If you are a genuine wine lover then you will surely appreciate the beautiful and wonderful wine district of the Loire! In collaboration with Wintourism.com, we list below ten unique vineyards which all have a rich history of sweet, tasty and wonderful wines.
Wine Route Loire
With just over 1000 km of coastline, the Loire is France’s tallest river. It is also the river that can boast the most number of vineyards (appellations) along its enchanting and beautiful beaches. Here you can find a great variety of different tastes of wine that you can enjoy. You can choose between wines with high fruit acid, dry, crispy, sweet, sparkling, to name a few.
You should neither forget to mention rosé and red wines, which are produced in soft but also in strict styles. Most are manufactured by cabernet franc. When it comes to white wine, the wines from the Loire are mainly known for the lovely Chenin blanc and sauvignon blanc, which are grown near the Atlantic coast.
Experience some beautiful and quiet vineyards at wine route Loire…
Domaine du Vieux Pressoir – The Family-Owned Pearl
This quiet and beautiful vineyard has a rich and long history. In 1892, the Albert family decided to start producing their own wine and in the beginning, they only focused on producing white wine. Several decades later, the decision was made to start producing red wine.
The vineyard is located right on the border of Anjou-Saumur, a region which among wine lovers is often hailed for their rosé wines. The production is on a high level and you can experience the wonderful vineyards on a total of 26 hectares!
The fact that the soil itself is naturally fertile and that the region has many hours of sunshine per day, as well as the owners’ ability to produce a perfect grape variety, means that you can never choose wrong with wine from Domaine du Vieux Pressoir
You have the opportunity to visit the actual vineyard where you will learn more about the production process and its various steps. The owners are more than happy to welcome you as a guest, but only during weekdays. You must also book a visit before you have the opportunity to visit the vineyard.
- Appellation: Saumur, Saumur Puy Notre Dame , Coteaux De Saumur
- Activities: wine tasting at på Domaine du Vieux Pressoir
- Price: €5
Château De Chaintres – A Historic Castle with a Strong Family Spirit
The Château De Chaintres vineyard is made up of a total of 20 hectares of land on which one cultivates the finest raw material, which forms the basis of their wonderful wines. It is located right in the heart of Saumur Champigny and also includes the immensely popular “Clos du Château”. The vineyard was started in 1675 by the fathers of Notre Dame des Ardilliers.
They chose the specific site because of the fertility of the land and also the fact that the long sun hours made it possible for the harvest to grow successfully. Before the French Revolution, the vineyard was owned by the “Fréres Oratoriens” which today operates under the name “Clos des Oratoriens”. In 1938 the family bought the Tigny vineyard and is its rightful owner even today.
Château De Chaintres has a program that organises various forms of exhibitions, guided tours, and wine tasting sessions. If you are a wine lover then a visit to Château De Chaintres is a must!
- Appellation: AOC Saumur Champigny, AOC Saumur Rosé, AOC Coteaux-de-Saumur, AOC Cremant de Loire
- Activities: Round trip and wine tasting at Château De Chaintres
- Price: €7
Domaine de la Gauterie – Explore the Majestic Cellars
The history of Domaine de la Gauterie begins in 1990. Etienne Jadeau picked a strategic and well-planned area for her crops to grow because of the Loire River, which today is only a few kilometres away.
If you want to visit Domaine de la Gauterie, you can do it anytime. Your visit will definitely give you a perspective on how the lovely and wonderful wines are produced while you have the opportunity to enjoy a glass of your favorite wine.
- Appellation: AOC Saumur Champigny, AOC Saumur Blanc, AOC Saumur Rosé, AOC Crémant de Loire
- Activities: Visit and wine tasting at Domaine de la Gauterie
- Price: €5
Domaine de Rocheville – Exquisite Wines and Stunning Views of the Loire Valley
Philippe Porché started up the vineyard about two decades ago. Porché is a well-known wine enthusiast who, with great help from his dedicated wife Agnès and the young aspirant Jérôme Callet, started producing wine in a more sustainable and environmentally focused manner.
Its various wines produced in the vineyard have won several prestigious competitions over the years. Some of these include the Concours General de Paris and the Decanter WWA to name a few. In addition, their wines are highlighted for their outstanding qualities in numerous famous guidebooks.
- Appellation: AOC Saumur Champigny, AOC Saumur Blanc, AOC Saumur Rosé, AOC Crémant de Loire
- Activities: Visit and wine tasting Domaine de Rocheville
- Price: €7
