In brief. The choice depends on three questions: will everyone taste wine, how many are you, and do you want a flexible schedule? A hire car works if somebody in the group does not drink and will drive. Taxis work well over short distances; a group tour suits one or two people who want to spend less. A private driver is most convenient for three or more people, or when tastings are the purpose of the trip.
Comparing the options
| Option | Strengths | Weaknesses | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hire car | complete freedom, go anywhere | somebody does not drink, narrow roads, parking, fines | a non-drinking driver is available; wine is not the main purpose |
| Taxis and apps | no need to book ahead | difficult to find a car outside town, especially for the return | one short visit near a town |
| Train and walking | inexpensive, no driving | almost never reaches the winery itself | towns with cellars: Reims, Épernay, Beaune, Bordeaux |
| Group tour | low cost per person, everything organised | strangers, fixed schedule, standard itinerary | one or two guests, a first introduction |
| Private driver | everyone tastes, flexible day, door-to-door service | more expensive than taxis, booking required | three or more guests, consecutive wine days |
| Private tour with a sommelier | route and explanations tailored to your taste, everything organised | highest daily price | a party that values wine and its stories |
Five questions before choosing
1. Who will taste the wine? If everyone will, a hire car is not an option: 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood can easily be exceeded after a couple of estates. Read more in “A private driver in wine country”.
2. How many of you are there? A driver’s price is per car and shared by everyone. A group tour is priced per person. For a couple, a group tour is therefore usually cheaper, while the difference soon narrows for a larger party.
3. Do you want to change plans during the day? That is impossible on a group tour, difficult with taxis and straightforward with a driver or hire car.
4. Where are you going? Reims and Épernay can be visited without a car because the major houses are in the towns themselves. In the Médoc or on Burgundy’s slopes, managing without a car is difficult.
5. Do you want explanations about wine? A driver handles the journey. If knowledge and choosing estates matter to you, you need a guide or sommelier.
How to compare prices
Do not look only at the daily rate. For example, a day with a driver from €420 costs from €140 per person for three guests. Hiring a car looks cheaper, but add fuel, tolls, parking and the fact that one person will not taste wine. A private tour with a sommelier-guide starts at €1,100 per day for a group of up to 8: from €137.50 per person with eight guests, or €275 with four.
For more on budgeting, read “Budgeting for a trip to France”.
Which vehicle you need
| Guests | Vehicle | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Volkswagen Passat | long journeys through wine country |
| 1–3 | Mercedes E-Class | transfers and full-day trips |
| 1–3 | Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 | special occasions and executive travel |
| 4–7 | Mercedes V-Class, Volkswagen Multivan | families and small parties, room for purchases |
| up to 8 | Mercedes Vito | larger parties and corporate trips |
| up to 16 | Mercedes Sprinter VIP | a group with plenty of luggage |
Choose a car with spare room. Three people with three suitcases can travel comfortably in a saloon, but there will be no room for another case of wine. If you plan to shop at wineries, mention it straight away and we will suggest a car with a larger boot.
If you still choose a hire car
- Choose a small car: wine villages have narrow roads and limited parking.
- Decide beforehand who will not drink that day, and do not reconsider over lunch.
- You can spit wine into the container provided at a tasting: it is normal practice, not rude.
- Keep bottles out of the sun and do not leave wine in a car in hot weather.
- Allow time for parking in Reims, Beaune and other popular towns.
You can combine options
A mixed plan is often best. Arrive in Paris, take the train to Reims, then spend a day in the vineyards with a driver. Stay in Bordeaux, use a driver for one day in the Médoc, then take the train to Saint-Émilion on another. On the Provençal coast, hire a car for days without tastings and book a driver for your wine day.
A driver can be booked for a single day or for 2–4 hours, rather than the whole trip. Short bookings start at €240. For linking several wineries in a day, read “Planning a wine itinerary”.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: a hire car or a driver?
For a couple, often a hire car, provided one person does not drink. For those who want to taste together, or for a larger party, a driver usually makes more sense.
Can I visit wineries by taxi?
Yes, over short distances near a town. Finding a return car in a village is harder, so arrange it beforehand.
Can I get there by train?
You can reach towns with major houses. Small wineries usually cannot be reached by train.
What if there are 10 of us?
A Mercedes Sprinter VIP is suitable, with room for a group of up to 16.
Can I hire a driver for one day?
Yes. A full day starts at €420, and a short 2–4-hour booking at €240.
Choose your transport
Tell us how many of you are travelling and where you want to go, and we will suggest a suitable option. → Transport in France · All tours in France
