WINE

The Loire Valley is not only famous for its châteaux, but also its wine. Keen to visit a vineyard? We have a few suggestions for serious buyers as well as those who only want to do a tasting. If you’re worried about driving to a tasting - be sure to read all the way to the end of this page: someone has come up with a solution!

Tasting vs Buying

If you want a tasting experience without the pressure or expectation that you will be buying at least some of the wine - the best bet is to do a paid-for tasting (you can, obviously, also buy the wine but don’t feel obliged):

This is our nearest recommended spot for a formal tasting and tour, in the heart of Chinon. They cellar their organic wine in the magnificent caves cut into the rock directly below the Château de Chinon. Marc Plouzeau offers a variety of tasting options. Click here for his page with prices and details on how to book.

As you are likely to be less than their stipulated group tour number, they ask that you send an email 2 weeks before and make a special request (or just risk it and turn up —but just not at lunchtime). For the moment, tours and tastings are conducted in French only. Options 2 & 3 (below) are for you if you want bi-lingual or English.

A beautiful nearby château that has been in the same family for an eternity and has been making wine since 1470. Run now by Jean and Tatiana - who really do have winemaking in their blood - they offer 3 tiers of tastings. Read about them here. They speak both English and French. Booking required. Their red is all very good indeed; their white, Sinople, is exceptional.

Chateau DPT has passed in a direct line from father to son, to the present generation, since the family bought the castle in 1636 (on the advice of Cardinal de Richelieu) and there have been vineyards here for centuries. Sebastian - officially the Comte du Petit Thouars - is full of passion for his family estate and speaks fluent English.

They have various possibilities for their imaginative, paid-for tastings; we recommend their picnic in the vines, which also includes a tour of the cellars, followed by a wine tasting in their historic tasting room. You then choose a bottle of wine to enjoy with your picnic lunch, thoughtfully packed with selected seasonal and local delicacies. We love their Cuvée Amiral.

Local winegrowers who played a large part in the organic wine movement and putting Chinon on the world wine map. More for buyers rather than people just wanting to taste wine. You are given an excellent tasting experience and education —but the tasting is free.

Matthieu and Bernard are a father and son team and give a wonderfully comprehensive overview of Chinon wine. Start off with their entry level wine which is excellent and inexpensive, (Les Granges) and work your way up to their top cuvée (La Croix Boissée); they will often only part with a small amount of it - get your hands on what you can negotiate buying!

Their tasting rooms and caves are a 10 minute drive away. I suggest arriving at 11:30am sharp, assuming they can accommodate you, (email them to book in: they are closed between 12-2pm Mon-Fri) and then having lunch after your tasting at the authentic and charming Auberge de Côteaux, full of wine-makers and just down the road from the Baudry winery).

The Domaine Baudry tasting rooms have tranches of the soil and rocks on display for each variety of their wine, which makes trying their various cuvees and creations a real education.

Matthieu speaks very good English. They may also be able to help you organise shipping as they supply their wine to most corners of the world; although nothing beats taking it back yourself.

—You can’t? You’re flying? Don’t let a plane journey put you off! We are huge fans of the check-in ‘wine suitcase’ that can accommodate up to 12 bottles. Click here for details on how to buy one (or two). Some come with next day delivery.

Pascal Sourdais is our neighbour and only a walk away! He has a variety of red, white and rosé, as well as sparkling. This is not going to delight any wine connoisseurs - but the experience is fun and accessible.

Ask Leo and Art (our friendly and helpful guardians who will welcome you to La Fuye) to book you in if you'd like to go. Short notice is fine!

Pascal only speaks French.

Wine Tasting + Art…in a Cave

Maison Ackerman are well known for their excellent local Loire bubbles - crémant - and have been in the business of making it since 1811. Their troglodytic labyrinth of caves, carved into the cliff face, are like something out of a fairytale and a visit to them makes for a fun day trip only 40 minutes’ from La Fuye (take the D751 in the direction of Montsoreau if you want a pretty drive there). The quite ‘out there’ contemporary art exhibitions they host are part of an artists’ residency: Ackerman + Fontevraud La Scène, unusually and quite dramatically exhibited within the caves too, making for a fun and unusual wine pairing. Almost always open. Booking recommended.

Wine Tasting Without Driving

Want to visit a vineyard but don’t want to drive? Seems like a sensible idea and Loire Winery Tours are way ahead of you on that one. They offer vineyard tours and tastings (of over ten wines) in English, in their vintage 2CV. Contact them here.

Keith and Linda both only speak English