TOURS & TASTINGS

TASTING ROOM OPENING HOURS

WE LOVE HAVING PEOPLE COME VISIT US AT THE WINERY AND OFFER LOTS OF INFORMATIVE TOURS AND ACTIVITIES

You are welcome to come for a complimentary wine tasting at any time during opening hours.  You can also mix and match your wine tasting with many of the activities at the winery and create a bespoke program for your visit.  Activities for non-drinkers and Under 18s are also available, as well as ‘Canine Crunchies’ for your four-legged companions!

CREATE YOUR BESPOKE DAY FROM THE ACTIVITIES BELOW

GUIDED CELLAR TOUR

Our knowledgeable guides are available year-round to lead you on a tour through our state-of-the-art winery, sharing the history and terroir that make Chêne Bleu unique.  The tour is followed by a tasting of our entire range of critically acclaimed wines, or tailor-made to your preferences.

SUSTAINA-BEE-LITY TOUR

Discover Chêne Bleu’s purist philosophy on a tour of our organic and biodynamic vineyard practices, apiary, medieval orchard, composting, bamboo water-filtering reservoir, and state-of-the-art winery - all created to protect Nature at our UNESCO biosphere site.  Your visit will be followed by a gourmet tasting of our entire range of wines, or tailor-made to your preference.

A LA CARTE ACTIVITIES

On occasion, we can arrange special activities at a mutually convenient time.  Please contact the winery directly, with your preferred times, as well as the size of your group.  At least one weeks’ notice is recommended and is subject to availability.

INtroduction to winetasting

Learn to taste and talk about wine like a pro. Using the internationally recognized WSET systematic method, this activity is designed to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of wine, by enabling you to assess, taste and compare different styles.  Suitable for any level, from novice to wine connoisseur.

THE ART OF BLENDING

A workshop created to initiate enthusiasts to the reasoning, science and artistry that underpin the blending of fine wine. Are you more scientific or more empirical in your approach? You will be given all the graduated cylinders and measuring beakers to experiment and create your favorite blend. If you come with a group, you can also work as a team or compete for best results in a blind tasting. A serious learning experience but a fun team-building activity.

INTO THE DARK

Embark on a unique sensory experience soliciting all five of your senses. With your vision obstructed, heighten your taste, hearing, smell and touch. Take a stab in the dark at identifying the wines presented during this activity, set in a special pitch-black location, using different mediums - a fun and unusual way of experiencing the multifaceted, nuanced nature of fine wine.

Winemaker for a day (availability by mutual agreement)

This bespoke experience is tailor-made to suit your requirements, as well as to accommodate the season and the schedule of our expert Vintner and Winemaker.  The team will take you under their wing, and into our vineyard and winery for a meaningful day that combines theory and practice, calibrated to meet your interests.

GASTRONOMIC/SUSTAINABLE COOKING CLASS (AVAILABILITY BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT)

Join our talented Chef, Guillaume, for a hands-on cooking class, from the very start of the gastronomic process.  Head down to our sustainably managed medieval kitchen garden and orchard to hand-pick the freshest organic vegetables, fruits and herbs (depending on what’s available).  Back in the state-of-the-art kitchen you can work individually within your group, or in smaller teams, supervised by Chef Guillaume.

Chef Guillaume will teach you how to combine your fresh pickings from the ‘potager’ with mouth-watering ingredients that have been carefully sourced from local artisanal producers, using where relevant our own olive oil, honey, lamb raised on the property, and other sustainably sourced products.

La Verrière has won several awards for gastronomic standards and the menu you create will typically consist of an Entree, Main Course and Dessert, precision-paired with the perfect wines from our critically acclaimed range. This tantalising meal will be served at an elegantly laid table in a beautiful outdoor or indoor setting (weather-dependent), for you to savor the fruits of your labor in the good company of Chef Guillaume.

EXTREME WINE AND BEYOND EXTREME

Designed to accelerate wine knowledge and appreciation, using the most effective and enjoyable methods, our signature 5-day course covers all the major wine regions, varieties and benchmark world wines.  It is suitable for every level of wine knowledge, from complete novices to seasoned collectors. 

Specifically constructed to help enthusiasts ‘crack the code’ on fine wine (which some can find intimidating), improving confidence and gaining hands-on exposure to vineyard work and winemaking. Regarded as best-in-category — the Financial Times ‘How to Spend It’ and Condé Nast Traveller have assessed it ‘Best Wine Course in the World’.

For more information about Extreme Wine, visit our sister site.