EUROPE in 12 top winery visits

If you’re clever about it, you can have some amazing holiday winery experiences, and keep your non-wine-loving partner happy too. These estates really do offer something for everyone

- CHRIS LOSH

After two years of sofa tourism, European travel is finally back on the agenda this summer. This, clearly, is great news. And even allowing for some of the winery-related activities that didn’t make it through the pandemic, wine lovers are still spoiled for choice; all but the most introverted wineries offer tastings – and often tours too.

In fact, the problem is not what’s on offer – it’s what (and how much) you can convince your travelling companion(s) to take part in. After all, strange as it may seem, not everyone likes to spend sunny afternoons standing around in a barrel cellar.

This article picks out a dozen of the best visits that offer so much more than just wine, ensuring everyone goes home happy. Booking in advance is essential in most cases.

FRANCE

Champagne Pommery, Champagne 

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Domaine Pommery’s huge estate is close to the centre of the cathedral city of Reims. At 30 minutes’ walk from the train station, this is a visit you could do on a day-trip from Paris (45 minutes by train).

Lots of the grandes marques in Champagne have impressive visitor experiences (Taittinger just down the road is very good, for instance: