Tour de France 2024 de Wine et de Spirits: Discover the Best Wines and Spirits Along the Route
The Tradition of Wine and Spirits in Tour de France History
Truth be told, the days when Tour de France riders were regularly pictured quaffing from a wine bottle, as they pedalled towards Paris, are long gone. However, certainly for at least the first sixty years of La Grande Boucle, wine (and beer and spirits) were as likely to be found in a rider’s bidon, as the ubiquitous energy drinks will be on June 29, when the riders roll out of Florence, Italy. The booze in the bidons, along with the famous alcohol sponsors – Pernod and Ricard take a bow – may now be a distant memory, but here at Calais Vins, every year we make it a tradition to identify the very best wines and spirits produced along each day’s stage. So why not sit back, turn your TV on – or better still, book a ferry and experience a stage first hand, not forgetting to call in at our Calais-based shops on your way home – and sample the very best of French wine, smug in your knowledge that your chosen tipple is expertly and lovingly matched to each day’s stage! Extreme, you say? Well, the Tour has always been an event of excess and superlatives!
From Wine Bottles to Energy Drinks: Evolution of Rider Beverages
This 110th instalment of the world’s largest annual sporting event will as usual be about so much more than the actual riders and jersey winners. Started as an advert for a newspaper in 1903, it has grown into the behemoth it is today. A vast commercial operation, with every possible angle marketed to the hilt, the Tour has long been a giant advert for its hundreds of commercial partners, for the towns, cities, regions, and villages it passes through, and for France itself. The TV directors long ago realised that a colourful peloton snaking through France in July, with icons such as Mont St Michel, Le Tour Eiffel, the Alps, Versailles, and a thousand others, as a backdrop, made for very good TV indeed. When the race was first televised ‘properly’ in the UK, by Channel 4, the broadcaster was astonished at the viewing figures. Way higher than they expected. Not because there were many more pro cycling fans than they had thought, but because many thousands more were tuning in to watch a three-week advert for France, with a glass of wine in hand, and a bike race in the background!
Calais Vins: Identifying the Best Wines and Spirits Along Each Stage Tour de France 2024
Stage 1: Florence > Rimini Tuscan Wines and Vin Santo
The Basque Influence and Izarra Liquor
June 29/Stage 1 Florence > Rimini. This year's Grand Départ starts in Florence, Tuscany. The first stage is a flat 182km route to Rimini. Tuscany is famous for its wines, especially Chianti that drinks so well with pizza or pasta.
Stage 2: Cesenatico > Bologna Emilia-Romagna and Lambrusco
June 30/Stage 2 Cesenatico > Bologna.
The riders will travel 200km through Emilia-Romagna. Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine from this region, is our choice for today. It pairs well with the region's rich cuisine, like nibbles cheese and prosciutto. Especially enjoyable for the aperitif.
Stage 3: Piacenza > Turin Piedmont and Barolo
July 1/Stage 3 Piacenza > Turin.
The Tour continues with this 230.8 km stage from Plaisance to Turin. As riders cover the distance, celebrate this stage with Barbera del Monferrato, known for its rich flavor and medium to full body. Pair it with cheeses or a hearty stew while following the challenging climbs and scenic views.
Stage 4: Pinerolo > Valloire Savoie Wines and Apremont
July 2/Stage 4 Pinerolo > Valloire.
Entering mountainous terrain, this 139.6 km stage from Pinerolo to Valloire tests endurance. Now back in France, the riders face a challenging 200km route through the Alps. In the Savoie region, Apremont, a crisp white wine, is our choice. Ideal for a refreshing drink after a day of mountain stages.
Stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Saint-Vulbas
Côtes du Rhône - Syrah
July 3, 2024 Stage 5 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne > Saint-Vulbas
Passing through the Rhône region, this 177.4 km stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas is known for its distinctive wines. Enjoy a Syrah, les vignes d'à côté from Côtes du Rhône, celebrated for its richness, full body, and complexity. Pair it with a selection of cheeses or a hearty stew while witnessing the challenging climbs and panoramic views.
Stage 6: Mâcon > Dijon
Burgundy - Chardonnay
July 4, 2024 Stage 6 Mâcon > Dijon
This 163.5 km stage through Burgundy is perfect for enjoying a Chardonnay. Burgundian Chardonnay is known for its elegance, ripe fruit notes, and rich body. Discover a renowned Chardonnay from the Mâcon region to complement your experience of this stage.
Stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges > Gevrey-Chambertin
Burgundy - Pinot Noir
July 5, 2024 Stage 7 Nuits-Saint-Georges > Gevrey-Chambertin
The individual time trial covers 25.3 km from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin. As riders compete individually against the clock, savor the elegant notes of Pinot Noir, an iconic wine from Burgundy, known for its finesse and complexity. Browse through our vast selection of wines from Nuits-Saint Georges
Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois > Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Champagne - Grand Cru
July 6, 2024 - Stage 8 Semur-en-Auxois > Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
This 183.4 km stage through Champagne country is an opportunity to celebrate with Grand Cru. They come from the finest terroir of Champagne dating back to 1911. Raise a glass of Champagne while following the picturesque route from Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Églises.
Stage 9: Troyes > Troyes
Champagne - Rosé
July 7, 2024 - Stage 9 Troyes > Troyes
The Tour concludes with a 199 km loop starting and ending in Troyes, located in the Champagne region. Celebrate this final stage with Champagne wines, particularly a Rosé Champagne, known for its fruity character and liveliness. Whether pairing it with grilled meats or simply toasting the end of the Tour, Champagne wines offer a perfect choice. Our selection, Champagne Rosé Laurent Perrier
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