With 2600 hours of sunshine per year, the vineyards of the Ile de Ré receive as much sun as Nice in the south of France. The exceptional microclimate ensures the maturity of all products cultivated here. The land is dominated by sandy soil, ideal for vine growing, across 650 hectares of the island.

Wine, Pineau and Cognac: The Ile de Ré produces Pineau, "Vin de Pays Charentais" and Cognac. Pineau, a regional speciality, is a liqueur carefully mixed from selected cognacs in one part to three parts of grape juice. It's a delicious alternative to sherry, and also enjoyed as an aperitif in these parts. Coopérative des Vignerons de l'Ile de Ré – Here you can visit the wine stores, also wine tasting: In the stroreroom, advice is given by oenologist and professional winemakers. Coopérative des Vignerons de l'Ile de Ré is situated at Le Bois Plage en Re.

Salt: Salt was once one of the principal treasures of the Ile de Ré. Today it has lost much of its economic value but it's quality and taste are still very much present, and consumers continue to appreciate its dietary qualities. After being abandoned for generations, the salt marshes are again in production and Ile de Ré salt is seeing an increasing share of the market. At the present time 80 salters produce an average of 2500 tonnes per year, depending on climatic conditions. The Ecomusée du Marais Salant is in Loix, in the heart of the salt marshes, the ecomuseum gives you a glimpse into the history of the "white gold" that gave the island its prosperity in bygone days, the salt worker's way of life and expertise, the ingenious system for carrying seawater to the salt pans etc. There are individual and group visits. Salt and "fleur de sel" are on sale in the shop.

Oysters: The island is the perfect environment for the farming oysters. Each oyster is cultivated for 4 years before arriving at the market stall, by which time the farmer has tended to it upwards of thirty times. Fine oysters are grown in the open sea. Fine de clair oysters are refined in artificial basins for the last two months before sale. The Speciale de clair is a more meaty beast, grown at a lower density of shells per given area, allowing them to benefit from more abundant nourishment. You'll find oysters in all the markets on the island and around the region, but they can also be bought directly from the farmers at the oyster beds. The oyster is a food that you can eat as much of as you want, with a wonderful taste and excellent dietetic properties. The huitrière de Ré can be visited.

The Potato: Ile de Ré new potatoes owe their nationwide fame to their early readiness and their excellent taste. They're on the shelves in early April, well before other new potatoes grown on the mainland. The Ile de Ré new potato was the first to be honoured with the title "Appellation d'origine contrôlée", the A.O.C. usually reserved for fine wines and cheeses. Five different varieties grow here, two soft-bodied, the Almaria and the Starlette, while the Roseval, Charlotte and Amandine have a firmer texture. The exceptional Ile de Ré country, with its sunny, gentle climate, caressed by marine breezes and filtering limestone soil has succeeded in getting the attention of the consumers.

Natural elements on Ile de Re : The sand dunes extend over more than 16 miles, exposed to the mercy of the elements - sea, wind and visitors! Initiatives have been taken to preserve their rich and fragile environment - particularly the installation of groines and palissades to keep the sand in place, but also the planting of Maram and other hardy grasses which bind the sand. There is a fragile ecosystem along the vast, flat beaches between the high and low-water marks. Be careful with the inhabitants! Life is going on under each stone - fish, shellfish, and crustaceans abound. You are asked not to collect shellfish close to the oyster beds, and also to respect the minimum sizes where you do fish.

Forests:They are becoming more and more abundant on the island. The national forestry commission now manages more than 400 hecatres here, where the gentle climate promotes the development of many mediterranean species. The forests fill a number of functions, limiting soil erosion, forming a protective wind-shield for the sand dunes, not to mention providing a visually appealing backdrop to the countryside. We're all responsible for this natural heritage, so do respect the forest when you visit it.

Marshlands: Over 1500 hectares of the Ile de Ré are marshlands, or wetlands, all created by the the island's human inhabitants towards the end of the middle ages. One fifth of this area is still in use for salt production, while other wetland basins have been taken over by the oyster farmers. Several sea inlets supply a complex waterway network where shallow water and sunshine promote the growth of phytoplankton which forms the basis of a rich and varied food-chain.