Privately escorted tour
Loire Valley Wine Tour
This tour is for absolute wine lovers. With your wine expert, experience a Loire Valley wine and gourmet tour, tasting the best crus in the region and stop by a famous farmers' market. Your chauffeur will introduce you to the most famous local wine appellations. You will be welcomed by owners of outstanding domains in Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray or Cour Cheverny.
Day 1: King Francis the 1st wine and exceptional matured white wines.
Pick up: your chauffeur welcomes you in his comfortable full options minivan at Saint Pierre des Corps TGV train station.
8.44 am: Your private guide picks you up at Reims train station.
(Private transfer from Paris available with supplement).
Go where the French shop!
Drive to Tours covered (outdoor on Wednesday and Saturday) farmers' market, or Amboise (Friday and Sunday), Blois (Saturday) outdoor farmers'market You will understand why the French nickname the Loire Valley < the garden of France >. Depending on the season, from winter to fall, you will discover our cauliflowers, leeks, carrots, asparagus, strawberries, plums, apricots, peaches, raspberries, green peas, beans, wild mudrooms, apples and pears... You will as well meet the local specialties like < les rillons >, < rillettes >, local foie gras, poulets de Touraine, fromages de chevre etc.
Lunch at your leisure in Tours, Amboise or Blois, depending on the market visited.
Early afternoon, in Amboise, you are welcomed in a Cellar established in 1874 whose owner owner, Daniel, specializes in mature Vouvray wines. His oldest vintage dates back to 1874, the best Vouvray vintages in the 20th being 1921, 1947 and 1959.
After a tour of his cave (former stone quarry), you will taste a wide range of vintages, from 1952 to our days.
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Late afternoon, visit and wine tasting in Cheverny.
Situated between the Loire region and Sologne, a stone's throw away from Chambord
The domain, which covers today 34 hectares of biodynamical cultured vineyards (a new way to look at life!) has been owned by the same family since 1846.
In 1950, four hectares of vines were cultivated mostly being of the white Romorantin type. The Cour Cheverny wines exist today because of King Francois 1st.
On his way back from Italy, Francois 1st stopped in Burgundy.
He brought back 80 000 vines of Romorantin.
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Nowadays the Cour Cheverny is the only appellation in the world using Romorantin grape.
Drive to your 3* hotel in Amboise, a few minutes away from the castle.
Check in.
Dinner at leisure in Amboise.
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Day 2: Grands Crus of the Loire.Vouvray, Chinon and Bourgeuil.
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Check out after breakfast.
Transfer to Vouvray, great white wines.
You visit one of the best producers, in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards.
Created in 1875, this Domain has been expanding for the last five generations and now owns 26 hectares in different parts of the Vouvray region.
The visit of the cave is followed by wine tasting of dry, medium dry, sweet and sparkling Vouvray.
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Lunch at leisure in Chinon.
Walk in the old streets of Chinon in the steps of Joan of Arc and Richard the Lion Heart.
In the afternoon, great red wines.
A few minute drive from Chinon, the next domain welcomes us for a visit of its vineyard in the Chinon appellation. All red Chinon and Bourgueil wines are made from the same grape: Cabernet Franc. In this cave, we will taste a series of rose and red wines including matured wines. The family has been making wine in this Chateau for three generations. The Chinon terroir is made of two different soils in two different zones: the Vienne Valley or hills. You'll be amazed to see the differences in the taste of the wines according to the sandy valley soil or limestone on the hills.
To end the day, we go to Restigne, for a discovery of the Bourgueil Appellation.
Wine tasting at Domaine des Mailloches in Restigne.
Sophie and her brother are the eighth generation of wine makers at Domaine des Mailloches.
The appellation Bourgueil produces red and rose wines from the grape variety cabernet franc.
According to the age of the vine, the terroir (sand, pebbles, limestone), the sun and wind exposition, the different techniques in the wine making itself, one will elaborate a great variety of wines from the same grape variety, producing thirst quenchers or rich and complex red wines.
Late afternoon, drive back to Saint Pierre des Corps TGV station.
1 hour train ride to Paris Montparnasse station.
Option:
Hot air balloon flight, 195.00 EURO per person, 100% refundable in case of bad weather conditions.
(Please book in advance)
The tour includes: Transportation in a comfortable minivan for two days, full time private wine specialist, 1 night in 3* hotel on double occupancy with breakfast in Amboise, visits and wine tasting of Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, Montlouis and matured Loire Valley wines. Visit of a quality farmers market. Wineries are submitted to changes according to availability.
The tour does not include: train tickets, tickets to other monuments, other meals, other drinks, personal expenses, extra, gratuities, single occupancy.
