Many wine producers open up their Cave for visitors, hopefully potential customers, and it is a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon touring round the chateaux and cave co-operatives of the area- apart for that driver that is! Below is a comprehensive list of the local producers, who are open for visits and those that need an appointment. If you only have time, or inclination, to visit one then our suggestion is one of the Sieur d'Arques caves.

Sieur d'Arques (cave Coopérative de Blanquette et Crémant de Limoux)-the main cave in Limoux has a superb visitor centre. The tour starts with a short film about the history of the wines and a guide to the terrior and the work of the co-op. You are then taken through the production process and the 600 metres of under ground cave where the wine is matured and stored, at the end there is a free wine tasting and the opportunity to purchase the wine and various wine related goodies. Very slick, informative and enjoyable trip. See site www.sieurdarques.com

Operation "Toques et Clocher"- started in 1990 the Sieur d'Arques villages each donate two barrels of chardonnay, these are then auctioned off on the weekend of Palm Sunday to audience of restaurateurs and wine negotiators from all over France and the world who are assembled to taste and buy last years vintage. The proceeds from these 82 barrels is then used to restore the bells and bell tower in one of the villages- 2002 Pauligne, 2003 Campagne-sur-Aude. The label "Toques et Clocher" can be found on many of the local wines from the cave and for the whites particularly is a mark of excellence.

Besides the cave co-op there are many smaller producers who are happy to open their caves to visitors, many are not as tourisitc as Sieur d'Arques and all the more enjoyable because of it.
(R)- means an appointment is necessary