What’s the ideal time of year to go?

May through October is the general timeframe, with May, June, and July probably being your absolute best weather months. It doesn’t get nearly as hot in France as it does in the Southeastern US, so July and August aren’t unbearable. August can sometimes be a tough month to plan winery visits, as many French wine producers tend to take most of that month off for vacation before the harvest begins.

Can I bring wine home to the US?

Yes! I’ll share my packing strategies and tips for getting wine home (I once got 24 bottles safely home in my two checked suitcases!).

Also, the French do an excellent job putting many of their great wines in Bag-in-Box (BIB) formats. I know, I know…sounds horrid because of the crap you find on most US grocery shelves. But my current fave is picking up all BIB wines on my trips – no added weight from the glass bottles, just fabulous juice that has a pretty decent shelf life in your fridge, even after you open it.