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Decanter has reported the imminent opening of a US-style wine centre in a bid to tap into the lucrative wine tourist market.

“La Winery, a 26ha wine tourism complex in Arsac-en-Médoc, boasts exhibition areas, park and picnic land with water features, an amphitheatre, restaurant, tasting rooms and 1,000 square metres of retail space. The complex is Bordeaux’s first such operation and is due to open on 1 March this year.”

Now I have to admit some ambivalence about this development - because whilst I detest the idea of some huge slick shopping mall-cum-theme park experience, it is not always a very visitor-friendly experience when visitiing French vineyards. At one extreme the fine Bordeaux and Burgundy vineyards can ve quite intimidating and sometimes do not welcome visitors without appointment or introduction. At the other end of the spectrum many small vineyards have few or no facilities for welcoming visitors and/or tasting wines, and can often be unattended during busy periods out in the vineyards or cellars. Furthermore language complicates matters, and some Champagne houses will actually make a charge for tasting to deter free-loaders.

And yet, some of my most memorable experiences have been at small vineyards, meeting interesting and passionate winemakers, many of whom are very welcoming and genuinely keen to show you their wines, respond to your questions and to get feedback on their wines - regardless of language difficulties. You can walk away with a few bottles which will evoke a wealth of memories back at home - connection with the vineyard and winemaker which can enhance your enjoyment of the wine.

See our Guide to Visiting French Vineyards and for some suggestions on vineyards to visit see www.frenchduck.co.uk/winemakers.htm

For more info on La Winery see www.lawinery.fr