A short ten-minute drive outside of Yeongdong, a major fruit-growing region in Central South Korea, Chateau Mani (‘Chateau’ in reverence of French Bordeaux wineries and ‘Mani’ for the mountain, Manisan, that oversees the winery) is the creation of Byeong-Tae Yoon who visited Italy and France to learn viticulture before returning to Korea in 1995.

During a time in which South Korea’s agricultural industry was experiencing a downturn, Yoon formed a significant cooperative (Wine Korea) – involving hundreds of the surrounding farmers who were growing various grapes. Everything today is produced through Wine Korea, from grape growing, harvesting, production, bottling and storage to promotions.

In 2006, after garnering the support of Korail and Lotte Cinema, the befittingly decorated and themed Wine and Cinema Train departed Seoul Station on its 150-minute unique wine-tasting journey to Yeongdong Station. Today, it brings more than 100 visitors every Tuesday and Saturday and is an unmissable journey for any wine lover. If you choose the wine train on the way down, you experience the cinema train on the way back. Both are fun-filled and entertaining, with live music, movies, games, wine tasting, snack platters and Korean wine education.

After a ten-minute bus journey from Yeongdong to the Wine Korea chateau, participants learn about its history, enjoy more wine tasting, experience a warm wine foot spa and partake in a traditional Korean lunch with wine. Like in France, the chateau also includes a gift shop, tasting room, wine gallery, wine cellar and French oak storage caves.

While Wine Korea may look like a little piece of France in Central Korea, don’t expect Chateau Mani wines to emulate any French, Italian or even New Zealand drops. That’s because they are mostly created from Tomson and Campbell local table grapes, categorised as Rare White and Rare Red Blends.

There are four main wines – a crisp dry white, a dry red, a sweet red and an ice wine, plus two ‘health wines’: a mulberry and an onion wine (for those who’re game). All are fermented in French oak barrels creating uniqueness in each blend, but they perfectly match spicy Korean food and sooth the palate. Chateau Mani wines have won awards, but they have not been exploited by worldly demands (yet).

The Wine Train tour also includes visits to surrounding natural and cultural sites: the picturesque Okygye Falls and the Nangye Korean Classical Music Museum. Enjoy a crash course in traditional drum playing then relax while watching the experts create musical magic. Afterwards walk up the hill to view the largest drum in the world (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) the Cheongogak, before your train trip back to Seoul.

Visitors can also partake in two annual festivals: the grape harvest in mid-August and wine festival in October.Wine Korea/Chateau Mani is open Tuesday to Saturday. The Wine Train Tour departs Seoul Station every Tuesday and Saturday, and costs 96,000 won per person. This price includes all wine, food, transportation and experiences.

For more information visit  english.visitkorea.or.kr  or  winekr.co.