Okay, so I’ve always been a HUGE fan of food and wine, especially French stuff. I mean, who isn’t, right? So, this year I finally decided to go all-in and explore some of the food and wine festivals in France. Here’s how it all went down.
First things first, I did some digging online. I Googled “best food and wine festivals France” and stuff like that. I made a big list of all the festivals that sounded cool, and then I narrowed it down based on the time of year I wanted to go (spring, because, duh, beautiful weather!).
I ended up picking three festivals: one focused on wine, one on cheese (because, FRANCE), and a more general food festival that showcased regional specialties. The festivals that I chose were:
- Bordeaux Wine Festival.
- Fête de la Gastronomie.
Next up, I booked my flights and accommodation. I used one of those comparison websites to get the best deal on flights, obviously! For places to stay, I went with a mix of Airbnbs and small, family-run hotels. I wanted to keep things pretty local and authentic, you know?
Bordeaux Wine Festival
First I went to the Wine Festival. Oh. My. Goodness. It was absolutely AMAZING. I got myself a “tasting pass,” which was basically a ticket to try a bunch of different wines from different producers. I walked around, chatted with the winemakers (well, tried to, my French is pretty basic), and sipped on some seriously delicious wines.
I even learned a little about the different grape varieties and the wine-making process. I’m no expert, but hey, I can now tell the difference between a Bordeaux and a Burgundy… mostly. I jotted down notes in my little notebook about the wines I liked, so I can try to find them back home.
Fête de la Gastronomie
My next adventure took me to Fête de la Gastronomie. Because I’m all about that “when in Rome” kind of vibe, I went a little crazy. I tried everything from snails (not my favorite, gonna be honest) to these amazing little pastries filled with cream. I even took a short cooking class where I learned how to make a classic French sauce. It was a bit messy, but so much fun!
I also made sure to check out the local markets. The colors, the smells, the sheer variety of food…it was sensory overload in the best way possible. I bought some local cheese, some sausages, and a baguette, of course, and had a little picnic in a nearby park. It was pretty much perfect.
All in all, my French food and wine festival adventure was a total success. I ate and drank like a king (or queen!), learned a ton, and made some amazing memories. I’m already planning my trip for next year! I would say to everyone to go to France, you’ll have an incredible time! Just keep going!
