Escapades in Armagnac
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Born in 2008 from the Interprofession’s desire to create a quality and organised welcoming circuit for visitors to the region, the network Escapades in Armagnac today includes 123 estates that are clearly marked on the roads of the Gers, Landes and the Lot-et-Garonne by Armagnac signposts.
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A tourist map that is updated every year
In the spring every new season, the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac introduces its new Escapades in Armagnac that is freely distributed in all the tourist offices and sites in the appellation zone.
« So they may enjoy the hospitality of the men and women that make Armagnac, it is the Interprofession’s role to ensure the visibility, quality and the proximity of the Armagnac producers to tourists visiting the region. »
(Sébastien Lacroix, Director of the BNIA)
News: to share and promote the traditional and cultural Gascon heritage, in 2012 the B.N.I.A. decided to publish a trilingual map in French, English and Occitan in cooperation with the Institut des Etudes Occitanes du Gers (Institute of Occitan language studies in the Gers) under a regional project of economic and tourism development of the language and local culture.
In 2013, the communication strategy for the Escapades in Armagnac network was reinforced, with a clear geographic identity and a focus on a digital plan of action.
A constantly evolving network
The Armagnac houses, conscious of the problems attracting tourists, are constantly competing with other sites’ inventive and innovative ideas offering more and more activities to visitors (painting and watercolour courses, workshops, etc) events (exhibitions, local shows and festivals) and services: so now, certain producers offer a complete package including accommodation and sometimes a restaurant on site. Others even organise themed weekends: cooking (duck and foie gras…), visits to a palombière (pigeon hides) and gastronomy, etc.
Estates with recognised classifications
Vignobles et Découvertes, Bienvenue à la Ferme, Excellence Gers, Bons Crus d’Artagnan, Destination Vignobles and Qualité Landes are all quality classifications that guarantee visitors a warm welcome and a quality production with a departmental, regional or even nationally recognised seal of approval. The Armagnac estates are more and more committed to these measures of quality and proof of this is when you see the logos depicted here, displayed at the entrance to their property.