France: Wine and tourism

Subscribe to France 24 now: http://f24.my/YouTubeEN
FRANCE 24 live news stream: all the latest news 24/7
http://f24.my/YTliveEN

Last year, some 10 million holiday makers married wine with their stay in France...

A country where wine tourists are extremely valued... as they spend an average 1,250 euros per trip...

And it's a market in full growth... expanding by 33% since 2009.

Though those most enthousiastic about their grape growing heritage are usually the French, foreigner visiters still represent 42% of wine tourists...

most from either Belgium or the UK... Though more are coming from Asia each year...

Bordelais wine and Champagne are widely enjoyed overseas, and bring in the most visiters, for tastings and luxury stays on the "route des grands crus" - running through Burgundy wine region...

Meanwhile the Beaujolais region only reached 9th place on wine tourists' lists...

This is a young wine, ready to be drunk as soon as it arrives on celler shelves...

To attract more connoisseurs to its vinyards... the Beaujolais organises dozens of events at the end of November each year...

Over 10 000 people are set to take part in the beaujolais marathon... participant are, of course, advised to stay off this year's batch, until safely over the finish line!


Visit our website: http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:   / france24.english  
Follow us on Twitter:   / france24_en