Anyway, a trip to France always involves fine gastronomy and wine ! This is why we are famous abroad, so let us show you that this is not an urban myth !

A ride in the countryside will be, in almost every region of the country, a way to discover vineyards and local products.
However, we selected a few rides during which gastronomy and wine are a big part...

More information about French gastronomy and wine - click here!

Click on the region you are looking for on the map on the right or check our rides below!

Ride in Loire Valley

Also known in French as the "Jardin de la France" (the Garden of France) , the Loire Valley, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, has won this recognition thanks to its astonishing castles and sweet gastronomy with famous wines and cheeses

Ride in Allier

Gourmet restaurant in the Bourbonnaise tradition. Experience the local cuisine, and rediscover the taste of products from the castle's gardens, neighboring farms, or local markets.
The wine cellar contains nearly 3000 bottles of France's finest selections, especially from Bourgogne and Cote du Rhone.

Riding holidays in a castle in Allier

RIDE IN FRANCE - Gastronomic restaurant in Allier

RIDE IN FRANCE - Wine tasting in Bordeaux

Ride in Bordeaux

This ride was made for wine lovers! From one famous vineyard to the other, you will discover on horseback the area of Bordeaux and the wines produced there. Of course, in France nice wine is always offered with nice food!

Wine tasting ride in Bordelais

Ride in Lot

Here also, you will taste products of this region famous for its local gastronomy : foie gras, walnuts, melon, truffles, goat cheese... and wine of course !

Ride in Luberon

In Luberon, you will enjoy the cuisine and smells of the sun: melons, cheese, ham, olives, spices, local wines... You can even learn how to cook local specialties during one of our programs !

RIDE IN FRANCE - Meals of Provence

Ride in Alsace

Our ride in Alsace allows you to discover different vineyards with beautiful landscapes and some points of view on the amazing Alsatian landscapes!

Ride in Alsace

GASTRONOMY AND GOURMET RIDES

French people have always been in love with food, and their reverence for the time of the meal is evident in any nationwide culinary establishment.

French cuisine is extremely diverse. This variety results from a long and rich History, and an extraordinary range of climates and types of ground which support the production of all kinds of ingredients. In many ways, understanding the origins of French gastronomy is understanding the French culture and way of life...

Meals can go from the very basic, such as the traditional baguette with cheese and cheap wine, to very elaborate meals that can involve a dozen courses and different wines consumed over several hours.

Regional French food

Almost all the famous French dishes are regional specialities, some of which became national dishes popular throughout France (such as Coq au Vin and Foie Gras) while others are mainly enjoyed in their original region.

The French Mediterranean cuisine uses olive oil, herbs and tomatoes in many of its dishes. The cuisine of northwest France uses butter, sour cream and apples. The cuisine of the northeast (Alsace, and to a lesser extent Lorraine) has a strong German influence which includes beer and sauerkraut. Throughout the south in general we tend to use more vegetables and fruits (in part due to the favourable climate). Near the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean sea, there is a greater consumption of sea food, while inland areas favoured by rivers (e.g. the Loire valley) use more fresh water fish.

Wine and cheese

Aside from bread and water, the most common side dishes to a French meal are wine and cheese. Unlike other countries, in France, wine is considered as a standard part of everyday meals, and is neither expensive nor reserved to special occasions. With everyday meals, ordinary wines are served, although it is expected that the type of wine matches the style of food.

In addition to its use in cooking, cheese is often served as a course in itself. In this case, it is served after the main meal but before desert. It consists in a platter with three or four different cheeses, from which guests can slice pieces according to their preferences. Sliced bread is provided at the same time.

OENOLOGIC EQUESTRIAN HOLIDAYS

France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area (behind Spain) and competes with Italy over the position to be the world's largest wine production.

French wine's history can be traced back to the 6th century BC, with many of France's regions dating their wine-making history to Roman times. The wines produced today range from expensive high-end wines sold internationally, to more modest wines usually only seen within France.

Two concepts, central to higher-end French wines are the notion of “terroir”, which links the style of the wine to its growing and production site, and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system.

Appellation rules closely define which grape varieties and winemaking practices are allowed in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or even specific vineyards.

Many varieties of grapes originally from France (such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah) are now planted throughout the world, as well as several wine-making practices and styles of wine.