Loved this winery. Organic wines at a major bargain. Most were 15 Euros or under, and we bought a…read morefew at such prices. Super friendly owners who are happy to have you and give you a personal experience, in contrast to so many other wineries. I liked the estate red from 2012 personally, wife liked the Negrette (a unique grape from this region). They also make a cherry wine that was delish. There's a wedding venue, too, apparently.

One of the first places to go in this area if you are interested in wine, floc, armagnac and…read morecocktails. Visits and tastings are all free. Park your car outside on the road (no charge) and wander into the building, where you will see a reception desk and sales counter. Staff generally speak some (or good) English. Tell them that you would like a guided tour, and they will arrange for you to join the next available group. The tour will take you first outside, where you can admire the wonderful views from this hilltop site, then into the cellars, where you will learn how some of the wines and spirits are made. There will be an emphasis on their sparkling wine. Back upstairs in the main building, you will see where the grapes were unloaded and the first pressing made. You'll be introduced to a bloodthirsty old sabre-rattler, born in 1500, called Blaise de Monluc. This is all very interesting, and with certain guides, very entertaining, too. But what everyone is really looking forward to is the tasting. You will be offered a number of wines made by the company, and a drink which is quite unique, a cocktail called Pousse-Rapière. Some of the wines are mediocre, others are pretty good, but for me the best of them is the Tuilé, a rosé sparkling wine. For me, it puts most champagnes in the shade. A friend in the area thought it good enough to use for the toast at his wedding. But be warned: this particular wine can only be bought on the premises. Do try the Pousse-Rapière; it is delicious. This is a great visit for an hour or more. Ideal for a rainy day (if you have one!), and perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the wines of Gascony.

So how do you find this place? Ignore your GPS and wind around country roads, those winding…read moreD-routes. Our group was en route to a Truffle Museum and discovered the Chateau Salitis Winery. Well done, good drivers. The drive is bordered by thick tall trees blooming with autumnal foliage and the last vestiges of grape production. We were invited into the tasting room. Our hostess spoke excellent English which relieved our guide. We sampled several varieties, learned that their wine was formally carried by Costco, readily used the available spitoons, and bought several wines. Overall, it was an educational experience and I recommend that you also get lost in this region. Note: the address is accurate, though they have little web presence, nor a good phone number for me to reference. It looks like their open hours are between 0830-1130 and 1400-1730.

God damm this place is hard to find! But what a reward when you get there. Beautiful views on the…read morePyrenees, great landlords always ready to help or chill, and most of all, great wines. I rented their guest house for a week last summer and very much enjoyed all of it's benefits. Plus it's close to the Medditeranean sea, to some historical castles of the Middle Ages and lots of moutain sports activities like canoe, rafting, hiking, rock climbing. Only problem, the night life in Limoux isn't the most exciting so go with family or with a big group to self entertain yourselves. If I ever go back to southwestern france, i'll go back there for sure!

We found Domaine du Péto from their sign on the main road between Montréal and Condom. It's not…read moretoo far from the main road and you cannot miss their sign. It'll be on your right. Once you turn in to their driveway, you will drive through a beautiful arcade of trees to get to the main house. Park behind the house and walk through the gate. The owner who is probably in his late 60s or early 70s welcomed us and spoke very good English! He was very friendly! We did not have a reservation but he accommodated us anyway. He led us to the Bamboo labyrinth he's built on the estate (!) and described the history of the estate. His grandfather bought the estate and was an Armagnac maker, and he has followed his grandfather's footsteps. He then led us to the chais or the cellar where he showed us barrels with various dates from the 1980s to the 2000s. They obviously have Armagnac aging in these French oak barrels. The blackened parts of the walls inside are telltale signs of the alcohol evaporating and discoloring the walls. After the talk in the chais, we proceeded to the tasting room. He had three bottles of Armagnac of varying vintages (30, 25 and 20 year old ones) waiting for us. We tasted all three and I must say that I preferred the 25 year old out of the three. I thought it was the easiest to drink out of all three. Very smooth and has a sweetness that would make it a good digestif at the end of the meal. Our group of 7 bought varying sizes and vintages of Armagnac. He sells a gift box of 3 small bottles with 30, 25 and 20 year old Armagnac for 18€. It would make a great gift from this region of France which is Armagnac country. We really enjoyed the tour, the hospitality of our host and the tasting. Really makes you want to come back to this region of France!