Romantic break at the Château Bélingard
On the west-facing terrace of this large family home, the sunsets with views over the vineyards are breathtaking. During the summer months, treat yourself to a relaxing moment with a Bélingard aperitif that offers a choice of house wines accompanied by a cheese and charcuterie platter while gentle music plays in the background (€12 on reservation).
From May to September, two free guided visits (in French and English) will enable you to discover the wine-growers trade and the wines through a guided wine-tasting session. Don't miss the Ortus 2015 (€19.50), a dense and velvety côtes-de-Bergerac Red made for laying down and only produced during the best vintages. Other visits are available the rest of the year thanks to a QR code system that you can flash up on your smartphone, or on touch screens lent by the property, as you walk along 15 explanatory panels dotted between the vines and the cellar. Every year 3,000 visitors have already beaten you to Bélingard...
Château Bélingard, 24240 Pomport - +33(0)5 53 58 28 03 or www.belingard.com
A restful stopover at the Maison Forte near Issigeac
Situated just a few minutes by car from the medieval town of Issigeac (a must-see place on the edge of the Dordogne and the Lot-and-Garonne), this old fortified house dating back to the 13th century and renovated as a guest house is a little corner of paradise. Run by Paul and Reynoud, who left their native Holland to come and settle in the Périgord, five tastefully decorated bedrooms look out over the surrounding countryside, the beautifully kept floral garden and the swimming pool exclusively for guests (from €125).
Since last summer, a new cottage, designed in the style of a loft, can welcome two extra people in a green and intimate setting. If you stay for dinner, you'll discover some delicious Bergerac wines (la Jaubertie, Tour des Gendres, etc.) and get to taste Reynoud's wonderful cooking (on reservation).
La Maison Forte, 24560 Montaut - +33(0)5 53 23 49 10 or www.lamaisonforte.net
Freelance journalist, Laure Goy crisscrosses the South West meeting the men and women who've chosen to live from the earth and telling their stories. Since 2012 she's been contributing to various newspapers and magazines such as Cuisine et Vins de France, Le Parisien, Grand Seigneur or Terre de Vins. The latter, a magazine dedicated to all French wines and those who make them, offers different themes around wines and spirits, portraits of wine-growers, gourmet pages (with recipes) and plenty of good addresses to explore the French vineyards.