Best of · WINE AND CHOCOLATE TOURS IN FRANCE
Every trip has one free day too few. These 10 wine and chocolate tours in France justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
At Champagne Dom Caudron in Passy-Grigny, you’ll tour a working Champagne house in English or French, from the first village press to the modern vat house. A guide such as Clémentine or Fanny explains the process, then pairs three Champagnes with three chocolates. Allow 90 minutes, and plan your transport carefully.
“So informative really enjoyed our time there and our guide was fab.”
At Château Cruzeau, Jessica or another Luquot family guide leads you through the vineyard, vat room, and barrel cellar. You’ll learn how soil and farming shape the wine, then taste three estate reds with three dark chocolates from Les Chocolats de Sophie. The 75-minute visit is offered in English or French and is wheelchair accessible.
“Madame taught me more about wine and winemaking in 90 minutes than I learned in my entire life (and I’m old!). She was flexible about speaking French or English when I wanted to be certain I didn’t miss anything with my far from perfect French. On a separate note, if you take the train from Bordeaux, ignore google maps when you step off the train! Just after the parking lot is the stop for the number 4 bus that takes you steps away from the chateau and winery. The bus is free! I had a wonderful experience!”
Meet winemaker Jean-Claude at Domaine Vents du Sud in Vingrau for a 90-minute tasting of 6 to 8 natural white, rosé, red, and sweet wines. He explains the wines and grapes in English, with charcuterie, cheese, and chocolate pairings. This private experience includes free parking and returns to the meeting point.
“We had no idea what to expect and we were pleasantly surprised. Our host was knowledgeable and enjoyed sharing his product. We tasted six/seven wines which were described and paired with various cheeses, meats and chocolates. Our questions were answered. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and would recommend this tasting experience.”
Spend about two hours exploring Beaujolais wine through three tastings matched with original chocolates. Inès and Anaïs lead the session in English, introducing the northern vineyards near Mont Brouilly and the golden-stone villages south of the region. The small group, adult-only format suits curious food and wine lovers, but private transport is not included.
At Champagne Dom Caudron in Passy-Grigny, a French-speaking guide takes you from an early village press to the modern vat house, explaining grapes, production, and the story of Aimé Caudron. The 45-minute visit ends with three champagnes paired with three chocolates. Bring a jacket for the 12°C winery.
“Very nice tour with very clear explanations. Thank you.”
Meet at Boutique Clotilde Davenne for a 45-minute tasting led in French or English. You will sample Chablis and Grand Auxerrois wines with chocolates made for the estate, including Irancy Pinot Noir et César, Côtes d’Auxerre Pinot Noir, and Crémant de Bourgogne. Groups are limited to six adults.
Meet at 3 Rue Racine for a private two-hour tasting led by an expert host such as Myriame. You will sample four French wines, including a sweet and sparkling wine, taste two chocolates, and learn how to pair them in an intimate restaurant setting.
“The host taught us how to savor the true flavor of wine. She explained how to swirl the wine to understand each wine's depth, and body as it slowly falls down the glass, how to see the wine's "legs," and how to release each wine's aroma. I wRead more”
At Château Palais Cardinal, a guide in French, English, or Arabic leads you through the vines, vats, and cellars before serving three estate wines with three chocolate spheres filled with wine. Choose the 360-degree tower or candlelit old cellar for the tasting. Max has guided visitors through the wines with care.
At Cave Pierre et Bertrand Couly, you’ll taste seven Chinon wines alongside seven chocolates made by a local chocolatier-roaster. A booklet helps you record each pairing, while staff remain available in French or English. Groups of four or more receive commentary, and you can add a walk on the vineyard trail around the cellar.
Meet at Polidor in Paris’s Latin Quarter for a two-hour private tasting of four wines and two chocolates. Your English, French, or Spanish-speaking guide explains French wine regions, tasting basics, and pairing ideas beyond sweet wine. Guide Luis Zarate is noted for clear, lively teaching and a relaxed style.
“I booked the wine and chocolate tasting as a gift for my wife's birthday and she was very happy with it. Much of the credit goes to our fabulous guide Luis Zarate. The selection of wineries and wines tasted reflected not only diversity but also careful selection. The guide was not only convincing with informative background knowledge about each wine but also in a simple and didactic way he explained the different wine regions in France and we learned about the art of pairing wine with chocolate. It was simply sublime! The tasting was not only about smells, tastes and aromas, but also about the scientific aspect of wine. My…”
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