People often ask me what is the best option for visiting a vineyard.

The best place to go for an overall wine experience is Saint-Emilion, the best wine location in the world, bar none. As a recent visitor said, it’s all about wine, and in a beautiful location.

However, although St Emilion is the home of probably the best wine in the world, Bergerac should not be underrated. My best recent visit was to Château Feely at Saussignac near Bergerac. Seán and Caro Feely are passionate about organic wine and offer a two hour visit. The first hour is spent getting to know about their vineyards and the second is in their tasting room where you can try out their wines. Unusually for the Bergerac area (known for its dry white wines) their reds are of a very high quality and reasonably priced. You can also read about their challenging project before you arrive in Caro’s books Grape Expectations and Saving our Skins. You’ll read about their strong Irish connections.

Another venue worth considering (perhaps in the same trip) is the Château de Monbazillac. This destination provides both a beautiful château, recently featured on BBC’s Escape To The Continent as well as an opportunity to try their very special sweet white wine, produced with the benefit of noble rot.

Local venues to visit should definitely include Château Laulerie.  This is one of the first local vineyards that I visited and I made a lucky early choice. In subsequent years I noticed that their Bergerac wine is featured in the wine list for Brittany Ferries, currently at £13.90. However, you can visit their vineyard at St Méard de Gurson and get the same wine for about 6 euros. I’m planning on bringing lots home after my next trip! They do a good vineyard visit, without appointment, from 9h00 to 12h00 and 14h30 to 18h00. Make sure that you follow the chemin blanc rather than the entrance for livraisons. They’re located about 1km south of Saint-Méard, turn left.

If you want to stay local the visit of choice is Château Priorat. If you take the right turn in the village after the shop on the corner after Source Cristaline you can’t miss it. They provide wine for local restaurants.