Extensive Loire - Wine Tours in the Loire Valley

Every itinerary is entirely bespoke and can be tailored to your individual preferences

At a glance

Trip Summary

During the course of the day, you will visit various Sancerre vineyards, where your guide will explain in detail the specifics of the unique terroir which allows the appellation to produce its world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, and the work which takes place throughout the year. In the morning, you will visit a highly-regarded producer of Sancerre wines for a full tour of the wine-making process from press to bottle and tastings of five wines. You will also taste the local Crottin de Chavignol goat’s cheese with a reputed cheese affineur. There will be free time for lunch and your guide will be more than happy to suggest a suitable restaurant depending on how hungry you are feeling on the day. Before being taken back to the hotel at the end of the afternoon, you will be taken to visit a winery across the river in Pouilly-Fumé for a full tour and tastings of five wines in a different style to those tasted earlier in the day. In the evening we will make a table reservation for you at a gourmet restaurant within easy walking distance of the hotel.

On the morning of day three of your Extensive Loire Valley Wine Tour, check out of the hotel. You will be met by a private chauffeured vehicle at the hotel, which will accompany you throughout the day. You will take your luggage with you and your driver will drop you at your next hotel at the end of the day. You will firstly be taken to a reputed wine merchant in Amboise, who specialises in old wines (some of which date back to the 1940s). The visit will include a tour of the cellars to discover the merchant’s impressive vintage collection, a sensorial experience and a tasting session of three Vouvray wines paired with three cheeses. After the tour you will be given some free time for lunch in Amboise.

In the afternoon, you will be taken to a second renowned estate to sample the best white wines from Vouvray. Your guide will accompany you on a tour of the Domaine and cellars. The visit will conclude with tastings of a selection of the estate’s wines, including their Réserve Spéciale. A platter of local delicacies such as cheese and rillettes will be served with the wine. You will be taken to your hotel in Tours at the end of the day where you will be able to check in and freshen up before dinner. In the evening, a three-course meal accompanied by wine, water and coffee will be served at a traditional French bistro in the city centre. The restaurant will be within walking distance of your hotel.

After breakfast on day four of your Extensive Loire Valley Wine Tour, check out of the hotel and take your luggage with you. A pre-arranged taxi will collect you and drive you to your first visit of the day, a 15th Century wine-making Château in the Chinon appellation, where you will be welcomed by the Count and Countess of the estate. There will be somewhere for you to store your luggage during your visit.

Following a visit to the Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc vineyards and a tour of the cellars, a tasting session will take place in the Château’s historic tasting room. A picnic lunch with a bottle of wine will then be served in the Château’s stunning grounds.

After lunch a second taxi will return to take you to an estate located in Saumur, again you will be able to store your luggage whilst you enjoy the visit.  You will explore this 19th Century family-owned winery, including the UNESCO listed tuffeau caves, on a guided walking tour, followed by tastings of four different wines. After the tour, you will be driven to your hotel in Saumur.  The evening will be free for you to do as you please. We would be pleased to recommend a restaurant for dinner.

After breakfast on Day Five of your Extensive Loire Valley Wine Tour, check out of your hotel in Saumur and meet your English-speaking driver-guide for a private full-day wine experience through the renowned Saumur and Anjou wine regions. As your luggage will accompany you throughout the day, you can relax and enjoy a seamless transfer to Angers while discovering some of the Loire Valley’s most celebrated vineyards.

Travelling through picturesque Loire Valley wine villages and rolling vineyard landscapes, you will visit a carefully selected collection of wineries for guided tours and tastings. Along the way, you will discover the region’s elegant sparkling wines, refined Chenin Blancs and distinctive Loire Valley reds, while learning about the history, traditions and winemaking techniques that have shaped this remarkable wine region. Time will be included during the day to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (payable locally), allowing you to experience the area’s excellent regional cuisine at your own pace.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to the elegant 4-star Hôtel d’Anjou in the heart of Angers. The remainder of the evening is yours to relax and enjoy at leisure.

On day six of your Extensive Loire Valley Wine Tour, your English-speaking driver-guide will collect you from your hotel for a private full-day exploration of the prestigious Anjou and Savennières wine regions. Travelling through the distinctive schist landscapes of Anjou Noir, you will discover one of the Loire Valley’s most characterful and highly regarded wine-producing areas.

Throughout the day, you will visit a selection of carefully chosen estates for private tours and tastings, where elegant, terroir-driven Chenin Blanc wines reveal the depth, minerality and precision for which the region is renowned. You will also spend time in the historic village of Savennières, beautifully situated above the Loire River and home to one of the valley’s most respected appellations.

There will be free time for lunch at a local restaurant (payable locally) before continuing your exploration of this quietly remarkable wine region.

Returning to Angers in the late afternoon, your day concludes with a delicious three-course dinner with drinks served in your hotel’s gastronomic restaurant.

Outline Itinerary

Day Three

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• You will be met at the hotel by a private chauffeured vehicle, which will accompany you throughout the day.
• You will first visit a well-regarded local wine merchant in Amboise where you will enjoy a cellar tour, sensorial experience and a tasting session of three wines paired with local cheeses.
• You will then have some free time for lunch in the pretty riverside town.
• You will visit a Vouvray estate in the afternoon, where you will be taken on a full tour of the domaine before sampling their sought after wines with some local delicacies.
• Your chauffeur will drop you at your hotel in Tours at the end of the day.
• In the evening, a three-course dinner with drinks will be served in a traditional French bistro in the city centre.

Day Four

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Today, pre-booked and pre-paid taxi transfers will be arranged between your activities.
• Your tour day will comprise of:
• A tour and tastings with a picnic lunch at a 15th Century wine-making Château to taste Cabernet Franc wines.
• A tour and tastings at a winery in Saumur to taste the region’s sparkling wines.
• You will be taken to your hotel in Saumur at the end of the day.
• The evening will be free for you to do as you please.

Day Five

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• You will be met at the hotel by your English-speaking driver-guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis as you travel from Saumur to Angers through some of the Loire Valley’s most celebrated wine-producing landscapes.
• Your tour day will comprise of:
• Guided visits and tastings at carefully selected wineries in the Saumur and Anjou appellations.
• The opportunity to discover the region’s renowned sparkling wines, elegant Chenin Blancs and distinctive Loire Valley reds.
• Time for lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included).
• Scenic drives through vineyard-covered hillsides and charming wine village.
• At the end of the day, you will be transferred to your hotel in Angers.
• The evening will be free for you to do as you please. As always, we would be delighted to recommend and reserve a restaurant if required.

Day Six

• After breakfast, your guide will return to accompany you on a private full-day exploration of the Anjou and Savennières wine regions.
• Your tour day will comprise of:
• Guided visits and tastings at carefully selected estates in Anjou and Savennières.
• The opportunity to discover the distinctive schist terroirs and mineral-driven Chenin Blanc wines for which the region is renowned.
• Time to explore the historic wine village of Savennières, one of the Loire Valley’s most prestigious appellations.
• Free time for lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included).
• You will return to your hotel in Angers at the end of the afternoon.
• In the evening, a delicious three-course dinner with drinks will be served in the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant.

Final Day

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.

(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.

Package Prices

• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Considerable discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.

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