his wines in the most natural way possible. This will is found from the mechanical weeding to the manual harvest and of course in all the stages of the wine making, which gives wines of soil, far from standardization. The domain and the cellar can be visited and an area is available for camping-cars.

.

After admiring a unique view of the Cher river, set off to discover a remarkable site at the heart of one of Touraine's largest tuffeau cellars. Then enter the fantastic world of the Cave aux Lumières, where the walls are adorned with a myriad of breathtaking works of art, offering a never-before-seen vision of the great châteaux of the Loire and their architecture. New artists are invited into the cellars every year. At the end of your visit, the fine bubbly wines for which the Monmousseau cellars are renowned will no longer hold any secrets for you.

The origins of the estate date back to 1735, and the cultivation of vines to 1900. Visits and tastings are organized in a typical troglodytic cellar. The estate is acclaimed and praised by enlightened wine lovers. Try the gris, a mineral wine very particular to the region... Since 2000, Valérie and Patrice Colin, independent winegrowers, have been committed to sustainable agriculture and have obtained the Organic Agriculture label. They work their vines to bring out the best in their exceptional terroir.

The estate is located in the Touraine-Mesland appellation and enjoys a privileged south-facing position. Christine and Gilles Chelin, two lovers of the vine, welcome you to their estate to share their passion while tasting their wines. A tour of their estate is available by appointment, during which they will show you the different stages in the making of their wines, as well as their vines, which are their pride and joy.

This estate has been in the same family for four generations and practices a culture that respects tradition and the environment. It produces fresh and easy to drink wines with a beautiful minerality typical of this terroir. For aperitifs or desserts, you can choose the traditional method "Plaisir du Musa" in white made with Chardonnay or the rosé made with Pinot Noir and Côt: Volupté du Musa, but also for this sweet white Sauvignon which also accompanies foie gras and fruit desserts.

Jean Carmet's family home, a 15th century building, has been home to the Maison des Vins for more than 20 years. You will be able to discover the different vineyards and estates of Bourgueil or taste a dozen wines. Not to mention more than a hundred vintages sold at the estate price. You can also learn about the terroirs of the appellation and the secrets behind the vintages. All summer long, the Maison des Vins proposes in its Espace Jean Carmet an exhibition dedicated to the actor.

The roots of the Braun family go back to 1583. In 1978, Camille Braun passed on the torch to her son Christophe who cultivates the family estate in an ecological, organic and biodynamic way (certified Bio and Demeter since 2005). The vines are grown on various terroirs: the Grand Cru Pfingstberg and the Grand Cru Kaefferkopf as well as on the Bollenberg hill, the Lippelsberg, the Buchrod and around Uffholtz. The family has set up 2 rural gîtes at the foot of the Bollenberg.

The history of the Humbrecht family dates back to around 1620. Established in Pfaffenheim since 1900, they work the vines according to the rules of organic and biodynamic agriculture. They plough with draught horses and use sheep. They also encourage the spread of flowers and plants for pollinators, and install nesting boxes for birds. The Paul Humbrecht estate produces exceptional wines, depending on the vintage, as well as liqueurs and eaux-de-vie that combine quality with very competitive prices.

Although its origins date back to 1795, Domaine Kuentz-Bas has existed under this name since the ^19th century. Ecocert and Demeter certified, its wines are available in 3 ranges: La^4e Tour, Vendanges Tardives and Collection Trois Châteaux dedicated to biodynamic wines (Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris Grand Cru Eichberg, Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Pfersigberg...). We love the gourmet Muscat Trois Châteaux Ottonel 2018 and the cuvée Signature 2019 (pinot blanc, auxerrois, pinot gris, muscat). Discover also the peaty AWA whisky, Single Malt, Coeur de Fût, aged in Pinot Gris casks.

HVE-certified, this family-run estate is run by Julien and Aurélie, who are deeply committed to preserving first-rate winemaking traditions. To discover during your visit: Riesling Gand Cru Schoenenbourg 2017 (rated 93/100 by Swedish sommelier Andreas Larsson), Pinot Gris Grand Cru Mandelberg 2019 (2* Hachette des Vins), Crémant d'Alsace Rosé (1* Hachette des Vins). Aurélie and Julien welcome you to their Gîte du Vigneron, a comfortable apartment for 2-6 people.

Jean-Yves Vapillon remains the only independent winegrower in Rouget de Lisle. His vineyards are in fact spread over three localities. His father was a winegrower in the Beaujolais. Starting with 50 ares in 1994, his estate now has 7 hectares, where the Chardonnay grape is at its best. The wines grow in the depths of the cellars of an imposing winegrower's house. Since 1995, the vines have been cultivated in the most traditional way: cultivated soil, manual harvesting, control of yields.

Michel Rocourt runs a 6-hectare Chardonnay vineyard exclusively in the Mesnil-sur-Oger and Vertus areas. A tour of the winery provides a wealth of information on traditional winemaking techniques, the contemporary cellar, the stainless steel vats and the pneumatic press. Visitors then have the chance to taste wines from the range. Special mention should be made of the "Grand Vintage", a beautifully mature wine. Don't hesitate to visit during the harvest, a magical time to get a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process!

Champagne Vincent d'Astrée is easily found with an entrance framed by two colossal statues: they represent the famous Dom Pérignon and the monk Jean Oudart (his oenologist). The house was created in 1956 and now has more than 240 families on 85 hectares of classified^1er Cru vineyards. In the great Champagne tradition, it produces a fruity champagne composed of 50% pinot meunier, 25% pinot noir and 25% chardonnay in a range of 8 cuvées.

Founded in 1879, the company initially supplied its grapes to leading champagne brands, before starting to produce its own wines in 1979. Each year, 100 tons of grapes are crushed in the traditional press, which can be admired on a tour, before moving on to the cuverie and the cellars. You can even take a tour of the vineyards planted around the Maison. The wines of the Maison are festive, joyful and convivial. Enjoy them in summer with your feet in the water, or on a cold winter's night to warm your heart.

For 5 generations, this close-knit family has handed down precious know-how, which they'll be delighted to share with you during a memorable visit. HVE-certified, the estate is part of a strong eco-responsible approach. Today, Jean-Marc and Marie-Pierre make no fewer than 14 wines, all of them round and fresh, with some very old vintages. Their favorite is the Cuvée Comte de Chenizot. Blended with 3 grape varieties and dosed in extra-brut, it will magnify your bistronomic meals and mature cheese platters.

Discover the world's largest champagne cellars, with 28 km of galleries carved out of the white chalk! The masterly guided tour takes you on a journey through the history of this house, founded in 1743 by Claude Moët, which today cultivates almost 800 ha of vineyards run by 250 winegrowers. Moët Impérial, Rosé Impérial, Grand Vintage white and rosé, Ice Impérial white and rosé in summer - here's a brief overview of the house's wide range of crus, which express all the nuances of the Champagne terroir, to be tasted at the end of the tour.

It was the Viscount de Castellane who created the red emblem that has adorned the labels of this champagne from the outset: the cross of Saint-André. To discover the treasures hidden in the cellars, you'll have to climb down the 237 steps of the nine levels of this listed monument. The estate is also home to the Musée de la Tradition Champenoise, where scenes depict the various stages in the making of Champagne wine. The Millésimé, with its lovely yellow highlights, is a particular favorite. This elegant wine, with its notes of vine peach, will delight true connoisseurs.

We like the warm welcome, the old press and the beautiful vaulted cellars that we find here. Unavoidable, the Horiot champagne deserves a visit for its cuvées: the special Cuvée Jean-Baptiste, a blend of mostly chardonnay and pinot noir, with its beautiful golden yellow color; its Champagne Brut Rosé, elaborated by maceration in wooden vats, with a dark color compared to a blended rosé (white+red mixed), a pretty raspberry color.

Pascal, Pierre and Aurélien Gerbais manage 14 hectares of vineyards, mainly planted with pinot noir and chardonnay, but also with meunier and a "forgotten" grape variety: pinot blanc vrai. The vines produce a fine range of Champagnes, all of which are made here in the family press: Réserve, Rosé, L'Audace, Rosé de Saignée, Coteaux Champenois Rouge, Prestige and the jewel in the crown, "l'Originale", a 100% pinot blanc Champagne, an extremely rare and astonishing wine to pack in your suitcases and impress your guests!

We arrive here in a very beautiful stone house with a square tower and vaulted cellars dating from the 17th century. It is Vincent Bartnicky who will make you discover his House and his wines. At his place, the bottles are still stirred by hand, an operation that precedes the disgorging phase. You will find 100% pinot noir champagnes or pinot/chardonnay blends. We especially like the cuvée Elegarose and the cuvée Fût de chêne, original and convivial wines.

The three musketeers who make up the team of the Cave du Faubourg make people love the dive bottle like no other. They talk about wines as fine connoisseurs, borrowing from the language of the winemakers. Their cellar is supplied with more than 400 references all year long, from the most beautiful regions of France and even from abroad. There is no doubt about it: you can see the passion for teaching, an obvious joy of sharing, which you can find during tastings or initiations. Here is a beautiful place of communion. Free parking on site.

Along with the Rue du Siphon address, Caves Baumann is the anchor point for many Mulhousians with a passion for fine wines. In the center of town, you'll find the store where you'll be served with a great deal of thoughtfulness and advice. You'll find everything, or almost everything, from small table wines to precious bottles offering excellent value for money. And then there's the online sales site, with its extensive range of products. And last but not least, don't forget the Strasbourg address of Caves Baumann, run by the sparkling Julie!

A wine merchant from generation to generation, Guy Marcon in turn passes on his know-how and secrets to his children. Very professional, they are not stingy with their knowledge - and they have a lot of it. The region's restaurateurs call on them to study their wine list as fervent defenders of the wines of the Languedoc and the Rhone Valley, associating typical and original wines with the various dishes of these establishments. Don't hesitate to go down to the tasting cellar, which is very convivial and houses some great wines.

This winery has been rewarded for its quality policy, from the choice of grape variety right through to bottling. Sustainable management, controlled yields, terroir selection and judicious blending produce quality wines with excellent value for money. For example, Roca Fortis, a regional Côtes du Rhône Villages made from a plot selection dominated by Syrah, is an unfiltered cuvée aged for two years in oak barrels. Festive evenings not to be missed!

Belonging to the Bienvenue à la ferme network, Annick and Gilles Pons welcome visitors to their property. The 13-hectare property produces a Haut-Agenais wine, red or rosé, from noble grape varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet. And so that the visit can be enjoyed by the whole family, Annick and Gilles have also thought of children: the "Ludivigne" circuit is a fun discovery tour through the vineyard, where parents can accompany their children.

Edmond Guillet founded the Kerisac cider factory in 1920. It has been a family business for four generations. The spirit of the company is to preserve the traditional aspect of cider while rejuvenating the tastes. The Guillet brothers are among the pioneers of the cider revival in Brittany. Here they produce IGP Bretagne ciders (regularly awarded at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris), brut, demi-sec and sweet ciders. Among the house's must-haves, you will find "Le Kerisac de glace", a fruity and refined sweet aperitif, or the rosé cider.

Initially a mixed farming operation in 1963, the estate gradually devoted itself solely to viticulture. 26 hectares of vines in AOC Chinon, planted with Chenin for the white grape variety, and Cabernet Franc, also known as "Breton" for the red grape variety. Elodie and Eric Herault and their son currently produce 8 different wines including red, rosé, sparkling, white and an old vine. A limited quantity cuvée is up for grabs! The family's welcome is always friendly and personal, and you will taste wines produced with passion.

A rarity in Champagne, this beautiful House was founded ex nihilo by a young entrepreneurial couple with a passion for the world of wine. Through the names of their cuvées, Pauline and Guillaume revisit major themes (man, action, time and mutual aid) and invite you to set out to conquer your destiny. Our favorite is Kosmos, a delicate, floral 100% Chardonnay. The duo also founded the Bonvalet distillery, based on the principle of a circular economy. You can also spend the night in their home! A must-see!

Founded in the ^mid-19th century, Distillerie Génestine will rise from the ashes in 2021 thanks to Sébastien Jolivet. Its flagship product is a reinterpretation of the liqueur Le Gaulois. Now an Italian-style vintage vermouth in the ^21st century, it is accompanied by a new range of spirits: a jet 31 with organic peppermint, a limoncello with the taste of lemon leaves, a pastis with gentian, not forgetting 1845 Elixir, made from 80 plants and spices. The bottles proudly bear the figure of Vercingétorix, as imagined by Auguste Bartholdi.

Entering the lair of the Cabanel house is to discover the Carcassonne of the 19th century with, in its courtyard, the superb ironwork marquee designed in 1868 in the Eiffel style. A historical place not to be missed, the place has inherited the secrets of the famous Micheline, a recipe dating back to the 4th century, and of the Or-Kina, a plant-based aperitif. It also produces a pastis 100% Carcassonne and the famous "Crème de Menthe" and "Crème de Citron".

The thousand-year-old Gassac vineyard, near the abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, is a jewel of the Languedoc region. Just 3 km from Aniane, this winery offers a tour of a Gallo-Roman cellar in the heart of the garrigue. Discover a wide selection of wines, including the renowned Mas de Daumas Gassac red and white, as well as Laurence's wine, a nectar of love and liqueur, and rosé frisant for aperitifs or desserts. In summer, the estate hosts winegrower walks and the "Jazz under the Stars" festival for magical moments.

Here you can find irancy and palotte palotte, a more careful, robust and powerful wine. These wines are not filtered during bottling. You can also buy rosé burgundy. Nice welcome.

Tables and high stools; in the center, a large wine barrel and a collection of labels on the ceiling. Here, the Mercier brothers offer wines gleaned from the French vineyards. Trained as sommeliers, they have been offering their favorites for the past thirty years, favoring biodynamic wines. So, won over by their own pleasure and knowledge, we discover unknown vintages and marvelous vineyards, to leave sometimes with a few bottles bought at the Cordonnerie across the street. A wine shop as we like them, friendly and authentic.

Located on Place Jean Jaurès, this store offers a wide selection of wines, champagnes and spirits. Customers can buy in-store, collect their purchases or have them delivered. However, it is advisable to check opening times, as they are subject to change. Nicolas also offers a range of gifts, fine wines, beers and spirits. Customers can also benefit from a privilege card offering gifts, exclusive discounts and invitations to special events.

Ardoneo is a wine cellar. It specializes in the online sale of organic and natural wines, offering one of the widest ranges on the market. Since 2008, Ardoneo has been selecting France's finest organic wines from all the country's wine-growing regions. The winegrowers chosen practice biodynamic, organic or integrated viticulture, limiting the use of chemicals to protect the environment and health. Some wines are certified by Organic Agriculture labels. For lovers of organic and natural wines, Ardoneo is the place to go.

Covering 16 hectares, the Cantin estate works with respect for nature and tradition. The harvest is done by hand, guaranteeing quality and richness of aromas. Their wines, Bourgogne Passetoutgrain, Bourgogne rosé and Irancy are found on the best tables. With the variety that can be had in Irancy: indeed, the recognized parcels are named on the label as the famous Palotte or the Grande Côte. Note also that the domain has a very nice gîte (the Jacques Germain Soufflot) with 6 rooms.

In the heart of this charming village, surrounded by immense natural rock ramparts, the winery has been home to around a hundred passionate winegrowers since 1939. Combining cutting-edge techniques, traditional know-how, respect for the environment and appreciation of the terroir, this winery produces prestigious vintages: AOP Languedoc, AOP Pic-Saint-Loup and IGP Pays d'Oc, both organically grown and sustainable. Regional products corner: olive oils, honeys, Cartagène..

On the road to Clairette de Die, you must visit the cellars of Barsac, the stronghold of independent winegrowers. The Maillefaud cellar is run by Jean-Denis and Nicolas Maillefaud, who have been running an estate for five generations and are a good example of the winegrowers of the Diois who are proud of their land. They perpetuate their know-how with passion, and show us around their estate and taste their wines, which regularly win awards at the highest level. A friendly address where the grape-pickers form a beautiful, loyal and cosmopolitan team.

Domaine Duvernay in Mercurey is particularly welcoming, with its glass-enclosed boutique cellar overlooking the vines. It's also a young domaine, founded in 1970 by Jean Duvernay, the grandfather who dug his cellar in the stone at the foot of his house. Today, it's his son Jean-Luc and granddaughter Floriane who share the work. The domaine cultivates 20 ha of vines in the Coteaux bourguignons, Crémant, Aligoté, Mercurey white and red appellations, including the flagship Mercurey rouge^1er Cru Le Clos l'Évêque.

Located on the highest point of the Alsatian vineyard, for 16 years Hervé Lichtlé has proudly embodied the 4th generation of a family of proud winegrowers. Its vineyard has plots of land planted with Eichberg and Pfersigberg grands crus. It also offers its Personal Reserve, Late Harvest and Noble Grains Selections. Here is something to understand the differences of the terroirs in full knowledge of the facts. Hervé Lichtlé opens the doors of his estate and tasting cellar to you every day (by appointment).

Set on gently sloping hillsides, this 50-hectare estate with its maritime influences is a marvel of its kind! Until 1781, the sublime château was called Ancely. After that, it took the name of "Nerly" and finally became "la Négly" in 1807. Nowadays, Jean Paux-Rosset and his family take care of the beautiful development of this vineyard. His cellar will welcome you for an unforgettable tasting with a background of wine stories. The estate expanded in 2006 with the purchase of the neighbouring estate of La Boède and offers a range of sustainable wines.

The Union des vignerons des coteaux de l'Ardèche, known under the brand name Vignerons Ardéchois, groups together 1,500 winegrowers at 14 wineries, covering a total of 7,500 ha. A wide range of grape varieties flourish on this varied terroir, giving Vignerons Ardéchois wines their richness and distinctive character. The cellar adjoins Néovinum, a museum space dedicated to this terroir and the work of the men who make it flourish. On the second Sunday in August, there's the much-anticipated Fête des Vignerons. See the website for ideas for walks through the vineyards!