We'll be staying in Chinon for 4 nights in September; looking for recommendations for some good wine tasting options in the area, as well as any possible cooking classes. (we'll have a car) I'd also appreciate information about any other activities in or near the area.
Many thanks!
Just outside Chinon (maybe on the east side?) is Pierre & Bertrand Couly. We had a great tasting of about 5 red wines with what turned out to be the owners who spoke wonderful English and had family in the U.S. We actually sent a case of wine home from there. The building is on the new side, don't let that deter you.
I just googled the name and there right in a picture is the folks we tasted with. http://www.winevip.com/PierreBertrandCouly?orderby=PXPC.DisplayOrder%20Asc,%20P.ProductName%20ASC&startrow=1
We also tasted in other areas of Loire. Loved some of the really small Vouvray wineries, but Vouvray is closer to Amboise and a ways from Chinon
Petit Thouars (http://www.chateaudptwines.com/) would get my vote, although I'm not generally a fan of Loire Valley reds. IMHO it's too cool for Cabernet Franc grapes to ripen properly, which is what Chinon reds are made from. 2017 and 2018 were pretty warm years. however, so there should be some decent stuff around
For my money the white wine of the Loire Valley is better, but Vouvray rather than Chinon Chenon Blanc - in Chinon they tend to do the white wines too sharp for my liking (and I am a 0% added sugar kind of guy). Vouvray is on the outskirts of Tours and also does Chenin Blanc wine, to my tastes a lot more sucessfully.
If you end up interested in Vouvray, I can look thru my photos for the wineries we went to. One was the Vouvray cooperative, which had a good tour into the caves and then a rather extensive tasting. We also went to a very small family run winery in Vouvray. Like we walked past kids toys on the driveway to get to the tasting room and tasted with the daughter of the sr. wine maker. Vouvray was fun for us. The wine was inexpensive we ended up with about 10 bottles that we used for picnics for the rest of the trip.
it's too cool for Cabernet Franc grapes to ripen properly
I'm surprised to hear that, since I consider Loire Valley Cabernet Franc to be the best expression of Cab Franc in the world. However, I do know that historically Loire Cab Francs have often been criticized as being too "green" or vegetal, which to me means underripe. I haven't noticed that much, if at all, in many years, maybe due to global warming.
