Wine off the beaten track: our selection of unusual experiences
Today, wine tasting is becoming more democratic and enriched in a thousand ways. It is no longer just about tasting a vintage, but about experiencing a sensory, fun and memorable adventure in the heart of the vineyard. Wine becomes the common thread of a unique journey and experience: tasting yes, but not only that... learning, creating, having fun, sharing, letting yourself be surprised by the unexpected, this is the promise of the few wine tourism experiences that we have selected across the wine-growing regions of the world and which invite you to rediscover the world of wine with curiosity and indulgence.
“Wine gaming”: the wine escape game
You're undoubtedly familiar with escape games, those group escape games that can be summed up as 1 team, 1 escape room, and 1 hour to escape. It wasn't long before the concept was adapted to wine: puzzles and wine tastings are combined, with the key being the release of a locked bottle, which you'll take home if you succeed.
These wine games are available in several cities across France. More information HERE.
Create your own wine
What could be more unique when you appreciate wine than taking an active part in creating a vintage? The "Create Your Own Wine" workshop offered by Les Caves du Louvre is aimed at the œnologist in you. Enjoy a unique, fun, and friendly experience in the historic 800 m² cellars in the heart of Paris. Guided by a sommelier, you will spend two hours learning the ins and outs of winemaking by playing apprentice winemakers. You will discover the aromas and specificities of the grape varieties selected to compose your vintage. A personal creation born from the blending of different juices with unique characteristics that will be unparalleled.
Did you know? At Château la Rose Perrière, we offer blending workshops upon request and reservation, which will reveal the secrets of this crucial step in the creation of our vintages. You will then have the opportunity to create your own vintage from several samples of varietal wines to satisfy your palate. During this fun and educational exercise, you will be accompanied and guided by Bruno, our Operations Manager. You will also leave with a sample of your creation!
The Médoc vineyard marathon
This is one of the unique events that has become a major and unmissable sporting event for marathon runners, wine lovers and tribes of all kinds (friends, family)... the Châteaux du Médoc marathon owes its success largely to its festive and friendly atmosphere and all the entertainment offered alongside the sporting event. Indeed, each new edition competes with "extras" designed to ensure a unique immersion: dinner, fireworks, tastings of the appellation's wines, musical entertainment, ... everything is done to ensure that the pleasure of the sporting challenge continues for 3 days! The approximately 8,500 runners from more than 75 countries compete each year in inventiveness to choose a costume linked to the theme that they will wear during the race, the route of which crosses the prestigious vineyards and châteaux of the Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Haut-Médoc appellations. The next edition, the 39th, will be held on September 6th, 2025, and will have the theme "The Sea!"
The Médoc Marathon is considered one of the most beautiful and convivial in the world, combining sport, gastronomy, music, and celebration over three days. Discover the wines of this world-renowned appellation while taking on a shared challenge!
Price: €100 bib. Several packages (including lunch and/or dinner) are available to extend the celebration.
The rails for guides…
The art of traveling while taking your time, fully immersing yourself in the nature that surrounds us and the richness of local heritage...slow tourism offers a travel experience that often counterbalances a very fast-paced daily life. The craze for this type of tourism has not waned for several years now and with this in mind, means of transport such as the train are attracting more and more travelers. The railway adventure is trendy and at the same time offers the experience of a historic means of transport. So when it is combined with the wine tourism experience, the trip takes on a whole new dimension...
Napa Valley Wine train
Napa Valley, located in California about 100 kilometers north of San Francisco, is one of the most prestigious wine regions in the United States. To showcase it and allow visitors to explore it in unique conditions, the Napa Valley Wine Train was established in 1989 and has become emblematic of the region's wine tourism experience.
Combining railway heritage, fine dining, and spectacular wine country scenery, the train offers tours lasting between 3 and 6 hours to explore the region's famous vineyards. The classic locomotive's steam whistle sounds at the start of the journey, signaling the beginning of an immersive epicurean journey aboard a 1920s Pullman parlor car, inspired by the golden age of luxury rail travel. An unforgettable experience offered year-round with 14 different experiences, hosted on one of the two trains. Napa Valley wine tastings are included.
Prices: from approximately €200 per adult and €100 per child, including the 3-hour journey, welcome cocktail, and lunch on board.
More information: www.winetrain.com
Franschhoek Wine Tram in South Africa
©Franschhoek wine tram
In the Franschhoek Valley, in the Western Cape Province, about fifty kilometers from Cape Town in South Africa, you can take part in a unique experience: traveling through the rolling vineyards aboard a double-decker tram and an open-top tram-bus. The trip includes stops at some of South Africa's oldest and most distinguished wineries. You can enjoy activities such as wine tastings, cellar tours, lunch, or simply a stroll through the vineyards.
The Franschhoek Wine Tram offers five hop-on hop-off routes, offering passengers a variety of wines, landscapes, and experiences. Each route is color-coded (blue, navy, orange, pink, and red) for easy selection and tracking. The tour takes passengers to the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, with a narrative focused on the history of Franschhoek and winemaking in the valley, as well as breathtaking views of the valley and vineyards. In optimal conditions and with an early departure (around 8:45 a.m.), you can consider visiting three to four vineyards in one day.
Price: approximately €15 per adult and €5 per child (ages 3-17).
For more information: https://winetram.co.za/
Wine and Truffles in Provence
Photo ©Canva
Just like wine, if there's one other product considered a treasure in gastronomy, it's the black truffle. Often called "black gold," it's the subject of a dedicated tour in Provence, where you'll discover how the flavors of wine and truffles enhance each other. Imagine a day dedicated to tasting the delights of black truffles in a picturesque Provençal village (Richerenches) renowned for its truffle heritage. You'll begin your epicurean escapade at the traditional Saturday market, where the scent of fresh truffles from vendors fills the air. You can stroll among the stalls selling truffles, cheeses, oils, and charcuterie, as well as local producers and artisans.
The inevitable time will come for a tasting of local wines accompanied by truffle toasts. Sipping an intense red or a lively white, you'll enjoy a memorable culinary experience. The tour will continue at the small Truffle Museum in a Templar castle in the heart of this medieval village.
A traditional and relaxed cocktail lunch with wines and truffle specialties will then be served in a festive atmosphere. To conclude on a high note, you will take part in a truffle hunt led by an experienced local truffle grower and his talented dog, during a walk through his private and secluded truffle orchard.
Price: approximately €180 per person. More information here.
Some notable curiosities
Iced tasting
In Ontario, Canada, while Niagara Falls is a must-see, don't miss a local attraction: the igloo bar at Peller Estates Winery in the neighboring town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Plan a stop to visit this winery and taste their ice wines in an igloo carved from over 13,600 kg of ice and maintained at a frigid -10°C (14°F).
More information: www.peller.com/tours-and-experiences
The bath of youth in Beaujolais Nouveau
While the arrival of the most famous of the primeurs is celebrated every year in France, in Japan, the third Thursday of November is celebrated as the arrival of a great vintage. It should be noted that the Land of the Rising Sun accounts for nearly half of Beaujolais Nouveau exports, and its release is accompanied by a veritable ceremony involving large communal baths...filled with Beaujolais Nouveau! These wine baths are considered veritable baths of youth by the Japanese, who, at midnight, bathe, glass in hand, in tinted water previously enhanced with the new wine. Indeed, the Japanese attribute particularly beneficial properties to the wine for their skin due to the presence of tannins and polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Due to the time difference, 8 hours ahead of France, the Japanese are the very first to taste Beaujolais Nouveau every year, which never fails to reinforce the local enthusiasm surrounding its release. A frenzy you might be part of if you travel to Japan during this time…
A source of inspiration
Wine, in art as in life, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Because wine lovers are often curious travelers, looking for new wine tourism experiences, wineries and vineyards find in the unusual, the unique, and the original ways to surprise them, seduce them, and distinguish their tourist offerings. For your next wine getaways, don't hesitate to look in advance for offers of new wine experiences, often combining traditional discovery with a more original activity to go well beyond a simple tasting or chateau tour. Wineries are generally not short of ideas...you just have to find them! Social networks can be an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
