Wine tasting and other activities

Wine tasting

Domaine Bois de la Gineste is situated in the middle of the wine district Appellation Saint Chinian Controle (Saint Chinian AOC). Domaine Bois de la Gineste is literally surrounded by Saint Chinian winefields.

AOC Saint Chinian is part of the Languedoc-Rousssillon wine region being one of the world’s most interesting wine regions.

Master of Wine Matthew Stubbs describes it as “the most exciting and spectacular place to make wine on Earth”, and its huge range of wines are widely acknowledged by critics and experts as worthy of attentions, awards and accolades.

Things you never knew about Languedoc-Roussillon and its wines:

• Languedoc-Roussillon
  is the world’s largest wine producing region
• Languedoc-Roussillon
  wine production exceeds that of Bordeaux, of Australia, and that of South
  Africa and Chile combined
• Languedoc-Roussillon’s
  wine represents a third of the volume of French wine output
• Brits love
  Languedoc-Roussillon’s wines: around 30% of wine produced in
  Languedoc-Roussillon is exported of which 17% is sold in the UK

You won’t find a better region in France to go wine tasting – the wines here are not only (increasingly) good, they’re also very interesting, and there are plenty of wine makers keen to show off and talk about their latest creations.

You’ll also find a lot less of the awful snobbery that surrounds wine further north in France – Languedoc is the ‘wild south’ when it comes to wine, and the ‘vignerons’ here tend to be more innovative and less formal about the wines they produce.

Skiing

Pyrenean ski resorts are only 2-3 hours away. Resorts here usually flag up a multitude of snow machines that help ensure skiing through the season, but any fear that snow might not fall at the lower Pyrenean attitudes is normally unfounded.

The Pyrenees is cheaper – not just in terms of ski passes (which cost about 25% less than the Alps), but also accommodation, food, drinks, spas and practically everything else.

This means that you can afford to treat yourself a little more here – to better restaurants, perhaps a spa treatment or a larger chalet.

Pyrenean ski stations include Font-Remeu, Les Angles, Cerdagne-Puigmal, Formiguieres, Combre d’Aze, Puyvalador and Porte-Puymorens.

Canoeing

You cannot think of a better way to experience the beauty of Languedoc than in a canoe.

Gently floating through the area’s many stunning gorges is our idea of heaven. And the canoeing here is not difficult.

Most of Languedoc’s rivers are relatively shallow, and any rapid is pretty tame. There are lots of rivers in Languedoc – and nearly all have canoeing centers.

Canal boating

Languedoc may well be the best place in the world to go canal boating – with three canal systems weaving their way through hundreds of miles of beautiful countryside.

The Canal du Midi is the most famous of the three – and the longest. It stretches between Toulouse in the west to the Mediterranean near Agde.

During the summer, canal boats ply their way up and down the canal, past the many locks (where lock-keepers sell local delicacies), under a canopy of plane trees, past pretty stone villages and old bridges.

Canal boating is a great way to explore Languedoc, as there are many places to moor and get a bite to eat, or explore the surrounding countryside.

Sailing

You will find plenty of yachting and sailing opportunities in Languedoc.