Loire Valley wines

The vineyards of the Loire Valley

300 kilometers separate the cities of Blois and Nantes. With the Loire River as their unifying element, a multitude of terroirs and appellations coexist, forming the third largest wine region in France with 57,000 hectares of vines. A wine-growing region par excellence, Touraine boasts around a hundred wineries open to the public, welcoming visitors to their properties and offering tastings of wines from the vineyards of Bourgueil, Chinon, Montlouis, Vouvray, and more.

Which Loire wine should I choose?

It is often said that in France, wine is a religion. Well, remember that in Touraine, we are particularly devout! Still or sparkling, white, red or rosé, dry, semi-dry or sweet: to embrace the full diversity of Loire Valley wines, there's nothing like a visit to the wine cellars open to the public.

A beautiful collection of portraits also awaits you: whether they are independent winemakers or employees of a cooperative winery, wine professionals are all passionate individuals eager to share their knowledge: the history of their vineyard and viticulture in Touraine, the choice of grape varieties, vine management, terroir, winemaking techniques, and food and wine pairings.

If you'd like a guided tour of the Loire Valley vineyards, cellars, and wines, Vincent Delaby ( Vinoloire ) offers tailor-made excursions to suit your preferences (transportation, vineyard walks, cellar visits, guided tastings, etc.). A qualified oenologist, he'll satisfy your thirst for knowledge along an impromptu wine route.

Cycling loops passing through the vineyards of the Touraine-Amboise (17 km), Bourgueil (34 km / 49 km), Chinon (20 km / 24 km) and Vouvray (12 km) appellations.

Hiking trail passing through the vineyards of the Chinon (10 km), Montlouis-sur-Loire (9 km), and Vouvray (6.5 km) appellations.

Discover the Touraine vineyards

As for red wines, the Cabernet Franc grape variety reigns supreme west of Tours for the Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, and Chinon appellations. It blends perfectly with the soils and climate, a fact confirmed by numerous Belgian and American wine tourists who, during their stay in France, readily visit our vineyards.

To the east, the range of grape varieties expands: while cabernet (alone or in blends) can still be found, one can also taste wines made from gamay, pinot noir, and particularly côt, which is beginning to make a good place for itself in the Loire vineyards.

As for white wines, Chenin Blanc complements every course: a Montlouis Brut as an aperitif, a dry Vouvray with crudités or seafood, a semi-dry Montlouis with sushi, white meats, and aged cheeses, and of course, a sweet Vouvray with a fruit dessert. And what about Touraine Sauvignon Blanc with its exotic citrus notes, the Grolleau grape variety from Azay-le-Rideau, rosé wines made using the saignée or pressing methods, or Vin Gris (Noble Joué)... each of the 94 wineries open to the public in Touraine will allow you to better understand what's in your tasting glass, after visiting the vineyards, the winery, or even the famous troglodytic cellars.

Wine tourism: something to enjoy all year round!

In Touraine, three major wine tourism events are unmissable:The Picnic at the Independent Winemaker's (Pentecost weekend), Vitiloire (the great Loire wine festival, early June in Tours) and Les Echappées en Loire (ex VVR, throughout the Loire vineyards, early September).

Alongside these events, and in addition to the numerous open days offered by winemakers, many other events punctuate the calendar: the Bourgueil wine festival (late March) and Bourgueil à table (dinners from April to July, born from the meeting of chefs and winemakers), the Amboise wine fair (Easter weekend and August 15), the winemakers in the city in Chinon (mid-April), Festivin at the Cave de la Sibylle (May 1), the Vouvray wine fair (at Pentecost and August 15), 7 wines 7 castles 7 places (from July to October), the Biotyfoule organic wine fair in Tours (late November)…

Here are also some bed and breakfasts linked to wine estates: Château de Fontenay , Domaine de Beauséjour , and Caves du Père Auguste . Furthermore, the owner of La Fabrique de Parcius (a large gîte, accommodating up to 14 people) is a sommelier and offers wine tasting workshops during your stay.

Also note that throughout the year, numerous wine tourism activities are offered in the estates (tested and approved with a rating of… wine upon wine!)