A great many excellent wines are produced along the Canal du Midi as it winds through the Aude region of Languedoc and Roussillon – and there’s no better way to explore it than on the Canal du Midi itself, setting off from Crown Blue Line’s base at Castelnaudary.

A World Heritage Site, the canal provides fabulous views as you cruise downstream, stopping off to visit cellars of particular interest all along your route, as well as waterside restaurants serving specialities such as Cassoulet - made from white beans, pork and goose.

Within cycling distance or a short taxi ride you will find vineyards producing a wide variety of top quality wines, affordably priced – from the Réserve de Gassac Blanc of Hérault to the Falaises de Cucugnan from Corbières, or the Betoulet Caladoc of Coteaux de Peyriac to La Fontaine Chenin from Aude – as well as L’Ecluse Chardonnay from Cité de Carcassonne.

A sample itinerary follows but choices are endless in this exceptional region and we’ll be pleased to provide more information on vineyards and cellars as required.

In July, one week’s hire of a luxury Crown Class ‘Classique’, for example, sleeping eight costs £2335 (£292 per person). The ‘Classique’ provides comfortable accommodation including four double/ twin cabins, two bathrooms, a spacious saloon and large galley, plus upper sun deck area with table and chairs for alfresco dining. Travel to and from Castelnaudary is not included but Ryanair operates low cost flights to Carcassonne from Stansted. Call 0870 160 5635 for more information or visit www.crownblueline.com.

Sample itinerary: Of several good restaurants in Castelnaudary, Le Tirou is always well worth trying – or, if you cruise on to the village of Villepinte for the night, it is only a short walk to a great little village restaurant called Les Deux Acacias.

Next along comes Bram where the shops are neatly arranged in a circle around the village church. Here you’ll discover great little patisseries, boulangeries and other shops offering excellent tapenade - and wines such as the local sparkling Blanquette de Limoux and delicious Corbières Rose.

In Carcassonne, you can moor in the town centre canal basin and take a free bus up the hill to the historic walled town called La Cité, dominated by a castle said to be Walt Disney’s inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty. Perched high on the skyline, La Cité gives fabulous views out over the Aude and the valley of Lauragais, and with Minervois vineyards stretching away as far as the eye can see.

Further on and the canal goes right through the small town of Trèbes with its restaurant, boulangerie, wine shop and grocer’s all lined along the bank and, at the lock, a great restaurant called La Moulin de Trèbes.

Onwards and you’ll reach the fine old port of Homps, another good place to stop for the night, dining at one of the canalside restaurants. If you’re on a seven night break, the next town you reach, the medieval Argens-Minervois, is a good place to turn and head back upstream – but shorter or longer holidays work equally well on this stretch of the Canal du Midi. And, as we said before, choices are endless in this exceptional region and we’ll be delighted to provide more information on vineyards and cellars as required.

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