Our tours of the Loire Valley and its wines
The Loire Valley is a huge region and you could spend years discovering it....as we have!
Many of our clients do not have the luxury of so much time and we have arranged a number of tours to condense what we have learned into a day or more of visits. These come with or without meals and accommodation - the choice is yours.
If you are day-tripping from Paris we will collect you at the railway station, give you a great day out and deposit you back so that you can spend the night in your hotel. Arriving at Vierzon station allows us to visit Quincy in addition to Valençay and the Touraine, a real bonus for those who wish to experience a wider range of wines and attractive countryside.
If you want to stay for longer, we can show you more and offer you accommodation at Les Sequoias, our restored mansion in the centre of the region. Over delicious, home-cooked diners, we can continue our exploration of Loire Valley wines.
One day tours
AOC Quincy
We start our trip with a visit to one of the greatest and oldest white wine regions of the Loire: Quincy, an area of around 250 hectares on the banks of the Cher river south of Vierzon. Notable wines have been produced here since the 14th C, and were appreciated by the powerful John, Duke of Berry and King Charles VII. It was also the first Loire region to gain AOC status after the replanting which followed the phylloxera epidemic. These wines are a delight and we will compare several.
AOC Valençay
Valençay, with its renaissance chateau once owned by Prince Talleyrand, is our next stop, with a stroll around the chateau vineyard before our lunch. Valençay is unique in France, the only town with AOC's for both cheese and wine. The white wine is a blend of Sauvignon, softened with Chardonnay, while reds (using up to six grape varieties) and delicious sparkling white wines are also produced. Lunch can be taken in Valençay, Selles sur Cher or a number of nearby villages.
The Touraine
The Touraine is a very large area with nearly 5,500 hectares under vine cultivation. Many different grapes varieties can be used so the differences between the wines from individual producers can be quite great. All the more interesting for the wine lover, we always think! The afternoon is spend exploring the area, enjoying the scenery and stopping off at a number of our favourite producers to compare their wines. Red, white, rosé, sparkling and sweet wines can all be sampled.
Themed tours: The Loire Valley is rightly famous for its wines, but equally for its chateau and its gardens. These were key elements of the landscape which resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We offer a number of themed tours highlighting the qualities of the region. Here is a selection of those which have been popular with guests:
- Sauvignon Blanc tour - the region is the home of Sauvignon Blanc and offers, dry, sweet and sparkling wines; taste the full range of styles.
- Sparling wine tour - sparkling Touraine, Crémant-de-Loire, Vouvray and Montouise-sur-Loire.
- Wine and gardens - some the finest gardens of France are to be found in the Loire Valley, and many are also wine chateaux!
- Chenonceau chateau, park and wine - one of the great chateaux of France lies in the heart of the AOC Touraine - Chenonceau vineyards
- Harvest time and en-Primeur wine - come in October and November to experience grape picking and the newly made wine.
Minimum 2 guests per trip.
"Pay As You Go" pricing and availability from €160 per person including local pickup. Tours available all year 'round - please contact us to check availablity. Lunch is not included - you might choose to picnic, have a quick snack or indulge in a gourmet meal, all of which can be arranged locally. If you would like to retain the services of your guide during lunch, he would be pleased to stay and assist you by separate arrangement. Chateau visit optional and extra. Minimum 2 guests per trip.
| 2 persons €195 p.p. | 3-4 persons €175 p.p. | 5-6 persons €160 p.p. |
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"All -inclusive" pricing and availability from €220 per person including local pickup. Tours available all year 'round - please contact us to check availablity.
Included -
- Comfortable transport by BMW Touring car or luxury minivan
- English expert guide accompanies you throughout the tour
- Lunch with wine (medium priced restaurant).
- Chateau visit (entrance paid)
- Winery visits and tasting
Not included -
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Accommodation
Minimum 2 guests per trip.
| 2 persons €265 p.p. | 3-4 persons €240 p.p. | 5-6 persons €220 p.p. |
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Two day all-inclusive tours
The regions
With extra time available we are able to explore several more regions - Quincy, Valençay and the Touraine as before, but also Cherverny, Cour Cheverny, Vouvray, Montlouis and Touraine-Chenonceaux. We take in the countryside of the Sologne, Loire and Cher vallies, passing many fine chateaux and authentic French villages. A chateau visit can be arranged if required and the tour includes a demonstration of how the local sparkling wine is made.
The wines
Taste a wider range of fine Loire wines on this extended trip including: Cremant de Loire, Vouvray, Sancerre, Rose d'Anjou, Cheverny, Chinon, St Nicholas de Bourgueil, and Saumur. This is in addition to those already sampled on the first day. In several cellars and vineyards you will have the opportunity to put your questions to the owners or knowledgeable members of staff and to wander around the vineyard and cellars. Translations provided as needed!
Food and Accommodation
This trip includes half-board accommodation at Les Sequoias but of course, if you prefer, you can make your own arrangements.
Please visit the Les Sequoias web site for full details of the house and amenities, including the new heated swimming pool.
Lunches are taken together at restaurants on our tour route, while your evening meal is eaten as a group at Les Sequoias. Our wine discovery and food matching continues during these meals.
Pricing and availability :: tour + accommodation from €505 per person including local pickup.Two days of touring and tasting, one evening meal, one nights accommodation and breakfast. Lunches are included. Tours available all year 'round - please contact us for availablity.
Minimum 2 guests per trip. Single room supplement applies.
| 2 persons €595 p.p. | 3-4 persons €545 p.p. | 5-6 persons €505 p.p. |
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All-inclusive full week tour
The regions
Each day of this tour sees us visit a different region: North to Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny
East to Sancerre and Menetou-Salon
West to Vouvray and Touraine
Far west to Azay-Le-Rideau and Bourgueil
Five days of guided tours are included but one day is kept free for a chateau or town visit, or just a relaxing day out walking in the countryside.
The wines
All the local styles of wine can be sampled on this trip, from the dryest whites to sweet desert wines; taste sparkling Vouvray and Cremant de Loire and a range of reds and rosé, both sweet and dry.
Discover rarities like the ancient Romorantin grape from Cours-Cheverny and decend into the limestone caves of Montrichard to see how traditional sparkling wine is made.
Food and Accommodation
As with the two day tour, you will be based at Les Sequoias, but on a full board basis. Please visit the Les Sequoias web site for full details of the house and amenities, including the new heated swimming pool. Lunches are included (except on the free day) and taken at restaurants on our tour route. Evening meals, with local wines, are eaten together as a group at Les Sequoias.
Pricing and availability €1,800 per person including local pickup. Five days of touring and tasting, one free day, seven nights accommodation, evening meals and breakfast. Lunch is included - generally the 'meal of the day' at a restaurant on our route. Tours available all year 'round - please contact us for availablity. Minimum 2 guests per trip. Single room supplement applies.
Want something different? Ask for a tailor-made tour
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