Please sign in to post.

Loire Valley help please

Posted by on

My husband and I will be staying in Amboise for a week in April. We are flying into Paris from the USA. Then, I've read that it is best to take a train to Train to Saint-Pierre to pick up a rental car.

My husband is a winemaker in the Finger Lakes of NY and looking forward to visiting some wineries with sparkling wines. We appreciate any recommendations. He is also talking with other winemakers about their recommendations as well.

We will be visiting a couple of castles (Chambord and Chenonceau and perhaps Villandry) while in the area and admiring others as well.

There are many caves and interesting sites that I'm reading about as we prepare and it is hard to determine which areas are the most exceptional to visit (as we can't visit them all).

Is Behuard Island worth a visit? Picturesque?

We plan to visit Mentroser, Saumur, and Rochemenier. Are there specific sights that you have visited and recommend?

Thank you

Posted by
2993 posts

Laurel,
In or near Saumur you can visit some mushroom caves.
Also in the general area of Saumur and Rochemenier are some troglodyte cave villages (several areas in the Loire Valley boast some of these).
I have only visited Chenonceau, Chambord and Azay-le-Rideau, and recommend them all, but you will have enough time to see some others as well.
Lots of sparkling wines produced in the Loire region....you should have many to choose from.
Bon voyage! Amusez-vous-bien!

Posted by
902 posts

Bonjour Laurie,
We were just there in the Loire this past fall. In Montresor, there is a cute and excellent newish eatery with weird hrs run by a cookbook author/chef called 'Ecole Gourmande'. We felt that if was the best of that trip. Verify opening times.
Closer to your base, we recco Chateau Gaillard, a b-league chateau with faaaaar fewer crowds and a wonderful cafe with salads plus their signature citrus juices and cake.
Bon chance.
PS our close friends live near you in Amherst

I am done. The end

Posted by
3178 posts

Most of the wine producers here are smaller, family run operations. They are generally open to meeting you and to selling you a few cases of wine, but few have facilities for just visitors. I cannot specifically think of any viticulteur offering "sparkling wines" or vins crémants, maybe you can find some. I would first check producers of Vouvray. A basic knowledge of French will be beneficial to any visit.

If you are interested in visiting a cave, I might suggest you arrange a visit to the Cave de la Grande Brosse in Chémery. Contact Philippe Oudin, the owner, and ask about a tour. I think his English is very good and he may be able to accommodate you for a visite of both the cave and production facilities:

http://cavegrandebrosse.com/

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.