Many French vineyards offer either self-catering or B&B, giving you the opportunity to get a closer acquaintance with a working vineyard, which can add an extra dimension to your holiday stay.
In the Minervois at Laure-Minervois (11 Aude, Languedoc) you can enjoy self-catering or B&B at Chateau Gibalaux-Bonnet, one of the best producers of Minervois wines. In a marvellous setting on the garrigue with kilometres of unpeopled pathways to wander, the family provide a warm welcome and some great wines - our favourite being the oaked red Cuvée Prieuré. For more info on the accommodation see http://www.gibalaux.com/.For more on the wines see www.gibalaux.on-web.fr
In the deepest South West Domaine de Lauroux at Manciet (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) again offers both B&B and self-catering, with the added benefit of English hosts to answer your queries. Plus they produce red, white and rosé Cotes de Gascogne wines AND Floc de Gascogne and Armagnac! - See www.lauroux.com
In the Languedoc, Helene Mir offers a villa with pool to rent amongst the vines of her Clos Montels vineyard near Caux (34 Herault, Languedoc) - For the villa see http://perso.orange.fr/montels/. After running the successful Chateau Belles Eaux, she now produces an excellent Languedoc red from Syrah and Carignan - small quantities but great quality - see www.clos-montels.com - details also on FrenchDuck.co.uk
A little further south and on a larger scale is Chateau Ricardelle at la Clape (11 Aude, Languedoc) near Narbonne. Here there is a choice of self-catering accomodation from a 2-person studio to a house - all on the vineyard which produces some excellent red and white wines - and you are within 5km of the Mediterranean - see www.chateau-ricardelle.com
