Full buffet breakfast overlooking the 9th hole of the professional golf course and the ruins of the 14th century château near the water hazard.

Bikers travel 19 miles this morning along tiny paved roads that pass through ripening vineyards and sleeply medieval villages to the Château of Monbazillac.

Hikers cover 6 miles over rolling vineyard trails, past ruined châteaux and through cool forests into the walled domain of Château de Monbazillac.

The Château de Monbazillac was built around 1550 and miraculously came through the Wars of Religion unscathed. It stands today almost exactly as it did over 400 years ago. The property is listed as one of the “Hundred Sites of Remarkable Taste” in France and it reigns over vineyards of international renown. Home to France's original sweet white wine appellation, the Monbazillac area extends over almost 3,600 hectares. Only those grapes which have reached their peak of ripeness are selected by the grape-pickers. There are as many as three different harvest passes on each row of vines.

Both bikers and hikers rendezvous at the Château de Belingard for lunch with the Count and Countess de Boseredon.

This exceptional site owes its name to the Celts who, 3000 years ago, called this land “Belen-Gaard” meaning “Garden of the Gods”. Created by monks in the 11th century, this vineyard is now owned by Laurent and Sylvie de Bosredon. The property is renowned for unrelenting quality and makes some of the finest white and red Bergerac wines in existence. But Laurent's true passion is the story of his vineyard which has been in the family for 6 generations passed down to him from his mother (who died here at age 103), his grandmother (who died here at age 98) and his great-grandmother (who died on the land at age 104). He will regale us with story of the property's ancient Celtic past before we even taste his wonderful wine.

The biking and hiking continues this afternoon if desired but it is possible after the long lunch to simply hop in the van and return to our château hotel.

Afternoon spa treatments have been reserved for some while tee times have been made for others.

Before departing for dinner we are joined by Master of Wine James Lawther who will tell us all we need to know about sweet wines before we head for dinner at one of Monbazillac's finest estates.

James Lawther is an internationally respected wine consultant and writer. A Master of Wine and contributor to Decanter, the Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirit, and Country Life, James also wrote the best-selling Bordeaux Wine Companion.

We are welcomed into the private home of Claudie and Bruno Bilancini, the acknowledged front-runners of the sweet wine world along with d'Yquem.

Château Tirecul La Gravière is owned and run by the charming couple, Claudie and Bruno Bilancini. Bruno trained as an oenologue at the University of Bordeaux and consulted for many years to some of the best vineyards in southern France before deciding to buy a vineyard and make his own. They rented the land for 8 years before they could afford to buy the property in 1992 but since then they have carved out a reputation as the uncontested finest vineyard in Monbazillac. Quality is the key word here from start to finish and the famous (infamous?) American wine guru Robert Parker Jr. gave the unheard-of score of 100/100 to their Cuvée Madame 1995.

The Château des Vigiers is a 16th century château built from the golden local stone and was once known in the Périgord region as “the Little Versailles”. It is a deluxe 47 room hotel with a championship golf course, a short academy course, swimming pool, exercise room, tennis court, trout pond and massage facilities as well as 36 acres of surrounding vineyards.