A Chateau in The Loire

Gratien & Meyer

The Loire by Train

25 - 30 October 2008

The base for the tour is the town of Saumur with its famous castle. Our hotel is a particularly comfortable well run 3* with a lovely, riverside position and a good restaurant.

We start by looking at the local red, Saumur-Champigny at one of the top estates, Chateau de Parnay. Lunchtime and the afternoon are free in Saumur, where there is the castle, military riding school and much else to see.

On our Anjou day we visit Coulee de Serrant of Nicholas Joly, god-father of Biodynamism in French viticulture and wine making.
We have lunch at Chateau de Fesles, leading producer of Bonnezeaux, tasting the luscious wines of the chateau and other fine wines from Anjou including Savennieres.
The reds of Chinon and Bourgueil are a somewhat heavierweight propostion than Saumur. We have always been fans of the wines of Charles Joguet. We have a free lunchtime in Chinon then visit Domaine de la Chevalerie in Bourgueil.
For top quality Muscadet de Sevre et Maine we visit Domaine de la Grange and after this have lunchtime in Nantes, perhaps to enjoy that classic combination, oysters washed down by muscadet. This evening we have a special dinner at the sparkling wine cellars of Gratien & Meyer.

On the last day we visit Vouvray. Here we have a superb tasting followed by lunch with Marc Bredif. In the afternoon we pick up the TGV in nearby Tours for our return journey