Budget wine trips in France Ⅲ

By Jonathan Ray 2011-4-24 22:21:59

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Vintage finds … explore France through its fine wines. Photograph: Getty Images

Les Calanques, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Go hiking on Les Calanques, the limestone cliffs with jaw-dropping views that run along the Mediterranean coast between Marseille and Cassis. Scramble down to an isolated cove for a gentle swim and a languorous picnic. Be sure to pack some bottles of Provence's hidden vinous gems in your basket, such as Cassis, Bandol, Palette and Bellet. Cassis itself is a delight, a bustling fishing port with dozens of restaurants, each attempting to outdo the other with their pistou soup and bouillabaisse. Enjoy them with Cassis wine (of which there are only 14 producers), a heady blend of marsanne, clairette and ugni blanc, and not to be confused with the blackcurrant crème de cassis.

Corsica

Corsica beach

Corsica might seem a bit off-piste but the wines are increasingly fine (and remain excellent value) and the island itself is a bewitching spot with snow-capped mountains, rugged granite hills, flower-strewn meadows and pristine sandy beaches. Head for the hills around Sartène and seek out the delicate local rosés. Or stop at roadside taverns to scoff wild boar salami and figatellu (liver sausage made from the local Corsican black pig), washed down with aromatic, herb-tinged reds made from the strange-sounding nielluccio and sciaccarellu grapes. And if you make it to Cap Corse in the far north, seek out the luscious, lip-smacking dessert muscats, long thought to be the island's crowning glory. Producers to look out for include Domaine Saparale (saparale.com), Domaine Torraccia and Domaine Pieretti (vinpieretti.com).

Montreuil-sur-Mer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Being in northern France, Montreuil-sur-Mer isn't in wine country at all. It is, though, home to the French outpost of the Wine Society (01438 741177, winesociety.com) and, as such, well worth a visit. Close to both Calais and Boulogne, it is easily accessible from the UK and ideal for a day trip. You can save a minimum £18 a case by buying from here rather than the Wine Society's shop in Stevenage, and with over 200 wines to choose from there's no shortage of choice. A return on Eurotunnel (08443 353535, eurotunnel.com), plus petrol, plus lunch for two, comes to around £90; the saving on buying five cases of wine is £90. Enjoy a day for free in France!

From The Guardian