Dates

Wed April 14th - Sun April 18th

Thurs May 20th - Mon May 24th
('Malbec Days')

Mon. June 28th - Fri. July 2nd

Mon. Sept. 27th - Fri. Oct. 1st

Malbec Discovery Tour - Cahors AOC Lot Valley

Price: £795/899€

Lot Cycling Holidays is also offering a wine tour of the wonderful AOC Cahors vineyards in SW France. This 5 day/4 night short break is fully escorted and transport is by minibus - not bicycle! All meals are included in the price - you just have to get here and enjoy it all!

Hailed by wine critics as the 'latest trend', the 'black wine' of Cahors is in fact one of the oldest of French wines, having been first introduced by Roman Emperors more than 2000 years ago. In the late 19th century the Malbec grape vines were virtually wiped out by the phylloxera disease - from a couple that were saved and nurtured the vineyards eventually thrived and gradually re-established the reputation of this strong, dark and rich red wine.

There are over 200 domaines but still only 4,000 hectares laid to vine in the area permitted by AOC standards, which makes Cahors a comparatively rare French wine and is probably why it’s so difficult to find. The quality however is without doubt the very highest. It still graces the finest restaurant tables and dining rooms in the world, but it’s comparatively inexpensive – at the moment – so now is the time to invest in some!

Come and enjoy a 5 day/4 night wine tour break with us. We'll plan and take care of everything for you. You just get to relax and experience a few days enjoying the beautiful Cahors vineyards, eating fabulous food, drinking fantastic wine and staying in a lovely location!

For more details of our wine tour please visit our dedicated site www.winetoursfrance.net/

Itinerary listed below:

Customer reviews

Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome

Arrive at either Bergerac airport or Gourdon rail station and we'll meet you and drive you to beautiful Mas de Flory, where you will stay for your break. Settle into your spacious and airy room (with smart ensuite shower room), then relax and enjoy a glass of bubbly on the terrace while you meet your fellow wine-tasting guests. Later you'll all share a long, lazy, delicious 4-course dinner accompanied by a selection of wonderful Cahors 'black wine'.

Day 2
Wine expert introduction to Cahors AOC wine.

After a substantial breakfast we'll drive you to the Lot Valley for your first day of touring a range of vineyards and visiting wine chateaux for tastings. Our first stop will be to meet an English-speaking Cahors wine expert who will introduce you to the complexities of this noble wine and talk you through a tasting session. We'll then have lunch in a great restaurant set in a beautifully restored 19th century house near the Lot river. After lunch we'll visit a domaine away from the valley floor where the environment provides perfect conditions for producing the finest Cahors wine. Next we'll drive to the higher ground of the limestone causse to visit beautiful Chateau Chambert (pictured above right). They use biodynamic methods to produce their wine and it is certainly some of the finest Cahors wine you will taste. After a degustation and a walk in the grounds we'll return to Mas de Flory for dinner.

Day 3
Prayssac market & La Recreation.

Today we'll drive you though lovely countryside to the lively and bustling Prayssac market to pick up some fresh provisions for a picnic lunch at a beautiful spot overlooking the vines. We'll visit chateaux around Puy l'Eveque and Vire sur Lot which produce some of the best, award winning wines and have tastings and a tour of the vineyards and cave. You'll also have time to meander the vineyards and, on the late September tour, see the vines heavy with their ripe, deep purple Malbec grapes, almost ready for harvesting - or, depending on conditions, possibly even la recolte - the gathering of the grapes. Later, you'll take your evening meal at the renowned restaurant La Recreation in Les Arques, made famous through the book by Michael Sanders, 'From Here You Can't See Paris'.

Day 4
Caix & Douelle

Today begins with a drive along the spectacular Cevenne de Caix which overlooks the winding River Lot and its bordering patchwork of vineyards below. After another tasting at one of our favourite family-run domaines, we'll take lunch in a rustic auberge by the river followed by a further visit and tasting in the afternoon. You'll enjoy a final delicious home-cooked 4-course meal at Mas de Flory this evening.

Day 5
Departure day

Departure day and after a leisurely breakfast we’ll take you to Gourdon rail station or Bergerac airport to meet your homeward connection. We wish you bonne route and hope you enjoyed your stay - a bientot! Please note that this is the planned itinerary but may be subject to minor changes.