Wine Tours/Tastings with Teens

It depends. Although the law allows it, some independent guides or high-end wine tastings have an ‘adults only’ policy to ensure other guests’ peace and quiet.
You will therefore need to check the tour operator’s policy.

At the same time, there are also many châteaux where special family activities are even organised.
Here is an example from the Bordeaux region https://www.lafleurdebouard.com/en/family-wine-tourism/

Thank you!

hey hey jess.stern82
when in the summer is this trip and what area/cities/towns do you plan to visit?
i agree with checking wine tasting websites what policy is about age and participating without tasting for your child. enjoy
aloha

We will be there in late June next year specifically in Colmar/wine trail.

In France, the legal drinking age is 18, but no one can legally forbid minors under 18 from entering a place where alcohol is consumed. Therefore, a winemaker cannot prohibit the presence of minors during tastings

However, if you go through an organized tour, the tour operator sets its own conditions and can refuse the presence of minors.

Great news! Thank you all for your help.

A good place to look for this sort of thing is AirBnB Experiences. I clicked on one, and it said ages 2 and up were welcome on the tour. If you don't see an age indicated, message the host. As with all things AirBnB, read the reviews.
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Colmar--France/experiences?place_id=ChIJz8Fw9t9lkUcRZulsYT5-XeM&refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fexperiences&kg_or_tags%5B%5D=Tag%3A8960&kg_or_tags%5B%5D=Tag%3A8972&kg_or_tags%5B%5D=Tag%3A8957&kg_or_tags%5B%5D=Tag%3A9012&search_type=P2_CAROUSEL_CLICK

This is super helpful! I have never booked an experience through Airbnb but these look really great. Thank you!

hey hey jess.stern82
here are a few more to "investigate" for you to decide what suits your fancy & family. happy to see you doing a "tour" and leave the driving to someone else.
how many days you plan to be there, are you going to strasbourg? take the train for a day trip (search: self guided strasbourg walking tour you'll love)

theflashpacker.net
kutzig.fr
open-top bus of the wine route along with other activities to look at
guruwalk.com
colmar, many different tours offered along with free tours
my-weekend-in-alsace.com
this is a blog from a local that lives in the area with lots of info about things to see and do. click on the headers to see the offerings.
getyourguide.com
this is a reseller, some love it some hate it. look at what there is, scroll down to usually bottom of page who offers it, go to their website and read up about activity. we have used a few of them in different cities/towns with no issues
loved roaming around, stopping in shops, cafes, markets, buying pretzels/gingerbread. spent 5 days in annecy that reminds me of the pictures in colmar.
it will be crowded traveling during summer high season with the heat, go with the flow and enjoy. book early for accomodations and maybe some tours.
aloha

In fact, there is no drinking age in France, only a "buying" age. But that include wine tasting and commercial offer even it's free.
However, if you buy a bottle, it's not forbidden to permit your son to taste a small quantity of wine.
The legal limit is that it's forbidden to make drunk a minor.

We did a wine tour with teens. When we asked if they’d be able to taste the wine (16/17 year olds) it was as if we’d asked a really daft question. Of course they can! This is an important cultural experience for them!

You guys are so helpful and filled with knowledge!! THANK YOU!

Several years ago we (my family and our friends family) were staying at a gite a bit south of Bergerac.

My son and his friend were both 14 and studied French at school. One day we were having a walk around the area and we passed a local winery. Me and the kids went in, as I don´t know French I thought they could help me. They did well, except there was some wine vocabulary that they didn´t understand. And of course they offered us all a taste of their wines.

Wine is part of French culture; everyone over 65 has experienced wine or beer being served in school canteens.

Until 1956, wine was served in school canteens, even to the youngest children (it was supposed to be energizing). After 1956, it was only for those over 14, and it wasn't until 1981 that a total ban on alcohol was enacted across all educational institutions.

So, at a wine estate, you can well imagine that the presence of children, which could eventually be restricted by a tasting tour organizer out of fear of lawsuits or legal action, is far from being a concern for a family of winemakers.