The Vignerons Independents, the body representing independent winemakers, holds a number of wine fairs (Salons) in Spring and Autumn each year, which are open to the public and give you the opportunity to taste from a wide selection of vineyards from every region of France, meet the winemakers and purchase wines at cellar door prices.
For autumn 2009 the dates are as follows:-
29 Oct – 2 Nov 2009 – Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) – Hall Tony Garnier
6 – 9 Nov 08 – Reims ( 51 Marne, Champagne) – Parc des Expositions
20-23 Nov 2009 – Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) – Grand Palais
26 -30 Nov – Paris (75 Paris, Ile de France) – Porte de Versailles
For more info see www.vigneron-independant.com (in French) There is also a video on YouTube (also in French)
If you are visiting Lille, there is a good B&B on the tram route to the city centre – see Alix’s Garden
