Life on the other side of the Channel seems to have at least three passions – food, drink and cycling.
MidWeeker David has brought all three together with a novel take on what I guess is the world’s most famous cycle race.
In today’s post, he suggests local options that coincide with the various stages of this year’s race.
So read on for inspiration.
Adopting my traditional format, a few images of recommended wines punctuate the post.
First, words of introduction.
A lifelong love of wine and of pottering around France seem to be shared by many Mid Week Wine enthusiasts. In my case, several happy holidays have been spent combining the two.
Then a few years ago I came up with a way to achieve this without having to leave the country – by following the ITV4 Tour de France broadcasts that give you a wonderful, often aerial view of France, never mind the cycling!
And the wine?
Wherever feasible, I accompanied our evening meal with a glass from the same area the peleton had raced through that day. As a result I discovered a host of areas, appellations and grape varieties new to me.
The Savoie region brought hard-to-find Aprémont and Rousette while the Pyrennees and South West provided Madiran, St Mont, Jurançon sweet and dry and the tongue-twisters Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh and Irouléguy.
The Massif Central introduced St Pourçain and Côtes d’Auvergne while Western France added Fiefs-vendéens and Haut Poitou.
So what does the 2025 Tour hold in store?
Well it’s a mixed bag. Hardly a vine to be spotted in the first week – and, afterwards no Bordeaux, no Alsace and almost no Loire.
But in weeks 2 & 3, a wide sweep through the South West and Pyrenees to Carcassonne, across to the Rhône, up most of its valley and then into the high Alps will quickly restore our drinking pleasure.
What to choose?
I’ve set myself a £10/bottle maximum and wide (supermarket) availability. I also now limit myself to two or three pairings per week – not every stage as I attempted in the early years.
WEEK 1: Saturday 5th July – Monday 14th July.
With almost no vineyards this first week, I’d normally recommend a proper 75cl Bière de Garde – it has its own Appellation d’origine contrôlée after all – but as they are not widely available how about a blonde La Goudale? Morrisons has 330ml for £2.50.
Or for cider drinkers, Tesco offers the well-reviewed Galipete 500ml for £2.65. Waitrose do 330ml for £2.50.
At last on Sunday 13th we reach the Loire, so reward yourself with Waitrose Blueprint Sauvignon de Touraine £8 (much more than a poor man’s Sancerre) or Morrisons The Best Chinon £9.25 (Brian’s review Mar 6th 2025).
So, on to next week.
WEEK 2: Wednesday 16th July – Sunday 20th July.
Week 2 is a non-stop tour around South West France from Toulouse via Pau and the Pyrenees and on to Carcassonne. For white wines, how about Morrisons The Best Côtes de Gascogne £7.50 (Brian’s review Jan 16th 2025) or Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Jurancon Sec £9.25 (£8.25 Nectar).
For reds we can do no better than Brian’s recent May 8th recommendation of the Wine Society’s 2024 French Pinot Noir £8.50 and its ‘floral aromas… and fresh cherry, chocolate and plum flavours’. Co-op Irresistible Languedoc £10.00 is an excellent blend from Jean-Claude Mas.
And the final week
WEEK 3: Tuesday 22nd July – Sunday 27th July.
We’re back into top wine territory this week with any number of possibilities starting in Montpelier, moving up most of the Rhône Valley and then into the High Alps.
To meet my budget, I’ve restricted the choice to Rhône wines – but that’s no hardship at all.
Waitrose Blueprint Côtes du Rhône £7 found favour with Brian (November 4 2024) and Morrisons, The Best Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet 2023 £9.75 was highly scored by Decanter (Oct ’24). (If you managed to snap up Aldi’s Specially Selected Cairanne when on offer at £3.99 earlier, now’s a good time to drink it!)
As for whites, Sainsburys do a Taste the Difference Côtes du Rhône Blanc for £9.25 (£8.25 Nectar).
Many thanks, David – great stuff and much appreciated with real atmosphere – you can almost smell the Gauloises. …. Brian
Join me again on Monday when feet get back on the ground and we consider what I am I recommending as the latest Top Tips among High Street retailers.
23 responses
Really novel and entertaining article by Dave-many thanks-and and some great wine suggestions.
MWW readers can of course enter the famous Marathon du Medoc where they can dress up, drink wine and explore the most famous vineyards of France! Join for the wackiest and booziest Marathon at the 39th edition of the Medoc Marathon 2025. At this event fancy dress is not only encouraged – it’s compulsory. The Marathon du Médoc includes 23 wine stops combining “wine, sports, fun and health”, while also snacking on specialities such as oysters, foie gras, cheese, steak and ice-cream for dessert.
Mind you I did participate in a mid Wales pub sponsored off road mountain bike “race ” where you had to drink half a pint of beer at each of the 10 waypoints.The same pub also organised bog snorkelling and the famous Runner v Horse v Mountain bike.
Vive la France and Vive la Powys!
Thanks Paul. One of the appellations that fell victim to editing pressure was Ventoux and I shall definitely celebrate that daunting mountain climb with an eponymous wine. I find both red and white very reliable.
Having run the Marathon du Medoc, I can confirm it’s an amazing event! Known as “the longest marathon in the world” – it’s still 42kms just seems longer with so many “distractions” and a great way to visit many famous chateaux who open their doors – and cellars – to over 8000 runners. The sight of countless burly French men wearing a Marilyn Monroe white dress and wig is not one you forget in a hurry. Was also a great excuse to visit Bordeaux – the Cite du Vin Museum is well worth a visit
Well done Iain. Not sure I could do that (in fact I know I couldn’t) so hats off to all those participants. They deserve a classy glassful all the way round.
Hi David
Enjoyed the article.
Although I haven’t been on a bike since my teens, I do watch the Tour and always enjoy it.
That Waitrose Blueprint Côtes du Rhône is excellent value, as are all the Blueprint range ( I do rate the Blueprint range highly, especially if you just want a decent wine at reasonable prices)
The Chinon mentioned is also very good ( I do like Cabernet Franc)
Thanks Dave. Agree about Blueprint wines and only sorry they discontinued their manzanilla.
David,
You should get TNT sport on TV and watch the Italian Giro and Spanish Vuelta to. They also have beautiful countryside and buildings as well as impressive vineyards. By recording you can fast forward and just watch the bits that interest you.
Keep up the good work!
Roger B.
Thanks Roger and perhaps one of MidWeek Wine’s specialists on Italian or Spanish wines will take this up.
I used to take a month’s subscription for each grand tour until they put up the price from around £6 to £31 a month! That’s the Yellow Jersey of price inflation.
I too am a fan of the Grand Tour events.
Note that the Giro d’Italia 2025 is showing on the free to air channel “Quest” – not live coverage, but a one hour highlights show every evening 7pm to 8pm.
So anyone not familiar with the world of Grand Tour cycling can see the Giro in preparation for watching the Tour de France!
And learn about: domestiques, Echelon Riding, King of The Mountains, bonus sprints, breakaways, categorized climbs, time trials, general classification, grupetto, intermediate sprints, leadout men, and most strangely, the riders who continue despite “losing their legs”!
Quite so Richard, not to mention combativity awards and the Lanterne Rouge!
Great piece David. I see there is a stage starting and ending in Toulouse on 16 July. It passes directly through Fronton so surely deserves a AOP Fronton wine with the distinctive Négrette grape? The obvious choice Is Sainsbury’s Fronton Negrette Rosé, Taste The Difference £8.50 (£7.00 with Nectar) or let’s push the boat out with Fronton, Les Petits Cailloux, Domaine Le Roc 2020 (The Wine Society £11.50, or just 8.95€ from Calais Vins if you happen to be crossing the Channel before then! (https://www.wine-calais.co.uk/wine-by-brands-wine-estate-domaine-and-chateau/21783-les-petits-cailloux-du-roc-red-fronton.html)
I think the Morrisons best CD-R is a spot on recommendation. Absolutely the best of all the supermarket rhones in my opinion and a named village, Sablet
Thanks for joining the Comments section Nick and I am with you on that Rhone – price did cause me to hesitate a bit but I fancy it will surface as a Top Tip before long.
Well I’ve never thought of watching any cycling before but the combo of seeing France and discovering new wines has drawn me in. Thanks David. I’m in!
Also thanks to Brian as mww has moved my wine drinking from hit and miss to reliable hits and is definitely saving me wasted money. I’m slowly learning about the wines too. A small request from me: could you occasionally suggest a cheese pairing?
Thanks Diane – in which I think is your first post in the Comments section. All credit to David for the concept behind this piece and for the nicely crafted content. More generally, it is good to know that the site has removed much of the disappointment that random purchases often cause. I have had cheese on the “possible” list for a while – and did a piece on Stilton a year or so ago. I will give it thought but as a general – and often ignored – tip, unless the cheese is blue, try white wine to partner it rather than red. Chardonnay and cheddar (when both are mature) is a lovely combination.
Thanks Diane. Mountain stages are best for spectacular scenery and hair-raising descents, bunched sprint finishes for sometimes chaotic excitement. I’d avoid time trials until you’re really hooked.
Great minds, Keith. I had the TTD rose in my first draft before realising some cutting was required. Thanks for your kind words.
What a nice way of compiling a selection of wines, well written David.
A special thanks to Brian, whilst I do not respond to your weekly recommendations, your emails are always eagerly awaited and enjoyed.
Thank you both
Wholeheartedly support your first paragraph and pleased to hear the second. Never be shy about joining in any discussion – I like to think that the site has a “grown up” audience ready to listen to all strands of opinion.
Loved run this, fun and some great wines. I’m not a massive cycling fan but I do tune into some of Le Tour, especially the tough mountain bits!
Looks like I need to try more Blueprint wines and the Morrisons Best CdR and Sainsbury’s CdR Blanc
Thanks Lisa. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad review of Blueprint wines on these pages.
The £3.99 Aldi Cairenne was an astonishing bargain – rather wishing I’d bought a few more, but it’s likely to come down in price again in the run up to this Christmas: https://medium.com/p/d4e7e30379ad