French Vineyards Welcome UK Tourists

More than 60 family run vineyards in France have opened their doors to tourists through a new UK website. Holidaymakers can take a virtual tour of the vineyards before they leave home and choose from more than 120 wine appellations from Anjou to Valançay.

Burgundy has been added to lists from Champagne, the Loire and Bordeaux doubling the website's choice of wines. Said founder David Spokes: "Our Burgundy listings include a Clos de Vougeot, one of the most famous vineyards in the Côte de Nuits. The owner's family can be traced back to the 15^th Century and his wine is rated as 'exceptional'."

Other Burgundy producers include a vineyard which once supplied Czar Nicolas of Russia and a vineyard in the Côte de Beaune with a history that can be traced back to 1783. Today, their wines are listed by some the finest restaurants in France and throughout the world.

Wine lovers who call the vineyard before they arrive will be met by the owners, invited to taste and learn about the history of the wines. The website, winedrive.com, also gives up-to-date news of road works and delays plus routes from the Channel ports to the wine regions, tourist information and on-line ferry booking.

Added Spokes: "We aim to provide access to wines which offer more than just good taste and value. WineDrive takes you to vineyards with a history which sets the wine apart from anything you might find on the High Street back home."

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