3 unusual wine experiences

Do you enjoy wine, outings with friends, and activities that are off the beaten path? Here are 3 wine-related experiences you should try urgently. You won’t be disappointed…

TRY YOUR HAND AT WINEMAKING

Have you always dreamed of creating your own wine? Well, it’s possible! Head to the Caves du Louvre for a two-hour "Winemaking" workshop. Start by tasting the grape juices that will serve as the base for your blend. Once you’ve selected them, it’s time to grab the flasks and pipettes and let your creativity flow. When your concoction is ready, you can proceed to bottling it… and you even get to design your own label! And of course, you take your creation home with you. Perfect for showing off to friends at a party (“Tonight I’m offering a bottle from my vineyard!”).

Where? Les Caves du Louvre, 52 Rue de l’Arbre Sec, 75001 Paris

Cost? Full price: €75 / Student rate: €70

STEP INTO A WINEMAKER’S SHOES

You might be familiar with the concept of an Escape Room, a game that originated in Asia and has quickly spread across Europe. The idea is simple: 4 to 6 players are locked in a room and must solve puzzles to escape. But time is ticking, and they only have one hour to crack the code. Luckily, the various clues scattered around the room can help them succeed.

Since 2015, Casse-tête Bordelais has offered the Escape Room "In Vino Veritas," a Bordeaux wine-themed adventure where you’re given a secret mission. It’s your chance to step into the shoes of a winemaker for an hour. Wine crate, apron, spittoon, glass, bottles… everything you need is there! But don’t lose sight of your main goal: getting out of the room. Alongside engaging your palate, you’ll also have to use your brainpower!

Where? Casse-tête Bordelais, 23 Rue de Ruat, 33000 Bordeaux

Cost? €18 to €27

SOAK IN THE BEAUJOLAIS!

After Paris and Bordeaux, we take you to Japan for a dive into… Beaujolais! Japanese enthusiasts of Beaujolais Nouveau indulge in a unique experience every third Thursday of November (the arrival date of the vintage): they not only drink the wine but also bathe in it!

To participate in this unusual ritual, you need to head to the Hakone hot springs in Kanazawa, a few dozen kilometers from Tokyo. Admittedly, it’s not just around the corner. But if you’re planning a trip to Japan, it might be worth the detour. Otherwise, you can also try a wine therapy session at a spa… in France this time!

Where? Hakone, 250-0408 Kanagawa, Japan

FAQ - Wine experiences

Where can you make your own wine during a workshop in Paris?

At Les Caves du Louvre, 52 rue de l'Arbre Sec in the 1st arrondissement, a two-hour Winemaking workshop lets you taste grape juices, create your own blend and then bottle it. You even design your own label and take your bottle home with you.

How much does the Caves du Louvre winemaking workshop cost?

The full rate is €75 and the student rate is €70 for the two-hour session. This covers tasting the juices, blending, bottling, designing your label and the bottle you take away with you.

What is a wine-themed escape room?

In Bordeaux, Casse-tête Bordelais has run the escape room In Vino Veritas since 2015. Groups of 4 to 6 players have one hour to solve a wine-country puzzle while stepping into a winemaker's shoes. A session costs between €18 and €27 per person.

Can you really bathe in Beaujolais wine?

Yes, but in Japan. At the Hakone hot springs in the Kanagawa region, Beaujolais Nouveau enthusiasts bathe in the wine every third Thursday of November, the day the vintage arrives. They drink it too, as local tradition goes.

Is there an alternative to these experiences without leaving France?

Yes. If a trip to Japan is not on the cards, you can try a wine therapy session at a spa in France, which uses the benefits of grapes and vines for body treatments. It is a more accessible way to enjoy wine differently.