Toast the grape harvest in France at one of these wine hotels
This year’s grape harvest in France is well under way. Take it all in with a stay at one of these fabulous wine estate hotels
France’s renowned wine producers have begun their iconic grape harvest with vineyards bursting with activity and an exuberant atmosphere.
Sunny autumnal days, coupled with wine tastings and tours and a bed at a beautiful boutique hotel among the vines makes for an experience to remember. Here is our pick of some special places to stay in France during harvest season.
Domaine de Verchant, Hérault
For those looking to enjoy harvest season from the comfort of their sun lounger, Domaine de Verchant, just 10 minutes from Montpellier, is ideal with its stunning restaurant, swimming pool and recently-opened private sandy beach, authentic rustic beach bar and sumptuous outdoor lounge area overlooking the vines. The 16th-century old stone château is surrounded by a 13-hectare vineyard and houses 26 bedrooms and suites all stylishly furnished in contemporary Italian fabrics by designer Raymond Morel. Fine-dining restaurant Verchant offers an array of plates inspired by the abundance of local produce, while La Plage restaurant offers small dishes from the tapas menu and an extensive à la carte menu.
Alongside this is a luxurious spa, sauna, Jacuzzi, private hammam and indoor hydrotherapy pool. Deluxe rooms at start from €288 a night in September.
Château de Bachen, Landes
Château de Bachen, home to famed three-Michelin star chef Michel Guérard and his family, produces some of the finest merlot, cabernet and chardonnay grapes on its 25-hectare vineyard. Its beautiful winery will open its doors to the public on 14 and 15 September for tours.
The vineyard is situated a stone’s throw away from renowned culinary and spa estate Les Pres d’Eugenie, also owned by the family, in the pretty spa village of Eugénie-les-Bains.
The property features guest rooms with grand fireplaces, antique furniture and white marble baths, three restaurants including Michel Guérard’s three-Michelin star gourmet restaurant and an internationally-renowned spa La Ferme Thermale.
Classic rooms start from €234 a night in September 2019.
Château de Mercuès, Lot
The 13th-century Château de Mercuès is a stunning wine-estate hotel overlooking the Lot Valley, where visitors can experience the entire winemaking process during the harvest of the region’s famed deep red Cahors wine.
Guests can tour the vineyard, take part in workshops and visit the majestic underground cellar, in the style of a Romano-Byzantine cathedral, to taste the malbec wine.
Visitors will stay in the picturesque medieval castle that features 30 bedrooms and suites, a Michelin star restaurant Le Duèze by chef Julien Poisot offering plates that feature local delights including black Lalbenque truffles and leisure facilities including a swimming pool, all accompanied by sweeping views over the Cahors vineyard.
Classic rooms start from €234 a night in September 2019.
Château Cordeillan-Bages, Gironde
An idyllic wine and gourmet retreat in the village of Bages, near Bordeaux, this former 19th-century chartreuse (country house) is the only Relais & Chateaux hotel in the Médoc region featuring 28 bedrooms and a gourmet restaurant overseen by executive chef Julien Lefebvre who secured a Michelin star for the restaurant in 2018.
From the residential-style lounge and terrace that sits on the edge of the vineyard to the 25-metre heated outdoor pool, the sauna and bedrooms, the décor is refined and calm, infusing the modern and classic.
The property can arrange wine tasting classes at Château Ormes de Pez in Saint-Estèphe, where visitors will discover the art of blending, food and wine pairings and taste wines from the different appellations of the Médoc.
From the Bages’ Box picnic lunch to carry away, to its anniversary menu Cordeillan-Bages 1989, guests can enjoy well-picked local produce including langoustine, quail, Gascon pork, ray wing and Noisettines du Médoc.
For each one-night stay with breakfast, enjoy a second night at 50% during autumn. Price starting at €244, for the first night, in a double room.
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