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The Unofficial Tour de France Drinking Guide

Get to know the route of the Tour de France intimately by drinking the beer, cider, wine and apéritifs native to the land it passes through.

By Lauren Friel

If we’re examining the route of the Tour de France with an eye toward wine, last year’s race was a greatest hits of sorts: the peloton made its way through Champagne, Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley, and France’s AOC boards laughed all the way to the cellars. Not so in 2015; this year, it seems the underdogs will be getting their due. The first leg of the race took us through the Northern hinterlands of Brittany and Normandy, where the chilly climate has lent its influence to the favor of cider and beer production for hundreds of years. When the route does turn south, it’s first to the rugged wilds of Southwest France in the foothills of the Pyrenees — through the overlooked regions of Jurançon, Gaillac and Irouleguy — before it heads east through the Massif Central and into the gauntlet provided by the cliffs of the Ardèche, Savoie, and Haut-Alps.

While it’s true that most of us are likely unfamiliar with these far-flung sub-appellations and rustic terroir , following this year’s route from your glass is perhaps a more authentic experience of French culture and history than the years past, when the regions represented were the usual suspects. This year, you might have to work a little harder to find some of the bottles we’ve paired with the route, but when it comes to the winner of the Tour, the best things never come easy.

Thanks to Chamber Street Wines , Union Square Wines and Zev Rovine Selections for lending GP some of the bottles featured in this story.

Beer and Cider

La Choulette Blonde, Cambrai

This year, the tour drops down over the Belgian border directly into the town of Cambrai, a medieval-era village once known for its excellence in all things beer. In particular, the uniquely French style known as Bière de Garde hails from these northeastern throes of Gallic culture, and Brasserie La Choulette is one of the few remaining breweries still crafting the saison -esque suds. The brewery produces a revival-style beer called Blanche de Cambrai in honor of a long-forgotten local recipe, and if you’re Tour-side this year, be sure to seek it out — it’s not imported to the States. Choulette’s Blonde is a worthy substitute for its namesake sibling, though: Rustic and aromatic, it’s complex but refreshing. Be careful not to overindulge, gentlemen. This is a race.

Castelain Ambrée, Arras

Traveling northwest, we’re keeping the energy up with another bière de garde. This time it’s an amber from the century-old Brasserie Castelain in the Pas de Calais region. Fuel up for the trek to Normandy with some boudin noir and this perfect balance of malt and hops. A leader in its category.

Le Pére Jules Cidre de Normandie, Pays d’Auge, Normandy

In Normandy, cider reigns supreme (and calvados — but we want to finish the race). Once France’s second-most-popular beverage (runner up only to wine, of course), we’re rooting for cider’s revival as more producers’ bottles make their way stateside. The four generations of Desfrièches men behind Père Jules have worked hard to preserve the classically dry, rustic expression of this regional hard stuff, and we’re happy to watch it edge Magner’s off the cider track any day.

Cyril Zang’s Sparkling Cider, Glos, Calvados

Made from a blend of over 15 different varieties of apple, this is true French cidre brut — dry, crisp and slightly funky. If ever there was a pairing for fromage de tête , this is it.

Bordelet Poiré de Normandie, Domfrontais, Normandy

The classic calvados style is of the apple persuasion, but Eric Bordelet dives deep into his hometown’s historic production of poiré (effectively pear cider) for his biodynamically produced Poiré Authentique. Bordelet’s former gig as sommelier at Paris’ Arpège might have something to do with the endless complexity in this perfect summer sipper. It’s elegant, sure, but it stays true to its country origins with rustic wildflower and fresh hay in the glass. Pour out a tumbler’s worth and send your domestique back for the ripest wheel of Camembert he can find.

Rosé, Syrah and No Post-Fermentation Tinkering

Domaine Illaria Rosé, Irouleguy, Southwest France

The second leg of the Tour finds us in the wilds of southwestern France. This rugged landscape at the foot of the Pyrenées is rich with cultural entanglements in every realm, from its language to its politics to its winemaking traditions. Here you’ll find a nearly Spanish sensibility when it comes to the wines — sultry and wild, they reflect the landscape from whence they came. This dry rosé from old vines of Tannat and Cabernet Franc is the creation of old-school winemaker Peio Espil in the tiny appellation of Irouleguy, and it’s deeply mineral with savory notes of wild herbs and black fruit. An appropriately meditative wine for the occasion of getting one’s head in one’s game.

Benjamin Taillandier “Six Roses”, Minervois, Languedoc-Roussillon

Conjure up your best French accent. Now say “Six Roses” five times fast for the condition Monsieur Taillandier warns you might develop due to the outrageous gulp-ability of this rosé hailing from Minervois (it helps if you’re a little drunk already). Keep it moderate, of course, but as the peloton makes its way past Minervois, just north of the Mars landscape that is the Languedoc-Roussillon into the hills of the Massif Central, we suggest having a bottle of this undeniable vin de soif on ice to keep it fresh.

Levet “La Chavaroche”, Côte Rôtie

The steep cliffs and rugged terrain of the Ardèche and Northern Rhône make for some of the most dramatic riding of the tour; the brutal, pre-Alpine terrain at this stage of the race historically separates les garçons from les hommes . Appropriately, it’s from this cool, brooding landscape that you’ll find some of France’s greatest oenological powers producing wines of quiet magnitude. Côte Rôtie, the northernmost tip of the Rhône Valley, is particularly known for unleashing austere, borderline forbidding reds based in a blend of Syrah and Viognier. Architectural, ferrous and imposing, they are — how do you say? — serious shit.

In circumstances such as these, some producers are tempted to take the edge off — to make their wines a little less challenging, a little more approachable — via post-fermentation tinkering and lots of new oak. Not Bernard Levet. From the peak of his ancient vineyards, Levet looks at the sweat forming on your brow and laughs. À bon vin, point d’enseigne . If you’re man enough, you’ll understand.

Luc et Denis Lattard Syrah, Drôme

Not all good Syrah is highborn. Since 1995, the Lattard brothers have been at work reviving their family’s winemaking traditions in the Drôme, the cliff-laden but decidedly less menacing region just east of the Rhône Valley. Their region is a lesser-known one, but the brothers’ successes at producing fresh, easygoing wines not lacking in depth suggest they might be leading a pack of their own. Their Syrah is the Raymond Poulider of this lineup — affable, joyful, well liked by all.

Belluard “Ayse Brut”, Savoie

Congratulations, gentlemen — the podium awaits. For your efforts, you deserve a glass (or three) of one of France’s most exquisite sparkling wines. No, it’s not Champagne — that’s been done (112 times). This year, we’re toasting the yellow jersey with bubbles hailing from the Alpine climes of Savoie, the region that comprises the final stretch of the Tour in 2015. Here, Dominique Belluard tends his unlikely vineyards of the rare gringet grape with a view of Chamonix, and his precision in the cellar results in this razor-sharp, steely expression of the ancient terroir surrounding his estate. Mineral and complex, it is luxury and reward in a glass — with plenty of fizz for celebratory dousing.

Flower Power

Violet Frères Byrrh Grand Quinquina, Languedoc, Southwest France

Hailing from the Languedoc, this herbal apéritif’s power comes from the bark of the cinchona tree, that magical South American plant that puts the tonic (aka quinine) in your G&T’s and kept Europeans malaria-free for centuries. True to its original 19th-century recipe, the blend of medicinal herbs should assist with everything from dehydration to headaches to digestion. Pas mal . Pour a few ounces over ice and serve with an orange twist.

Dolin Genepy des Alpes

Depending on who you ask, genepy is either a colloquial name for wormwood, a generalized reference to any number of geographic locales in the Alpine regions of Savoy/Valle d’Aosta, or the name of a deliciously herbal liquor with a cultural tug-of-war behind its origins. Whether French, Italian or something in between, we’re happy to drink up and let the traditionally medicinal herbs in this Chartreuse-esque tipple work their magic. Sip it simply over ice or in any of these pretense-free cocktails .

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More From Forbes

A quick guide to the french wine regions: a vinous tour de france.

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Do you want to know more about the French wine regions but don’t have much time to read wine books? Here’s a quick guide to France’s 11 most important wine regions that will give you a good head start.

The 11 regions are, starting in the northeast and going clockwise: Champagne, Alsace, Jura, Burgundy, Rhône Valley, Savoie, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, South West, Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. We find vineyards in all parts of France, except in Brittany and Normandy in the northwest and Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region of the country.

Steep vineyards with chardonnay vines on the Côte des Blancs, Champagne, copyright BKWine ... [+] Photography

The Northeast

The world’s most famous sparkling wines are made from grapes that grow in a rather tricky climate in northern France. The upside is the high acidity which is paramount for high-quality sparkling wine. The grapes are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The bubbles are formed during the second fermentation in the bottle. This way to make sparkling wine is called the méthode champenoise in Champagne and méthode traditionelle , the traditional method, elsewhere.

Alsace is on the border with Germany and makes aromatic wines with their very own character and style. The grape variety is always clearly indicated on the label, which is rare in France, where otherwise origin is considered more important. The local food is somewhat rustic (choucroute/sauerkraut, stews etc) but goes surprisingly well with the elegant Riesling wines with varying degrees of sweetness. Other grape varieties of note are the rose-scented Gewurztraminer and the full-bodied Pinot Gris. The whites dominate, but you can find light and refreshing Pinot Noir wines.

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The Jura makes some of France’s (or even the world’s) most original wines. It’s a small region in the mountains, not so well known. The “yellow wine”, Vin Jaune , made from the Savagnin grape, is the centerpiece. But it is a rare wine, produced in small quantities. You can compare it to a fino , the driest sherry style (the Spanish fortified wine). Jura also makes superb Chardonnay, sometimes blended with Savagnin, and sometimes, just like the vin jaune, with an extraordinary, slightly oxidized character. The reds are easy drinking and unpretentious.

au canon restaurant hotel andlau alsace france

Burgundy begins with Chablis in the north, 125 miles south of Champagne (or Paris). Here, the relatively cool climate gives white wines from Chardonnay that are crispy and fresh. Further south, in the Côte d’Or, the whites, also from Chardonnay, are more full-bodied and oaky. The reds from Pinot Noir are very prestigious with prices to match. The best ones are exquisite and velvety. Burgundy ends with Beaujolais. Here, the Gamay grape gives fruity, fresh and often juicy and easy-drinking wines.

The South East

Rhône Valley

On the slopes of the Rhône River just south of Lyon, we find some of France’s most sought-after red wines: Côte Rôtie, Saint Joseph, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage. They are all made from Syrah. A small amount of high-quality white is made in Condrieu, from the floral and full-bodied Viognier. The southern Rhône Valley has always been associated with the prestigious wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but there are now many other exciting appellations with ambitious producers, such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Costières de Nîmes to mention a few. Grenache and Syrah are the main grapes, and the wines are filled with herbal notes, spices and a warm, southern feeling.

Pinot noir grapes just harvested in a vineyard in Pommard in Burgundy, copyright BKWine Photography

The wines from Savoie are mostly drunk on-site by thirsty tourists who come to ski or hike in the Alps. There is a lot to discover here, however, not least the Roussanne grape, responsible for some delicious whites and the red Mondeuse, a great personality with strength and tannins.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Provence lies east of the Rhône River. The landscape is spectacular, with vineyards, lavender fields, olive groves and mountains. It is a landscape that has been painted by numerous artists. Rosé, in particular the extremely pale almost white version, is the specialty. But there are also full-bodied whites from the fishing village of Cassis and reds from Bandol, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence and Les Baux. The grapes are Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise and others.

Southwestern France

Languedoc-Roussillon

The big region of Languedoc-Roussillon has transformed in the past 50 years from making inexpensive volume wines to producing a full range from pleasant everyday wines to prestigious, high-quality wines. Nearly 495,000 acres of lesser vines have been pulled out. The producers planted Syrah to increase the complexity and structure of the wines. In the hands of talented winemaker, however, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault are the grapes that best bring out the local aromas of herbs, junipers and sun-warmed berries, locally called la garrigue . Languedoc-Roussillon is today a fascinating wine region.

Vineyards in La Clape in Languedoc with a view over the Pyrenees Mountains, copyright BKWine ... [+] Photography

The South-West

Le Sud-Ouest, The South-West, is also the collective name of a number of small districts stretching from Toulouse down to the Basque Country on the Spanish border. We are close to the Atlantic, so the climate is quite humid and warm. Here we find an incredible variety of high-quality and original wines, both reds, whites and sweet. The local grapes, such as Mauzac, Négrette, Gros Manseng and Tannat, are full of character and rarely seen elsewhere. Some of the more famous South-West districts are Madiran, Cahors, Jurançon, Gaillac, Fronton and Bergerac.

Bordeaux is one of France’s largest wine regions and the most famous, known for its beautiful chateaux and prestigious (as well as expensive) red wines. But many of the lesser wine estates make excellent wines at very reasonable prices. But they suffer from their exclusive cousins’ reputation for being expensive. Bordeaux also makes some of the world’s finest sweet wines. Sauternes is made with noble rot grapes, naturally luscious sweet. The dry white Bordeaux wines can be magnificent and deserve more attention. The main red grapes in Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot; the whites are Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Western France

If you travel from Bordeaux to the Loire Valley, you go through Cognac, which is also considered a wine region although almost all the wine is distilled into Cognac. Cognac is a large wine producer with around 148,000 acres and a yield that far exceeds other regions.

Bunches of ripe merlot grapes in a vineyard in Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

Loire Valley

France’s longest river, the Loire, goes north from the mountainous central parts of France up to the city of Orléans where it makes a turn to the west and continues towards the Atlantic Ocean. Along the Loire and several of its tributaries, there are vineyards. Although there is a certain “family feeling” in the form of fresh acidity, there is a tremendous variation in wine styles along the idyllic river. White and rosé wines dominate. While some of the reds are fruity and light in style, you should rather focus on the reds from Cabernet Franc from Chinon and Bourgueil and Côt (synonym for Malbec) from Touraine that are often superb and memorable. Excellent whites are made from Sauvignon Blanc in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and there are outstanding both dry and sweet wines from Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Montlouis, Savennières, and Coteaux du Layon.

—Britt Karlsson

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The Birth of the Tour de France

By: Christopher Klein

Updated: May 8, 2023 | Original: June 28, 2013

On July 1, 1903, 60 men mounted their bicycles outside the Café au Reveil Matin in the Parisian suburb of Montgeron. The five-dozen riders were mostly French, with just a sprinkle of Belgians, Swiss, Germans and Italians. A third were professionals sponsored by bicycle manufacturers, the others were simply devotees of the sport. All 60 wheelmen, however, were united by the challenge of embarking on an unprecedented test of endurance—not to mention the 20,000 francs in prize money—in the inaugural Tour de France.

At 3:16 p.m., the cyclists turned the pedals of their bicycles and raced into the unknown.

Nothing like the Tour de France had ever been attempted before. Journalist Geo Lefevre had dreamt up the fanciful race as a stunt to boost the circulation of his struggling daily sports newspaper, L’Auto. Henri Desgrange, the director-editor of L’Auto and a former champion cyclist himself, loved the idea of turning France into one giant velodrome. They developed a 1,500-mile clockwise loop of the country running from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes before returning to the French capital. There were no Alpine climbs and only six stages—as opposed to the 21 stages in the 2013 Tour— but the distances covered in each of them were monstrous, an average of 250 miles. (No single stage in the 2013 Tour tops 150 miles.) Between one and three rest days were scheduled between stages for recovery.

The first stage of the epic race was particularly dastardly. The route from Paris to Lyon stretched nearly 300 miles. No doubt several of the riders who wheeled away from Paris worried not about winning the race—but surviving it.

Unlike today’s riders, the cyclists in 1903 rode over unpaved roads without helmets. They rode as individuals, not team members. Riders could receive no help. They could not glide in the slipstream of fellow riders or vehicles of any kind. They rode without support cars. Cyclists were responsible for making their own repairs. They even rode with spare tires and tubes wrapped around their torsos in case they developed flats.

And unlike modern-day riders, the cyclists in the 1903 Tour de France, forced to cover enormous swathes of land, spent much of the race riding through the night with moonlight the only guide and stars the only spectators. During the early morning hours of the first stage, race officials came across many competitors “riding like sleepwalkers.”

Hour after hour through the night, riders abandoned the race. One of the favorites, Hippolyte Aucouturier, quit after developing stomach cramps, perhaps from the swigs of red wine he took as an early 1900s version of a performance enhancer.

Twenty-three riders abandoned the first stage of the race, but the one man who barreled through the night faster than anyone else was another pre-race favorite, 32-year-old professional Maurice Garin. The mustachioed French national worked as a chimney sweep as a teenager before becoming one of France’s leading cyclists. Caked in mud, the diminutive Garin crossed the finish line in Lyon a little more than 17 hours after the start outside Paris. In spite of the race’s length, he won by only one minute.

“The Little Chimney Sweep” built his lead as the race progressed. By the fifth stage, Garin had a two-hour advantage. When his nearest competitor suffered two flat tires and fell asleep while resting on the side of the road, Garin captured the stage and the Tour was all but won.

The sixth and final stage, the race’s longest, began in Nantes at 9 p.m. on July 18, so that spectators could watch the riders arrive in Paris late the following afternoon. Garin strapped on a green armband to signify his position as race leader. (The famed yellow jersey worn by the race leader was not introduced until 1919.) A crowd of 20,000 in the Parc des Princes velodrome cheered as Garin won the stage and the first Tour de France. He bested butcher trainee Lucien Pothier by nearly three hours in what remains the greatest winning margin in the Tour’s history. Garin had spent more than 95 hours in the saddle and averaged 15 miles per hour. In all, 21 of the 60 riders completed the Tour, with the last-place rider more than 64 hours behind Garin.

For Desgrange, the race was an unqualified success. Newspaper circulation soared six-fold during the race. However, a chronic problem that would perpetually plague the Tour de France was already present in the inaugural race—cheating. The rule-breaking started in the very first stage when Jean Fischer illegally used a car to pace him. Another rider was disqualified in a subsequent stage for riding in a car’s slipstream.

That paled in comparison, however, to the nefarious activity the following year in the 1904 Tour de France. As Garin and a fellow rider pedaled through St. Etienne, fans of hometown rider Antoine Faure formed a human blockade and beat the men until Lefevre arrived and fired a pistol to break up the melee. Later in the race, fans protesting the disqualification of a local rider placed tacks and broken glass on the course. The riders acted a little better. They hitched rides in cars during the dark and illegally took help from outsiders. Garin himself was accused of illegally obtaining food during a portion of one stage. The race was so plagued by scandal that four months later Desgrange disqualified Garin and the three other top finishers. It, of course, wouldn’t be the last time a Tour winner was stripped of his title.

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Wine Handpicked by IWSC

Tour de france – the 15 best french wines.

Words by IWSC judges

The Tour de France is the world’s most-watched sporting event, with an estimated 3.5 billion viewers tuning in each year to see the likes of Mark Cavendish and Mathieu van der Poel cycle a staggering 2,200 miles in a little over three weeks.

The race was first held back in 1903, established by French journalist (and cyclist) Henri Desgrange, and has been staged every year except during the World Wars. This year’s event began in Brest, Brittany, on 26 June and heads across the Loire Valley over to the Alps before heading south through the Rhône Valley and the Languedoc before heading to Bordeaux then the final stage in Paris on 18 July.

To mark this iconic sporting event, we’ve picked out the 15 best French wines that show off the diversity and regionality of this vinous powerhouse.

What comes through from the judging is how strong France is at making big-hearted red wines, particularly in the south-east, home to the Rhône Valley and the great-value wines from Languedoc-Roussillon further south. Reds from these two regions achieved five of the six highest scores, including three IWSC Gold Medals.

But the reality is that France is a master of every style imaginable. If you’re after elegant, aromatic whites, head to the Loire Valley where you’ll find delicious Sauvignon Blanc, or Alsace if you’re a fan of Riesling. If you want world-class sweet wines, there’s Sauternes in Bordeaux. And if you’re after something sparkling, Champagne is the last word in top-notch fizz.

A total of 20 judges helped to pick this selection. Chairing the group was John Hoskins MW, and he was joined by some of the finest palates in the business, including Master Sommeliers Isa Bal, Nicolas Clerc and Stefan Neumann, as well as four-time UK Sommelier of the Year Jan Konetzki . Also among the panel were Masters of Wine Sarah Knowles, Beverly Tabbron, David Round and Alistair Cooper.

The judges’ choices are a showcase of what France has to offer in 2021, and all are exceptional examples of their region. We hope your enjoy our alternative Tour de France…

The 15 best French wines 2021

• Les Domaines Paul Mas, Château de Crès Ricards Stécia 2019 . Terrasses Du Larzac, Languedoc-Roussillon; 96/100
• Rare, Brut 1998 . Champagne; 95/100
• Tesco Finest, Signargues 2020 . Côtes Du Rhône Villages, Rhône; 95/100
• Château Fortia, Secret Des Terres 2017 . Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône; 95/100
• Hértiers Gambert Cave de Tain, Nobles Rives 2017 . Hermitage, Rhône; 93/100
• Gérard Bertrand, Château de Villemajou Grand Vin 2019 . Corbières Boutenac, Languedoc-Roussillon; 93/100
• Albert Bichot, Domaine Du Pavillon Clos Des Ursulines 2019 . Pommard, Burgundy; 92/100
• Gabriel Meffre, Saint Siffrein 2020 . Côtes Du Rhône Villages, Rhône; 92/100
• Jean Colin, Sancerre 2020 . Sancerre, Loire; 91/100
• Edouard Delaunay, Le Village 2019 . Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy; 91/100
• Boutinot 2020 . Chiroubles, Beaujolais; 91/100
• Domaine Tariquet, Amplitude 2020 . Côtes De Gascogne; 91/100
• Domaine Roblin, Les Côtes 2020 . Sancerre, Loire; 90/100
• Henry Fessy 2019 . Régnié, Beaujolais; 90/100
• Château Suduiraut, Waitrose No 1 2013 . Sauternes, Bordeaux; 90/100

View tasting notes and stockists

How do we judge these wines?

We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges . Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.

How do we score these wines?

Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.

More from Club Oenologique

Club O is an exclusive community and the go-to platform for wine and spirit lovers. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors. Based in London, our editorial team tells informative, inspirational stories from the world of wine and spirits, gastronomy and travel, as well as covering recommendations and the latest trends in drink. You can take a look at our Explained series, for instance, where we’re tackling grape varieties, regions and styles of wine and spirits. Alternatively, visit our Ask the Sommelier section, where experts answer your wine-related questions.

The top 15 French wines of 2021

Les Domaines Paul Mas, Château de Crès Ricards Stécia 2019

Impressively elegant without sacrificing character: a refined nose of dark cherries and blackberries is accompanied by hints of subtle spice; wonderfully smooth and rounded on the palate with a hearty,… Read More

Rare, Brut 1998

This stunning Champagne reflects the vintage with spicy notes of gingerbread, orange and tropical fruit. The palate is full, creamy and toasty. Smoky notes add freshness and allow the complex… Read More

• The Whisky Exchange

Tesco, Finest* 2020

Fresh and generous with an exquisite bouquet of raspberries, wild herbs and sloe berries. Velvety on the palate with supple flavours of juicy black fruits and a hint of white… Read More

Château Fortia, Secret Des Terres 2017

Wild and earthy, this wine has a powerful flavour intensity of plum, spice, cassis and coffee, with underlying and complementary hints of barnyard which add complexity. The ripe tannins and… Read More

Hértiers Gambert Cave de Tain, Nobles Rives 2017

Sweet char flavour overlays the exotic notes of pineapple and mango. Although youthful, the concentration is evident and the texture is almost chewy, making this wine fun yet tame at… Read More

Gérard Bertrand, Château de Villemajou Grand Vin 2019

Generous and open, but well balanced. Intense, rich fruit is perfectly married with smoothly integrated cedar and peppery oak character. Still youthful with excellent ageing potential. Read More

Albert Bichot, Domaine Du Pavillon Clos Des Ursulines 2019

Layered and complex with a mature red fruit character highlighted by hints of herbs and refined oak. Focused berries on the mid-palate extend into a lasting finish. Very well executed. Read More

Gabriel Meffre, Saint Siffrein 2020

Big, engaging aromas of wild strawberries, liquorice and black cherries. Fresh dark berries and macerated plums drip off the palate. Bold and adventurous with a resolute finish. Read More

Jean Colin, Sancerre 2020

A classic nose of orchard fruit and tart citrus accompanies a more powerful, but not overpowering palate of tropical melon and refreshing lime, signing off with a lingering finish. Read More

Edouard Delaunay, Le Village 2019

Lively with a mineral-driven, aromatic profile and a compact citrussy core. Attractive flavours of lily, butter and vanilla show themselves on the palate. Elegantly balanced with a precise, lingering finish. Read More

Boutinot, Chiroubles 2020

A perfumed aromatic profile, offering fresh raspberries, violettes and a pretty rose-petal perfume. The vibrant acid structure carries beautifully layered flavours of crunchy red fruit. Bright and harmonious. Read More

Domaine Tariquet, Amplitude 2020

Seductive nose of green apple, lemon and lime. Mineral undertones create a silky and attractive wine. Fresh, complex and gastronomic, this wine has excellent length dominated by classy citrus fruit. Read More

• The Wine Society

Domaine Roblin, Les Côtes 2020

Complex nose of gentle stone fruit, oyster shell, and herbal undertones give rise to lovely, linear salinity with notes of fresh chive and anise. A refreshing and vibrant effort. Read More

Henry Fessy, Régnié 2019

Refined and restrained in style; an undercurrent of vibrant acidity carries well-defined flavours of crunchy red berries, along with delicate tones of fresh herbs and earthy undergrowth. Read More

Château Suduiraut, Waitrose No 1 2013

Good typicity here. Luscious and sweet with dried floral, marmalade, honey and botrytis notes. Crisp acidity and a vanilla oak spice provide both structure and complexity. Read More

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The Tour de France: A Brief History

The Tour de France is an undeniably remarkable cycling event that encourages riders from all over the globe to stretch their personal physical limits and resilience.

Beginning with the first edition in 1903, the race has been through many changes, such as adding new stages and routes, and has become the massive race we know today.

In this blog, we will explore the history of this thrilling race, including the early years, the golden age where French and Italian cyclists dominated, and the modern era of cycling. It’s an inspiring journey that celebrates human achievement’s incredible power.

Humble Beginnings

The Tour de France was an incredibly audacious venture brought to life by Henri Desgrange, editor of the French sports newspaper L’Auto from 1900-1932.

Inspired by his background in cycling and organising sports events, Desgrange saw great promise in the six-day races in the United States and decided to take a chance to do something even more remarkable – a multi-stage race around France!

So it all started with Desgrange’s race announcement in January 1903. Fast forward half a year, and the first race kicked off with six stages and 2,428 km of terrain to cover in 19 days.

It was a thrilling challenge of stamina, with riders overcoming tough terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. 60 riders embarked on the race, and only 21 completed it.

Maurice Garin, a Frenchman, emerged victorious, winning three stages and finishing over two hours ahead of the runner-up and fellow Frenchman, Hippolyte Aucouturier.

The Early Years

The wild ride begins, full of controversy, discontent, and chaos. Riders resorted to cheating and sabotage in a desperate attempt to gain an edge. At the same time, the race organisers worked fruitlessly to maintain order.

The government suspended the race during World War I and II. Yet, it still managed to experience tremendous growth in popularity.

Race organisers added new stages, new riders emerged as stars, and the race helped establish cycling as a major global sport.

The first official Tour de France race takes place, consisting of six stages covering 2,428 km. Maurice Garin of France wins the race.

Mountain stages are introduced, with riders navigating the Pyrenees and the Alps.

The Tour’s organisers introduced the yellow jersey to allow spectators to identify the race’s leader quickly.

However, it was in mid-July 1919, almost a month into the race, that the jersey was awarded.

Before the yellow jersey was introduced, the race leader would wear a green armband to signal their position.

What does the yellow jersey mean?

Organisers introduced the yellow jersey (Malliot jaune) as a means for spectators to identify the race leader quickly. Organisers introduced the yellow jersey (Malliot jaune) as a means for spectators to identify the race leader quickly.

However, in mid-July 1919, almost a month into the race, they awarded the jersey.

During the Dreyfus affair , a major political scandal in France, the cost of advertising space in a leading sports paper skyrocketed, causing advertisers to become unhappy.

Advertisers withdrew their support in response to the rising cost of advertising and dissatisfaction with the paper’s support of Dreyfus. Instead, they backed the rival publication L’Auto, funded by the same advertisers.

Interestingly, L’Auto used yellow newsprint, leading some to speculate that the iconic yellow colour of the Tour de France’s yellow jersey was to match the distinctive colour in the paper purposely.

The Golden Age

The golden age of the Tour de France was a time of unparalleled greatness. French and Italian cyclists reveled in glory and became the source of national pride.

People were out in droves, cheering their heroes on and relishing their country’s great success.

It was a breathtaking sight – all around, people seemed to have come out of their homes in masses, the air thick with their passionate cheers in honour of the cycling champions, a unified spirit of love and admiration for their nation reigning strong.

Golden moments

Gino Bartali, an Italian cyclist, had a moment of glory when he achieved his second victory.

This monumental achievement was met with extreme joy from the Italian people, especially after the sorrow following the end of World War II. His victory is heroic, and he remains celebrated as a national hero in Italy.

The world held its breath as Frenchman Louison Bobet accomplished unprecedented greatness.

Bobet made history with his remarkable feat of becoming the first rider ever to win three consecutive races, an incredible accomplishment that set him apart and pushed the boundaries of what others believe can be achieved.

The legendary Jacques Anquetil rose to the challenge and achieved the impossible!

His feat of a record-breaking 5th win is a remarkable testament to his skill and unyielding dedication, making him one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen!

His accomplishment will forever be remembered and celebrated.

The Modern Era

The Tour de France of today looks drastically different from the humble event that began in France many years ago.

Just think, what was once a mere French event is now a global phenomenon, attracting riders from all corners of the world, each showing remarkable finesse and high competition standards.

Unforgettable highlights

The triumphs of French rider Laurent Fignon in 1983 and 1984 were legendary!

Famed for his daring and unorthodox approach to cycling, Fignon utilised aerodynamic equipment and a low riding position for a unique advantage over his competitors.

His feats of cycling prowess remain the stuff of legends.

The cycling world was devastated by the doping scandal, with multiple riders testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

This led to urgent action from race organisers, taking necessary steps to prevent further cheating and bringing in stricter testing protocols and punishments for cyclists who violate the rules.

What an incredible moment for Australia when Cadel Evans, who had already tasted defeat twice in 2007 and 2008, finally won in 2011! This victory had a lasting impact on cycling in Australia, inspiring a new generation of riders and cycling enthusiasts.

The legend continues

The Tour de France stands head and shoulders above other sporting events – its real presence on the world stage continues its strength.

It remains the go-to competition for top cyclists worldwide, a gruelling challenge that tests every aspect of their skill and strength.

People come from near and far to witness this awe-inspiring event, and it continues to captivate the hearts and minds of millions across the globe.

New routes and stages

In recent years, organisers have updated the course design to make the race even more exciting and captivating, including the following:

On this historic day, the 109th edition marked its inaugural start in Yorkshire, England, thus beginning a new era for the world-renowned race.

Following the English Channel crossing, the riders continued through France, with a challenging mountain stage in the Vosges and a grand finale on the towering Puy-de-Dôme volcano.

The Tour de France included a particularly difficult stage that ended with a climb up the iconic Mont Ventoux. An unfortunate motorbike incident occurred at Challet Reynard near the summit.

Several riders, including overall race winner Chris Froome, had to run with their bikes to complete the stage.

The twenty-first stage provided a thrilling conclusion as riders faced a challenging ascent of the Col du Portet in the Pyrenees, with steep inclines and decreased oxygen levels at higher altitudes.

The race began in the enchanted region of Brittany and culminated in the City of Love – Paris, as is tradition! Yet, this year the cyclists were presented with new obstacles, including:

• The daunting Mont Ventoux
• The steep ascent up the Col du Portet in the Pyrenees!

With a booming start from Copenhagen, the 2022 tour began its epic 3,328km journey through Belgium, France and the Alps.

After battling six gruelling mountain stages and five altitude finishes, riders faced their final challenges in the Pyrenees mountains before the action-packed final stage on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.

This is a testament to how passionate the organisers are about creating a challenging and beautiful route that celebrates the diverse landscape of France and surrounding countries.

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100 years on: the history of the Tour de France

2013 is somewhat of a special year for the Tour de France, as it celebrates both its 100th edition and its 110-year anniversary. Since its inception, the race has brought great feats, gruelling competition, outstanding statistics and, of course, doping scandals.

Go straight to… Timeline

Tour trivia Tour outside France Doping El Diablo Recurring runners-up

Tour Stats Age Geography Mountains Riders Race records Wins and yellow jerseys

Tour trivia

When the Tour starts outside France

Show Tour de France starts outside France on a larger map

With post-race confessions becoming worryingly common it’s now known that drugs, in particular amphetamines, were widespread from early on. One example is Jean Malléjac who admitted he doped as a rider, telling reporters he just escaped death in 1955 when he collapsed on the road to Mont Ventoux. Various doping tricks adopted by the riders to evade detections are revealed: – In 1978 Michel Pollentier attempted to provide a fake, clean urine sample but was immediately caught and excluded. – In 1998 Willy Voet, coach for the Festina team, was arrested for possession of hundreds of doses of doping products. The entire team was excluded from the race. – In 2013 the confessions of Lance Armstrong led to him being stripped of his seven titles and drew media attention from all over the world – Since Armstrong’s public admissions Jan Ullrich also confessed to doping and Laurent Jalabert was challenged on the basis of samples dating back to 1998.

Watch our interview with David Moncoutié : The majority of them were cheating…

Recurring runners-up

• Joop Zoetemelk, six finishes in 2nd place: 1970, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982. He won the race in 1980.
• Jan Ullrich, five times runner-up: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003. He won the Tour in 1997.
• Raymond Poulidor, three times runner-up: 1964, 1965, 1974. He also holds the record of podiums, ranking eight times in the first three. .

Youngest winner almost 20 years old Henri Cornet in 1904 after the disqualification of the first four riders.

Oldest winner: 36 years old Firmin Lambot in 1922

Oldest participant: 50 years old Henri Paret in 1904

Most visited city on the tour (except Paris) 80 times Bordeaux

Corsica The only region to have never held the race until 2013. The first three stages of the Tour 2013 will be held in Corsica.

Highest altitude reached: 2,802 metres The road between Bonnette-Restefond ( entre Nice et Gap ), (between Nice and Gap). The race passed the route in 1962, 1964, 1993 and 2008.

Different climbs per mountain range Alps & Alpes-Maritimes/Provence – 98 Pyrenees – 57 Massif Central – 26 Cévennes – 19 Vosges – 17 Forêt-Noire & Jura – 12 Total : 229

Highest finishing point 2,645 metres Col du Galibier, Alps (2011)

Most visited climbs Individual Pyrenees hills have been visited more regularly than those in the Alps.

76 times, Tourmalet, 2,115m | 72 times,Aubisque, 1,709m | 71 times,Aspin, 1,489m

58 times Galibier, 2645m | 39 times Aravis, 1498m 37 times Col du Télégraphe, 1566m | 33 times Col d’Allos, de l’Izoard et de Vars

Le Mont Ventoux, celebrated for its views but infamous for the death of Tom Simpson has been climbed by the riders 13 times.

Participants

Highest number of runners 1903, 1st Tour de France -> 60 riders entered, 21 finished

1928, the largest number of dropouts -> 162 riders entered, 41 finished 121 dropouts 1986, the largest number of participants -> 210 riders entered, 132 finished

2012 -> 198 riders entered, 153 finished 2013 -> 198 riders entered

The largest number of tours by a participant 16 By Joop Zoetemelk (Netherlands)- between 1970 and 1986. He won the Tour in 1980.

19 years By Eugène Christophe- first appearance in 1906 and the last in 1925 at the age of 40 .

Race records

Most stage wins 34 By Eddy Merckx

Smallest gap/biggest gap (since 1947) between 1st and 2nd place 8 seconds between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon in 1989 28m17s between Fausto Coppi et Stan Ockers in 1952

Highest average speed

57.3 km/h Team time trial – Discovery Channel, Tours-Blois (67,5 km)

55.1 km/h Prologue – Chris Boardman, Lille-Euralille (7,2 km)

54.5 km/h Individual time trial – Greg LeMond, Versaille-Paris (24,5 km) in 1989

50.3 km/h Non time-trial – Mario Cipollini, Laval-Blois (164.5 km) in 1999

Longest breakaway 253 km Albert Bourlon in 1947, Carcassonne-Luchon

Wins and yellow jerseys

Most wins 7 by Lance Armstrong (1999-2005) disqualified and stripped of all 7 titles for doping

5 -by Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961-1964), Eddy Merckx (1969-1972, 1974), Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1974), Miguel Indurain (1991-1995)

Most days wearing the yellow jersey 111 days By Eddy Merckx, followed by Bernard Hinault (79 days), Lance Armstrong (83 days), Miguel Indurain (60 days), Jacques Anquetil (52 days)

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A whirlwind vinous Tour de France through eleven French wine regions | Britt on Forbes

• Author: Britt Karlsson
• January 17, 2021

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Article filed in: Features » A whirlwind vinous Tour de France through eleven French wine regions | Britt on Forbes

France is not like Italy, where vines grow in every region. But France is not far behind. In fact, there are more vineyards in France than in Italy. France has 794 000 hectares of vineyards, a bit more than Italy’s 708 000 ha. And in virtually all other parts of France than the north-west, vineyards are abundant, from Champagne in the very north, to Languedoc-Roussillon on the border to Spain, from the Loire on the Atlantic coast in the west, to Provence in the east, bordering Italy. Join us on this whirlwind tour of all major wine regions of France.

In the northwest of France, in Brittany and Normandy, vineyards are scarce, but their inhabitants don’t suffer too much as they have their excellent apple cider and, of course, their calvados. I Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region of the country, the climate doesn’t lend itself to viticulture. Here, though, they have a well-developed beer culture. After all, they are a stone’s throw from Belgium. In the lovely city of Lille, you are more likely to find a beer bar than a wine bar.

This article was originally published in a shorter version on Forbes.com .

In the rest of France though, the wine reigns supreme (well, in Alsace they do drink quite a lot of beer as well, a memory of the old ties with Germany). The eleven wine regions are, starting in the northeast and going clockwise:

• Rhône Valley,
• Languedoc-Roussillon,
• South West,
• The Loire Valley

The world’s most famous sparkling wines are made from grapes that grow in a rather tricky climate in northern France, rather cold and humid compared to the rest of the country. The upside is the high acidity which is paramount for high-quality sparkling wine; you want that in sparkling wines. The grapes are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The bubbles are formed during the second fermentation in the bottle. This way to make sparkling wine is called the méthode champenoise in Champagne and méthode traditionelle elsewhere.

Alsace is on the border with Germany and makes aromatic wines with their very own character and style. The grape variety is (almost) always clearly indicated on the label, which is rare in France. The local food is somewhat rustic but goes surprisingly well with the elegant Riesling wines with varying sweetness degrees. You can relish in their choucroute (a cousin to sauerkraut), pork and stews, the super-thin pizza-like tarte flambé and, of course, foie gras . Other grape varieties of note are rose-scented Gewurztraminer and full-bodied Pinot Gris. Lookout for some indication of sweetness, sec for instance (or ask), since it is not uncommon that some wines are semi-dry. The whites dominate, but you can find light and refreshing Pinot Noir wines.

Jura makes some of France’s (and the world’s) most original wines. It’s a small region in the pretty Jura Mountains, not so well-known. The “yellow wine”, vin jaune , made from the grape Savagnin, is the centrepiece, but it is a rare wine, produced in small quantities. You can compare it to a fino , the driest sherry style. It has a similar slightly “oxidized” style and is also aged in not quite full barrels before bottling. Jura also makes superb Chardonnay, sometimes blended with Savagnin, and sometimes, just like the vin jaune, with an extraordinary, slightly oxidized character. The reads are easy drinking but only rarely really memorable.

This is the land of chardonnay and pinot noir. Burgundy begins with Chablis, 200 kilometres south of Champagne, the same distance from Paris but to the south-east. Here, the relatively cool climate gives white wines from Chardonnay that are crisp and fresh. Further south, in the Côte d’Or, the whites, also from Chardonnay, are more full-bodied and oaky. The reds from Pinot Noir are very prestigious with prices to match, but if you look hard, or as for good advice, you can certainly find some affordable ones too. The best ones are exquisite and velvety. Burgundy ends with Beaujolais. Here, the Gamay grape gives fruity, fresh and often juicy and easy-drinking wines.

The South-East

Rhône valley.

On the slopes of the Rhône River just south of Lyon, we find a small collection of a few of France’s most sought-after red wines: Côte Rôtie, Saint Joseph, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage. They are all made from Syrah, a powerful and spicy grape. A small amount of high-quality white is made in Condrieu, from the floral and full-bodied Viognier.

Southern Rhône has always been associated with the prestigious wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but there are now many other exciting appellations with ambitious producers, such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Costières de Nîmes to mention a few. Côtes du Rhône and its sister appellations are some to go looking for these days. Grenache and Syrah are the main grapes, and the wines are filled with herbal notes, spices and a warm, southern feeling.

The wines from Savoie are mostly drunk in the region where they are made, by thirsty tourists who ski or hike in the Alps. However, there is a lot to discover here, not least the Roussanne grape, responsible for some delicious whites and also the red Mondeuse, a great personality with a full body and with a good dose of tannins.

Provence is on the Mediterranean coast, stretching east from the river Rhône to the border with Italy. The landscape is spectacular, with vineyards, lavender fields, olive groves and mountains. It is a landscape that has been loved and painted by numerous artists. Rosé, the extremely pale version that is only a fraction away from a white wine, is the speciality. They have (sadly) become by far the most popular colour here. But there are also full-bodied whites from the fishing village of Cassis and reds from Bandol, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence and Les Baux. The grapes are Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise and others

The Southwest of France

Languedoc-roussillon.

Languedoc-Roussillon, the southernmost region bordering to Spain on the Mediterranean side, has transformed in the past 50 years from making inexpensive volume wines to producing a full range of wines from pleasant everyday wines to prestigious, top-quality wines. Some 200,000 hectares of vines have been pulled out in the long process of raising the quality of the wines from here. The producers were encouraged to plant Syrah to increase the complexity and structure of the wines. But many winemakers today prefer the traditional grapes of the region, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault and make fabulous wines from them. They consider these to be the grapes that best bring out the local aromas of herbs, junipers and sun-warmed berries, the character that is often referred to with the French word for the local underbrush vegetation here, la garrigue . Languedoc-Roussillon is today a fascinating wine region.

The South-West

The South-West, or often called by its French name le Sud-Ouest , is the collective name of many small districts from Toulouse down to the Basque Country on the Spanish border. We are close to the Atlantic Ocean, so the climate is quite humid and warm. Here we can find an incredible variety of outstanding and original wines, both reds, whites and sweet. The local grapes, such as Mauzac, Négrette, Gros Manseng and Tannat, are full of character and most of them are almost unique to this region. Some of the more famous Southwest districts are Madiran (with the tannat grape also famous from Uruguay), Cahors (with malbec that has become well-known thanks to Mendoza in Argentina), Jurançon, Gaillac, Fronton and Bergerac.

Bordeaux is one of France’s largest wine regions (although not the largest) and the most famous, known for its beautiful chateaux and prestigious (and expensive) red wines. But many of the lesser wine estates make excellent wines at very reasonable prices, if one only looks a bit outside the most famed names. Bordeaux also makes some of the world’s finest sweet wines. Sauternes is made with noble rot grapes making some extraordinary luscious sweet wines, some of the world’s best. The dry white Bordeaux wines can be magnificent and deserve more attention. They have unfortunately lost in popularity but that also means that there are some bargains to be made. The main red grapes in Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot; the whites are Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

The West of France

If you travel from Bordeaux to the Loire Valley, you go through Cognac, which is also considered a wine region although most of the wine is distilled into Cognac. Cognac is a large wine producer with around 60 000 hectares and a yield that far exceeds other regions. It is wines that you do not need to allocate space in your brain for.

Loire Valley

France’s longest river goes north from the mountainous regions of central France flowing north up to the city of Orléans. Here it makes a turn to the west and continues towards the Atlantic Ocean. Along the Loire and several of its tributaries, there are vineyards. There’s a large number of different appellations of all kinds, red, white, rosé; dry, semi-dry and very sweet, and a lot of sparkling.

Although there is a certain family-feeling in the wines in the form of fresh acidity (we’re quite far north), there is a tremendous variety in styles along the idyllic river. White and rosé wines dominate. While some of the reds are fruity and light and mostly easy-drinking lunch wine you can also find very serious reds: Cabernet Franc from Chinon and Bourgueil and Côt (a synonym for Malbec) from Touraine are often superb and memorable. High-quality whites are made from Sauvignon Blanc in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, and both very crisp dry as well as sweet from Chenin Blanc (Vouvray, Montlouis, Savennières, Coteaux du Layon).

The best way to explore the wine regions and vineyards of France, and taste the delicious wine and food, is, of course, to go travelling in France. And the best way to travel in France is, need we say, to go on a wine tour with BKWine.

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Timeline: A History of Tour de France Nutrition

How pro cyclists have eaten (and drank) over the past 113 years to fuel their Tour performance

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

     RELATED:  What Happens When You Eat Like a Tour de France Rider

1903: Tour de Bars

The first Tour de France was won in 1903 by chimney sweep Maurice Garin, who  reportedly ate at bars and drank from fountains to sustain himself during the race.

Cycling's love of coffee has never gone out of style—energize your ride with Puncheur, Bicycling's signature whole-bean coffee !

1904: Winner Henri Cornet's food rations were 11 liters of hot chocolate, four liters of tea, champagne, and 1.5 kilograms of rice pudding in a day, according to The Science of the Tour de France: Training Secrets of the World's Best Cyclists . During the race, cyclists had to stop at checkpoints to prove they were following the itinerary—racers could eat and replenish their energy at stops that had food and beverages.

“[Nutrition] was extremely rudimentary,” says Christopher Thompson, author of The Tour de France: A Cultural History . “I looked at hundreds of editions from dozens of newspapers during the early years of the race for my book. Nutrition wasn’t a focus—until they bonked and lost time. But even then, the eating wasn’t addressed.”

1910s: Without specific food stops or pit crews, and lacking modern technology, riders stopped along the road to refuel with outside assistance—a disqualifying offense in modern times! One well-to-do cyclist, Thompson says, actually had his butler set up a full picnic on the roadside mid-stage.

“It was very unscientific. You just ate something you thought would fill you up, similar to what you’d bring on a picnic,” says Thompson. And in France, that meant a traditional European carb-heavy diet of bread and pasta—a tradition that continues today, with some modifications. 

1920s: The Musette Onset

Speaking of picnics: While there isn’t a definitive point when cyclists started using musette bags to carry food, it might have been around the time World War I ravaged Europe. Musette bags for cyclists roughly resemble those used by military troops in World Wars I and II, and the use of the musette bags in races allowed cyclists to grab-and-go with their snacks, rather than stopping to eat. 

1900-1960: Who needs sports drinks? Riders drank alcohol during the race , from beer to wine to champagne, for both hydration and (let’s be honest) a more fun ride. During the 17th stage of the 1935 Tour, nearly the entire peloton took a break to booze with locals—Julien Moineau the rider who passed on beer wound up winning the stage. 

     RELATED: Drunk Mechanics: How Alcohol Affects Your Ride

1920s: Cyclists would smoke cigarettes while riding to reportedly ‘open the lungs.’

1926: Some things never go out of style—riders were caught chowing down on bananas for simple-carb fuel in the 1920s.  

1939: Wait, Nutrition Matters?

As early as 1939, cyclists started to consider nutrition as somewhat important to their racing. At the very least, they started taking vitamins to stay healthy and improve performance, according to this study from the University of California.

     RELATED: 5 Vitamins and Minerals Cyclists Need More Of

1960s: Eddie Merckx was a major fan of big Sunday meals with family, says Thompson—and that includes cake. "There’s a quote, and I remember noting it, because it showed that racers weren’t looking at nutrition very carefully then,” says Thompson. “Merckx says, standing at the pastry tray after a big meal, while grabbing a cake, ‘It’s not the pastries that hurt, it’s the climbs.’ "

1965: Gatorade is invented, and the field of sports nutrition will never be the same. “It’s about salt. It’s about basic sodium, and that’s what hurts us if we can’t keep that in balance,” says sports nutrition expert Allen Lim, founder of Skratch Labs . Gatorade was about to solve that problem for endurance athletes—including pro cyclists in the Tour. 

1970s: A carb focus begins both pre-performance and during performance as racers search out carbohydrates versus just ‘food in general.’ Sports drinks become more and more popular, with Gatorade leading the charge. Scientist Gunvar Ahlborg is credited with the concept of ‘ carb loading ;’ he published several papers promoting the need for carbohydrates before and during exercise.

1985: It's All About That Caffeine Buzz

By 1985, caffeine is established as an ergogenic aid; drinking coffee pre-race is even more common, according to a report from Louisiana State University.

1988: A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine  looks at five 1988 Tour de France competitors and finds that, on average, "they consumed 24,700kJ per day and expended 25,400kJ.” Their fluid intake averaged 6.7 liters per day, and 61 percent of their diets on average consisted of carbohydrate, at a rate of 94 grams per hour while racing. The major carb source? Cakes eaten during the race.

1980s:  Coca-Cola’s increasing popularity—set against the backdrop of a world now terrified of fat—had racers drinking soda for recovery , and nutritionists lamenting.

1987: Sports gels are invented for stomach-friendly carb-fueling. The supposed first is Leppin Sport's Squeezy; its successors, courtesy of Power Bar and others, would become essential to riders during the '90s.

Check out these nutrition tips from a WorldTour chef:  ​

1990s:  Riders were still engaged in European eating patterns, but things were beginning to change, says nutrition expert Allen Lim, who began his cycling career in the '90s.

"The 7-Eleven team was the first to bring a chef on board for the Tour, and he was there to make sure the food quality was high, and make sure the hotel didn’t screw things up and did make some fresh food," he says. "That freshness, that food made with care, was so different than the hotel food that the riders were used to.

"Tour food was based on what you could get, which in France meant bread and pasta," he adds. "In France, the low-end food is really crappy and the high-end food is amazing, at least in respect to hotels where riders would end up."

     RELATED: 9 Food Swaps to Boost Your Energy

2005: Allen Lim—of Feed Zone fame—begins cooking at the tour, ignoring the standard pre-race pasta in favor of rice. His racers love it, his cooking staff—all old-school Europeans—do not.

"Just before the 2010 Tour, I was packing things up at the service course and in a back room found about 15 rice cookers that the Euro staff had stolen and tried to hide from me,” he recalls.

But he kept cooking it, and other teams started to catch on.

"Later, many of those same Euro staffers came back and apologized to me, which was really nice... they told me they had become big fans of the rice cooker,” Lim says.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Health & Nutrition

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Tour de France History – facts, jerseys and basics

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The Tour de France is considered the greatest annual bicycle race in the world – for many it is the ultimate show of athletic endurance and it is watched by millions around the world.

Held in France and nearby countries the race has kept audiences enthralled since 1903 with the exception of the war years when races were stopped.

Not only does this race cover some 3,600km over a period of three weeks including routes up and down mountain roads, it is also held in the heat of summer which makes for a gruelling competition of supreme stamina and endurance.  This only adds to the reputation of the Tour de France and it attracts riders and teams from all over the world.

Tour de France History

The idea of the Tour de France was borne of conflict, passion and rage in the early 1900s and has a chequered history .  At the time there were was one main sporting newspaper – L’Auto Vélo.  A competitor to L’AutoVélo named Le Vélo was started as a result of sponsorship anger at L’Auto Vélo whose editor had published an article in another journal in favour of Albert Dreyfus – a French soldier accused of selling military secrets to the Germans.  Dreyfus was from Alsace and Germany laid claim to the region. The Dreyfus affair as it was known, divided France into two camps – those who believed Dreyfus guilty and those who believed him innocent. The sponsor in question was firmly of the opinion that Dreyfus was in the wrong and he set up a new sporting newspaper – Le Vélo and forced l’Auto Vélo to have its named changed to L’Auto.  Competition between the two papers was fierce and l’Auto quickly lost ground to its rival. Though now named l’Auto, its greatest news coverage was concerned with cycling and in order to survive it needed to do something drastic.

The idea for the greatest cycle ride in the world came in 1902 from Georges Lefèvre a journalist on L’Auto and fortunately he got backing from the editor Henri Desgranges. He wanted a cycle race that was harder, longer, bigger and better than anything that ever gone before. The first race in 1903 had 60 riders drawn to the 20,000 France first prize. Newspaper coverage took readers from village to mountain in its trek across France drawing admiration and amazement from French roadside audiences and readers. Georges Lefèvre followed the tour by rail, bus and bike – a lone reporter sending his missives back to Paris to be published.  By the time the race ended in Paris, 20,000 fee paying spectators turned up, L’Auto’s circulation had gone through the roof – the race was a success.

What of Dreyfus?  He was later exonerated and given a full pardon by the state.  Le Vélo, started as a protest against an article in favour of Dreyfus eventually went out of business unable to contend with the success of l’Auto and Le Tour de France.

In its early years the riders were predominantly French but within just ten years the race went international and has delighted audiences around the world. The initial days saw riders endure dirt track roads shared with other users, fixed gear bikes and as they didn’t know any better, drinking champagne, wine and smoking during down time was quite the norm.

The race suffered from accusations of cheating, sabotage and violence. In 1905 an estimated 125kg of nails were thrown on the road during the first stage, resulting in just 15 riders reaching the finish line from more than sixty who had started. In 1910 the Tour suffered its first fatal casualty Adolphe Hélière was electrocuted by a jellyfish while bathing in Nice on the rest day held there.

The Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France – what’s it all about?

The Tour de France breaks down into day long sections known as stages and each individual participant has his finish time aggregated daily to determine the overall winner at the end of the day.  The rider who has the lowest cumulative time to complete a stage gets to wear the Tour de France yellow jersey – the leader’s jersey – the next day.  Wearing the yellow jersey brings real kudos to a rider and team and the bright colour is easily visible to the crowds and the following cameras.  As the riders whizz past the crowds, that visibility means that the rider can be picked out easily and the crowd will always recognise and acknowledge giving the rider an even further boost.

The idea of the yellow jersey was down to Henri Desgrange who was the tour manager in 1919 – l’Auto was printed on yellow paper. The yellow jersey has since inspired songs, films and books and is hugely sought after by the riders.

The other jerseys of the Tour de France:

– The green jersey created in 1953 to recognise the best sprinter. The Tour de France green jersey rewards the rider who wins the race’s points competition.

– The white jersey with red polka dots created in 1975 is awarded to the best climber; it is bestowed on the race’s ‘King of the Mountains’ (KOM), the rider who amasses the most points from the numerous categorized climbs throughout the race

– The white jersey awarded since 1975 to the best young (under 26) rider. It is given to the rider who completes the race in the lowest overall time.

What route does the Tour de France take?

The Tour de France route changes each year – but there are consistent themes: it will always take in mountain roads to test the stamina of the riders and it will always finish in the Champs-Élysées in Paris amidst much jubilation and fanfare.

The official tour de France website publishes details of the route, stages and lots of features about the ride.

The Basic Tour de France race details

The race consists of day long stages; individual race times are aggregated to determine the overall winner.

The rider with the lowest overall time wins the race.

There are normally 20 teams competing (determined by the Tour de France organizers each year) and each team has nine riders.

There are usually two rest days allowed to the riders.

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Tour de France of Wine Tasting

Ready to experience the best wine tasting in paris.

We designed this masterclass for wine lovers. Fancy knowing more about what you drink? Are you comfortable with ordering a Californian or Australian wine but can’t really make sense of French wine? Do you know the grape varieties you like but would like to learn more about the French regions where it is planted? You’ve booked your trip to Paris and feel that learning about French wine would be useful– maybe just for the sake of being able to order the wines at a restaurant? Then this tasting is the one for you.

Description of your Tour de France of Wine tasting 

This will be the opportunity for you to ask all your questions:

• How is champagne made?
• Where do all the different grape varieties grow?
• What are tannins?
• What are the new wine trends?
• What are the best food and wine pairings?
• How do you taste wine?

All the wines you will taste during the masterclass are available to buy (plus many more too!) Just ask your sommelier. Santé et bon appétit!

Possible add-ons: cheese or charcuterie platter (+15€)

What You Will Learn

• How to taste wine – techniques, and vocabulary
• How to read a French wine label
• Concepts of Terroir and AOC – comparison of Old World vs. New World
• The main wine regions of France – the grapes they grow, the style of wines they make
• Where to find good value wine in France
• Answers to any questions you may have

Time & Place of the Wine tasting in Paris

Cancellations, loire valley wine tour from paris, 3 champagne flight, wine tasting dinner.

• Wine tasting
• Private events
• Our private spaces
• Gift vouchers
• About us & our team
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Wine Tour de France in a Cozy Private Wine Bar: An Airbnb Experience

I booked a wine tasting last minute in the 9th Arrondissement at a bar à vin/caviste called Archibon. Wine Tour de France in a cozy private wine bar was hosted by Henri , who opened the establishment in 2016. He’d previously worked in the business sector but later decided to pursue his passion for wine full-time.

The bar is intimate. Mirrors line the walls. Stacked crates are stocked with bottles of wine. I visited on a Sunday afternoon and found Rue Rougemont quite quiet. Archibon is located at number 13.

I was the first guest to arrive. Henri and I chatted about my acquisition of the French language while we waited. I also tried — successfully, I might add — to refrain from eating the baguette, cheese, and charcuterie that had been placed at my table. Class began promptly when the other two guests arrived. One of them had studied wine, which, as I suspected, made for robust conversation.

The Airbnb experience was unique. It struck the perfect balance between formal wine class and casual tasting. Henri is skilled at making complicated information on wine production accessible. As a memoirist, I enjoyed hearing Henri tell the story of how he started his business and maintained it through 2020 and beyond. I also had the opportunity to put my senses to the test; we discussed the tasting notes of each of our six wines in great depth.

Although I took a few notes, I fully embraced the casualness of the occasion. There was plenty of room for questions, thoughts, disagreements, and personal stories. I left having connected with another sommelier in one of my favorite cities. One can never know too many people in the French wine industry. Needless to say, I plan to return.

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World Wild Schooling

12 European Small Towns for Wine Lovers

Posted: April 8, 2024 | Last updated: April 8, 2024

 With Europe’s vast wine history and culture, choosing a destination to go wine sampling can become challenging. Looking for the best adventure for wine connoisseurs? These European towns will make a perfect destination whether you’re looking to sample different wines, get insights into the history of winemaking, interact with some of the renowned winemaking families, or marvel at stunning vineyards. 

Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Just an hour’s drive from Bordeaux city center, Saint-Emilion is renowned for producing red wine, primarily from Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. 

Take tours of some of the town’s stunning vineyards, such as Château Canon and Château Figeac. You may also want to take wine-tasting trips to the estates of winemaking families in the region. The most renowned families include Malet Roquefort and the de Boüard de Laforest (owners of Château Angélus). 

Saint-Emilion is the place to savor some of the finest wine in the world and take in views of well-manicured vineyards and stunning architecture.

Read also: Gorgeous Small Towns in Europe

Beune, Burgundy, France

Located in the Burgundy(Bourgogne in French) wine-producing region, Beune is known for its exquisite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. It is home to some of the most richly flavored wines in the world, including Pommard, Volnay, and Meursault.

For a deeper immersion into wine production wine tasting, visit the Drouhin family of Maison Joseph Drouhin and the Latour family of Domaine Louis Latour, which have been in the wine production business for generations.

Don’t finish your trip without visiting Beune’s magnificent vineyards. The most famous vineyards in the town include Clos des Mouches, Corton-Charlemagne, and Les Grèves.

Read also: Stunning Small Towns in the World

Sancerre, Loire, France

Sancerre in the Loire wine region is where to indulge in the crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines. Although in smaller quantities, Sancerre also produces Pinot Noir grapes, which are used in making red and rosé wines.

Spice up your trip by touring the estates of the Bourgeois family known for Domaine Henri Bourgeois, and the Reverdy family of Domaine Reverdy-Ducroux. You could also stop by the numerous tasting shops in the city. 

Finish your trip by marveling at the vineyard-covered hills overlooking the Loire River. Les Monts Damnés and La Grande Côte vineyards are must-visits; they’re breathtaking and known for producing some of Sancerre’s most distinguished wines.

Read also: Fairytale Towns in Europe

Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

Barolo, located in the Piedmont wine-producing region of Italy, is famed for cultivating Nebbiolo grapes, which are used in the production of red wine. Visiting this small town is an opportunity to indulge in the prestigious wine famous for its complex aromas and robust flavors. 

Book a trip to some renowned winemaking families for a deeper insight into Barolo’s winemaking traditions. Your best bet would be with either the Conterno family of Giacomo Conterno or the Mascarello family behind the production Bartolo Mascarello. 

If you would like to get out and about in Barolo, do it on the vineyards covering the picturesque hills of Langhe Region. Cannubi, Sarmassa, and Brunate are some of Barolo’s most sought-after vineyards.

Read also: Most Beautiful Villages in Europe

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

If you’re a fan of intense flavors and rich textures in wine, you will have a great time sampling the lavish Brunello di Montalcino wines, one of Italy’s most loved ones. Made from Sangiovese grapes, Montalcino wines are loved for their exemplary aging potential. 

Take time and hear from the best: the Biondi-Santi family behind Tenuta Il Greppo and the Banfi family of Castello Banfi. You may also want to visit boutique estates and tasting rooms that let you savor a wide range of Brunello di Montalcino wines. 

Wrap up by enjoying stunning views of vineyards like Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Pian delle Vigne, and Canalicchio.

Read also: Scenic Villages in Europe for Quiet Relaxation

Haro, La Rioja, Spain

If you fancy La Rioja wines’ complex and deep flavor, you deserve a trip to Haro, which is at the helm of producing one of Spain’s favorite wines. Made from Tempranillo grapes, Rioja wines are balanced yet firm, with abundant fruity flavor. 

To better understand Rioja wine production, take tours to famous wine cellars (called Bodegas) like López de Heredia Viña Tondonia and Bodegas Muga. Then, enjoy the moderate sunshine while strolling in the picturesque vineyards of Haro.

Read also: Unique Places To Visit Europe

Mosel Valley, Germany

Mosel Valley is the best destination to revel in exquisite Riesling wines. Riesling grapes are the predominant variety cultivated in Mosel Valley, and they are known for producing wine with an aromatic intensity and vibrant acidity. 

While visiting, take time to walk down the steep slopes of the vineyards and enjoy the greenery and view of the Mosel River. Ürziger Würzgarten, Bernkasteler Doctor, and Piesporter Goldtröpfchen are some of the most picturesque vineyards in the region. 

 If you want to plunge into the history of wine production in Mosel Valley, consider booking tours to popular wineries such as Dr. Loosen, Joh. Jos. Prüm, and Markus Molitor.

Read also: Peaceful Lakeside Towns in Europe

Santorini, Greece

One of the most overlooked things to do in Santorini is to indulge in the rich culture and history surrounding the production of Assyrtiko wines. When visiting, spare time to savor Assyrtiko wines, known for crisp acidity, citrusy flavors, and distinctive mineral notes. 

For top-notch wine-tasting tours, book trips with famous wineries such as Santo Wines, Gaia Wines, and Domaine Sigalas. You may also want to consider Venetsanos Winery, which offers an excellent experience featuring panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and the island’s picturesque landscapes. 

Finish your wine tour by exploring the island’s vineyards, which are situated on picturesque volcanic slopes. Pyrgos, Megalochori, and Oia are just a few vineyards you can visit.

Read also: Must-Visit Greek Islands

Pinhão, Douro Valley, Portugal

While Porto is a good enough destination to explore Port wines, if you want to go further, take a trip to Pinhao for an exhaustive immersion. Port wines, loved for their complex aromas, are made from grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. 

Take a step further and tour estates (known as Quintas) at the frontline of producing Portugal’s beloved wine. Quinta do Noval, Quinta de la Rosa, and Quinta do Vale Meão are renowned for the quality tours and experiences they offer tourists. 

After touring the estates, take time to admire the terraced vineyards along the banks of the Douro River. Some of the most famous vineyards in the valley include Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta da Roêda, and Quinta do Crasto; they’re genuinely sights to behold.

Read also: Must-Visit European Cities

Grandvaux, Lavaux, Switzerland

Grandvaux, one of the small towns producing the Swiss Chasselas wines, is tucked amidst the hills of the Lavaux wine region. Chasselas is known for its crisp acidity and delicate fruity flavors, making it great to enjoy with various cuisines or on their own. 

Domaine Croix Duplex and Domaine Louis Bovard are some wineries that offer trips to let tourists into their craft. You will also love the Swiss Alps scenery you enjoy during your wine tour. The vineyards of Grandvaux are located on steep terraced slopes and overlook the stunning Lake Geneva. Clos du Rocher, Clos des Abbayes, and Clos de la Rosière offer some of the best lake views and greenery.

Read also: Hidden Gems in Europe

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Chianti would make a perfect destination to indulge in one of Italy’s most prestigious wines, Chianti Classico. Primarily made from Sangiovese grapes, Chianti Classico is recognized for its cherry fruit flavors. 

Chianti has been producing wine for over 2000 years. Visiting is an opportunity to tour wineries and estates that have been in the business for generations. Some of Chianti’s renowned wineries include Antinori, Castello di Ama, and Felsina. 

Take time touring vineyards that play a massive part in the top quality of Chianti wines. Take all the time you need to enjoy the scenery and study the optimal conditions of vineyards.

Read also: Most Beautiful Cities in Europe

Évora, Alentejo, Portugal

There is no better place to enjoy Aletenjo’s regional wine than Evora. A UNESCO World Heritage Site , Evora offers much to see before you embark on your wine tour. Evora has a lot of wine bars and cellars that are perfect for exploring the diverse wine culture of Alentejo. 

For a deeper understanding of the region’s winemaking techniques, consider taking trips to winemaking estates in the Alentejo countryside. The most popular in the area include Herdade do Esporão, Adega Cartuxa, and Herdade da Malhadinha Nova.

Read also: European Cities for Solo Travelers

Stunning Small Towns in Europe to Visit in Your Lifetime

Add these  charming European small towns  to your bucket list.

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Turn your wanderlust into reality with our list of  must-visit European cities .

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Explore  off-the-beaten-path gems in Europe  for a truly authentic experience.

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Stretch your travel budget in these  cost-effective European cities .

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Step into a world of  beautiful small towns  where cobblestone streets lead to timeless wonders.

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Read the original thread on  12 European Small Towns for Wine Lovers .

This article was produced and syndicated by  World Wild Schooling .

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This Iconic Kitchenware Brand Launches Culinary Trips That Include Harvesting Oysters in Normandy and Olive Oil Tasting in Marseille

The food-focused journeys will immerse travelers in French culinary traditions.

Chalffy/Getty Images/Courtesy of Sur La Table

Hungry for adventures? Sur La Table, the national retailer of cookware and bakeware, is entering the travel industry by launching a series of trips to immerse travelers in the culinary traditions of France. The Seattle-based company partnered with Academic Travel Abroad Inc., a decades-old cultural and educational travel provider, to host two curated itineraries in September and October, with more journeys coming up in 2025.

“At Sur La Table, we’re constantly looking for new ways to engage with our customers that bring to life our passion for cooking and celebrating cuisine from around the world,” Meredith Abbot, culinary director and trip expert at Sur La Table, told Travel+Leisure, noting that the partnership will allow the company to “take our signature cooking programming to the most iconic culinary destinations for a fully immersive trip.”

Hemis/Alamy/Courtesy of Sur La Table

Cooking classes, visits to local markets, food tours, and workshops with artisans will be some of the experiences included in the hyper-local itineraries. The first trip will take place from Sept. 1 until Sept. 8 and will introduce travelers to the gastronomic culture of Northwestern France. From learning to harvest mussels and oysters in the Bay of Biscay to making crepes in the historic port city of Saint-Malo, smoking salmon, and visiting the picture-perfect island of Mont Saint-Michel (at low tide, of course), this week-long trip will whisk travelers to some of the most beautiful corners of Brittany and Normandy. 

The second culinary journey, A Taste of Provence and the French Riviera will take place in Marseille and Nice from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6. Guests will try their hand at preparing classic Bouillabaisse seafood soup with a local chef, will learn all about sea salt production in the small village of Salins de Giraud, and will cook a classic Niçois meal with fresh produce from a local organic farm. Another highlight of this trip is a private tour of the Maison Empereur, the oldest specialty store in France. 

Both trips will include hands-on experiences and lectures so travelers leave with a better understanding of the history and culture of these distinct culinary regions. Groups will cap at 25 people, and rates start at $7,995, excluding flights. 

In a press release, Sur La Table said that its 2025 itineraries will include Paris and the South of Italy.