Thank you for you response. I'm a level 2 wset simmelier and niw I'm doing cms level 1 and 2 by the end of the year. That's is one the reason I'm going to france to experience the meca first hand. Whit that in mind and the time i have any recommendation of must do towns in the regions we discussed. Thank you very much.
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
There are many towns of interest in the principal wine regions of France. Often, though, the cellars in many regions are located in small villages in close proximity to the vineyards. That means a truly informative tour of these areas will involve many stops to taste with the growers, typically from barrel. I think you will need to decide, first, if you want a balance of sightseeing and wine-related touring, or just want to use this trip as a means to enhance your wine knowledge. If you do wish to walk around the larger towns, I would suggest a very short list of Reims and/or Epernay in Champagne, where you can also visit many of the larger producers; Strasbourg and/or Colmar in Alsace; Beaune in Burgundy, again where some larger companies have cellars; the city of Bordeaux, notably the old center; and many smaller towns in the Loire Valley such as Chinon. As a tourist, don't miss some of the amazing Loire châteaux such as Villandry, Chenonceau, Chambord, Azay-le-Rideau and many more! I think you can sense that careful planning will be needed as you can't see everything in a couple of weeks. Making appointments in advance will be helpful (or mandatory) as few small growers with an international reputation are open for walk-ins. But do research online for those regions you decide to target. There is a great deal of information at your fingertips. Hope you enjoy yourself!
