Wine tourism in France buzzes with vitality in the present day. Yearly, roughly 10 million guests – together with round 4.2 million from overseas – go to, and it feels refreshingly alive. Many of those friends find yourself shopping for a bottle (actually, 75% accomplish that), a pattern that’s solely rising. Latest work by Atout France’s wine tourism crew highlights an upward pattern in earnings at wine areas – revenues of wineries elevated by roughly 22% from 2017 to 2018 and by one other 12% from 2018 to 2019.
The pattern good points further momentum from experiences that transcend simply sipping wine. A report by the Opodo 2025 Barometer reveals that 43% of French adults aged 15 and above took brief leisure procuring journeys in 2024 – a file quantity that displays a rising need for discovery and hands-on experiences. Final 12 months, almost half of tourists (48%) selected to discover France’s wine areas as a pair, including a contact of romance to the combination. Guests usually combine up winery excursions, tastings, and easy walks among the many vines. And sure – it seems that purchasing wine on web site is a scorching ticket, with one in three guests dropping between €50 and €100 and one other third spending between €100 and €500.
Analyzing the French wine areas, Nouvelle-Aquitaine stays the main vacation spot, attracting almost 6 million guests in 2024. In locations just like the Médoc and Saint-Émilion, tasting routes proceed to appeal folks from across the globe. Champagne isn’t far behind both – about 3.5 million guests flocked to its storied cellars and tried its upscale food-and-wine pairings. The latest addition of the “Champagne Hillsides, Homes and Cellars” to the UNESCO World Heritage record has solely made issues extra thrilling. A latest survey even hinted that round 86% of locals really feel a way of delight over this honor, whereas in a single day stays in Reims shot up by over 60% between 2016 and 2023, reaching roughly 1.8 million. Additionally, tourism-related jobs climbed 33%, hitting round 8,240 positions by the shut of 2023. There’s even speak of organising a wine tourism observatory to maintain all this momentum well-organized. Burgundy noticed roughly 2.8 million friends, with its famed wine routes – particularly within the Côtes de Beaune and Nuits – drawing crowds. After which there’s Provence, identified for its rosé, which attracted about 2 million guests principally in the course of the summer season, whereas in Alsace, about 1.8 million folks loved vineyards paired with cultural visits by means of charming villages.
Actions in wine areas have taken on a extra interactive twist recently. Thematic tastings – mixing wine with chocolate or cheese – have seen a 15% improve in participation in comparison with 2023. In the meantime, winery walks – whether or not on foot, by bike, and even on a Segway – are well-liked with each younger people and households. Many estates are actually internet hosting festivals, picnics, and even small live shows proper among the many vines, making the expertise all of the extra memorable. There’s additionally been an increase in immersive workshops the place guests can attempt their hand at mixing their very own wine blends or dive into introductory oenology periods.
A mix of things seems to be driving the wine tourism growth. With inflation trimmed right down to about 2%, the French are spending extra on leisure and mini-holidays. The easing of well being restrictions additionally paved the way in which for spur-of-the-moment getaways – many choosing stays of only one to 3 nights as a fast escape from the on a regular basis. At coronary heart, the lure is about encountering one thing distinctive, exploring hidden terroirs, and carving out memorable, high-value experiences that aren’t discovered simply anyplace.
