Tour De Pour – Taste the Race
Every European summer, the Tour de France sweeps across the countryside in one of the greatest sporting spectacles on Earth. More than a bike race, it’s a cultural pilgrimage—history, grit, glory… and terroir. Because in France, where there are winding roads and alpine climbs, there are vineyards.
Tour de Pour is a celebration of that journey, following the 2025 route through some of France’s most exciting wine regions. Expect classics—but also hidden gems: a spicy southwestern red, a crisp alpine white, even a Normandy cydre that tastes like the orchard it came from. Liquid postcards from places rarely seen, but never forgotten.
With over 200 indigenous grape varieties, France offers endless possibilities. This pack delivers a few of them—blends, single varietals, bubbles, apples—each bottle a true expression of place.
The challenge: watch the stage, open the regional wine, and cook the pairing. Taste the Tour as it unfolds.
That’s Tour de Pour. A celebration of movement, flavour, and place.
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2023 | Cabernet Franc | Loire Valley | FranceOn the nose, the Marc Bredif Chinon offers enticing aromas of ripe red cherries, raspberries, and cranberries, complemented by floral notes of violets and subtle hints of bell pepper and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant, with silky tannins and refreshing acidity providing a harmonious framework. Flavors of juicy red fruits dominate, accompanied by savory elements of black tea, graphite, and a whisper of peppery spice.
Stage 9: Chinon → Châteauroux
Famed for its Vouvray, Marc Brédif also delivers a textbook Chinon Cabernet Franc—herbal, bright with red fruit, and elegantly savoury. Stage 9 kicks off in Chinon, and this bottle captures the town’s essence in a glass. A Loire classic with serious charm.
Pair it with:
– Roasted herb-crusted lamb rack with Rosemary potatoes and
– Grilled portobello mushrooms with thyme and lentils -
2022 | GSM | Minervois | FranceBeautifully lifted aromatics reveal fragrant floral notes intertwined with sweet spices, including a hint of nutmeg. On the palate, the wine is sumptuous and unctuous, bursting with lush blackberry fruit and layered spices. The texture is velvety, supported by finely grained, chalky tannins that coat the mouth beautifully. At 13% alcohol, it offers a poised balance and finishes long, elegant, and impeccably refined.
Stage 15: Muret → Carcassonne
As the Tour travels southwest from Muret to Carcassonne, it edges past Minervois, a storied subregion of the Languedoc known for its Mediterranean landscapes and garrigue-covered hills. Here, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre come together in blends that echo the Southern Rhône, offering ripe fruit, spice, and savoury complexity.
Domaine Courbissac’s Les Traverses is organically and biodynamically grown, vinified without oak, and matured in concrete to capture purity and freshness. Brambly fruit, fine tannins, and gentle spice make for a wine that’s both structured and supple, true to its origins.Pair it with:
-Coq a Vin - A rustic chicken stew braised with red wine, mushrooms, onions, and herbs.
-Tian de légumes – baked Provençal vegetables that mirror the herbal notes and Mediterranean spirit of the wine. -
2020 | Negrette | Languedoc | FranceCranberries and sour cherry with a white pepper top-note greet you from the sunny and warmth filled glass. There is a generosity in the mouth with fleshy red fruits, the lightest touch of citrus pith and red cherries. The mid-weight style works well and no oak, just concrete tanks preserves the fresh cut flavours on the palate nicely.
Stage 11: Toulouse → Toulouse
Stage 11 kicks off and finishes in Toulouse, right in the heart of Négrette country. This ancient, almost forgotten grape native to the Fronton region has been brought back to life by the passionate husband-and-wife duo Diane and Philippe Cauvin. Négrette is a real treasure, producing wines that are surprisingly light on their feet yet intensely aromatic, boasting a deep, vibrant colour. Think red fruits, fresh violets, and that captivating forest floor complexity, all wrapped up in an intriguing umami note reminiscent of soy. It’s like Pinot Noir’s more mysterious, wild sibling that is elegant, expressive, and utterly captivating.
Pair it with:
-Toulouse Sausages with White Beans
-Roasted Beetroot & Goat Cheese Tart with Thyme and Walnuts
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2023 | Jacquère | Savoie | FranceLes Abymes is 100% Jacquère, a native white variety prized for its lift, tension, and unmistakable mineral core. Grown on stony soils, the wine buzzes with alpine energy: citrus zest, crushed rock, and cool herbal tones glide across a weightless frame. It’s mountain wine in its truest form—lithe, linear, and laser-focused
Stage 18: Vif → Col de la Loze
As the peloton climbs from Vif to Courchevel, it cuts through the alpine slopes of Savoie—a region where wine and mountain are inseparable. Here, the Quénard family has tended vines for nearly a century, capturing the quiet precision and crystalline purity that define this high-altitude terroir.Pair it with:
- A classic from the Alpine region of Savoie, Tartiflette is rich, creamy and deeply comforting—layers of potato, onion, lardons and melted Reblochon cheese baked until golden.
- Herbed Goat Cheese & Potato Galette with Warm Asparagus-Fennel Salad -
2022 | Rhone Blend | Cotes-du-Rhone | FranceThis is not a light and flimsy wine – there is texture here and with a palate weight that isn’t overbearing but shows the punch and depth you would expect from white Rhone varieties. On the nose you’ll find compelling notes of honeysuckle, peach, fresh apricot, yellow plum and ginger. The palate remains remarkably fresh and clean with wonderful mineral components. The peach, fresh apricot, yellow plum follow through with precise clarity and the wine finishes clean and dry.
Stage 17: Bollène → Valence
A fitting match for Stage 17, which moves through the beating heart of the Rhône Valley. This white blend from the esteemed Stéphane Ogier is a masterclass in regional typicity, offering texture, weight, and aromatic complexity.
The composition—60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, with smaller additions of Marsanne, Viognier, Bourboulenc, and Clairette. Each variety contributes a layer, resulting in a wine that is both generous and composed.Pair it with:
-Pan-Seared Trout with Herb Butter & Seasonal Greens
-Pissaladière (Onion & Olive Tart) -
N/A | Cidre | Normandy | FranceThe Brut Tendre is lifted and pure, with notes of ripe apple skin, orchard blossoms, and a gentle, off-dry richness that’s balanced by saline acidity and fine mousse. Elegant, textured, and full of life. If this is your first step into French cidre, prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew.
Stage 5: Caen → Caen
Stage 5 takes the riders through Normandy, the land of orchards, rolling pastures, and two of France’s greatest exports: Calvados and Cider. Eric Bordelet, once a top Parisian sommelier, returned home over 30 years ago to revive his family’s orchards. What he crafts today isn’t your average cider. it’s a true expression of Normandy’s land, history, and craft. Sydre Brut Tendre is his signature style: traditional, gently sparkling, and just off-dry. Perfect with food, even better with friends.
Pair it with:
-Poulet oulet Vallée d’Auge - chicken cooked with apples, mushrooms, shallots, cream, Calvados (apple brandy), and Normandy cider.
-Beignets de Courgettes - Zucchini Fritters
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2023 | Cabernet Franc | Loire Valley | FranceOn the nose, the Marc Bredif Chinon offers enticing aromas of ripe red cherries, raspberries, and cranberries, complemented by floral notes of violets and subtle hints of bell pepper and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant, with silky tannins and refreshing acidity providing a harmonious framework. Flavors of juicy red fruits dominate, accompanied by savory elements of black tea, graphite, and a whisper of peppery spice.
Stage 9: Chinon → Châteauroux
Famed for its Vouvray, Marc Brédif also delivers a textbook Chinon Cabernet Franc—herbal, bright with red fruit, and elegantly savoury. Stage 9 kicks off in Chinon, and this bottle captures the town’s essence in a glass. A Loire classic with serious charm.
Pair it with:
– Roasted herb-crusted lamb rack with Rosemary potatoes and
– Grilled portobello mushrooms with thyme and lentils -
2022 | GSM | Minervois | FranceBeautifully lifted aromatics reveal fragrant floral notes intertwined with sweet spices, including a hint of nutmeg. On the palate, the wine is sumptuous and unctuous, bursting with lush blackberry fruit and layered spices. The texture is velvety, supported by finely grained, chalky tannins that coat the mouth beautifully. At 13% alcohol, it offers a poised balance and finishes long, elegant, and impeccably refined.
Stage 15: Muret → Carcassonne
As the Tour travels southwest from Muret to Carcassonne, it edges past Minervois, a storied subregion of the Languedoc known for its Mediterranean landscapes and garrigue-covered hills. Here, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre come together in blends that echo the Southern Rhône, offering ripe fruit, spice, and savoury complexity.
Domaine Courbissac’s Les Traverses is organically and biodynamically grown, vinified without oak, and matured in concrete to capture purity and freshness. Brambly fruit, fine tannins, and gentle spice make for a wine that’s both structured and supple, true to its origins.Pair it with:
-Coq a Vin - A rustic chicken stew braised with red wine, mushrooms, onions, and herbs.
-Tian de légumes – baked Provençal vegetables that mirror the herbal notes and Mediterranean spirit of the wine. -
2020 | Negrette | Fronton | FranceCranberries and sour cherry with a white pepper top-note greet you from the sunny and warmth filled glass. There is a generosity in the mouth with fleshy red fruits, the lightest touch of citrus pith and red cherries. The mid-weight style works well and no oak, just concrete tanks preserves the fresh cut flavours on the palate nicely.
Stage 11: Toulouse → Toulouse
Stage 11 kicks off and finishes in Toulouse, right in the heart of Négrette country. This ancient, almost forgotten grape native to the Fronton region has been brought back to life by the passionate husband-and-wife duo Diane and Philippe Cauvin. Négrette is a real treasure, producing wines that are surprisingly light on their feet yet intensely aromatic, boasting a deep, vibrant colour. Think red fruits, fresh violets, and that captivating forest floor complexity, all wrapped up in an intriguing umami note reminiscent of soy. It’s like Pinot Noir’s more mysterious, wild sibling that is elegant, expressive, and utterly captivating.
Pair it with:
-Toulouse Sausages with White Beans
-Roasted Beetroot & Goat Cheese Tart with Thyme and Walnuts
-
2023 | Jacquère | Savoie | FranceLes Abymes is 100% Jacquère, a native white variety prized for its lift, tension, and unmistakable mineral core. Grown on stony soils, the wine buzzes with alpine energy: citrus zest, crushed rock, and cool herbal tones glide across a weightless frame. It’s mountain wine in its truest form—lithe, linear, and laser-focused
Stage 18: Vif → Col de la Loze
As the peloton climbs from Vif to Courchevel, it cuts through the alpine slopes of Savoie—a region where wine and mountain are inseparable. Here, the Quénard family has tended vines for nearly a century, capturing the quiet precision and crystalline purity that define this high-altitude terroir.Pair it with:
- A classic from the Alpine region of Savoie, Tartiflette is rich, creamy and deeply comforting—layers of potato, onion, lardons and melted Reblochon cheese baked until golden.
- Herbed Goat Cheese & Potato Galette with Warm Asparagus-Fennel Salad -
2022 | Rhone Blend | Cotes-du-Rhone | FranceThis is not a light and flimsy wine – there is texture here and with a palate weight that isn’t overbearing but shows the punch and depth you would expect from white Rhone varieties. On the nose you’ll find compelling notes of honeysuckle, peach, fresh apricot, yellow plum and ginger. The palate remains remarkably fresh and clean with wonderful mineral components. The peach, fresh apricot, yellow plum follow through with precise clarity and the wine finishes clean and dry.
Stage 17: Bollène → Valence
A fitting match for Stage 17, which moves through the beating heart of the Rhône Valley. This white blend from the esteemed Stéphane Ogier is a masterclass in regional typicity, offering texture, weight, and aromatic complexity.
The composition—60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, with smaller additions of Marsanne, Viognier, Bourboulenc, and Clairette. Each variety contributes a layer, resulting in a wine that is both generous and composed.Pair it with:
-Pan-Seared Trout with Herb Butter & Seasonal Greens
-Pissaladière (Onion & Olive Tart) -
N/A | Cidre | Normandy | FranceThe Brut Tendre is lifted and pure, with notes of ripe apple skin, orchard blossoms, and a gentle, off-dry richness that’s balanced by saline acidity and fine mousse. Elegant, textured, and full of life. If this is your first step into French cidre, prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew.
Stage 5: Caen → Caen
Stage 5 takes the riders through Normandy, the land of orchards, rolling pastures, and two of France’s greatest exports: Calvados and Cider. Eric Bordelet, once a top Parisian sommelier, returned home over 30 years ago to revive his family’s orchards. What he crafts today isn’t your average cider. it’s a true expression of Normandy’s land, history, and craft. Sydre Brut Tendre is his signature style: traditional, gently sparkling, and just off-dry. Perfect with food, even better with friends.
Pair it with:
-Poulet oulet Vallée d’Auge - chicken cooked with apples, mushrooms, shallots, cream, Calvados (apple brandy), and Normandy cider.
-Beignets de Courgettes - Zucchini Fritters