Domaine de la Chevalerie winery in the Loire Valley?

I love Chevalerie's wines, and hope to stop there next Spring. You might want to check out this blog entry about a visit to the winery by Ned Swain, a wine distributor in Maine: http://devenishwinesgeek.typepad.com/wines_tasted/2012/03/tasting-at-domaine-de-chevalerie.html. Two others that make different wines that you might want to consider are Jacky Blot's Bourgueil and Montlouis wineries (blog entry: http://jimsloire.blogspot.com/2012/08/an-afternoon-with-jacky-blot-including.html)&#59; and Lame-Delisle-Boucard (see http://jimsloire.blogspot.com/2012/07/bourgueil-back-to-1893-plus-news-of.html).
In past trips to the Loire we've just dropped in at wineries for tastings, and that's generally been fine. But you might want to consider setting up appointments.

Thanks, Robert. What's the level of expectation (or proper manners) in the Loire Valley when it comes to visitors buying wine at the wineries if they have an appointment? Also, are there any Loire Valley red wines of note (I'm not a white wine fan)?

In answer to your first question, Scott, it's not very different whether you just stop in for a tasting and/or tour or make an appointment. It's good manners to buy at least a bottle or 2, and while they're happy to sell you as much as you want, and I've bought up to a half-case at places, I've never experienced any negative feedback if I buy no more than a bottle or 2. When I've felt the need to explain why I'm only buying a bottle or 2, I just say that we can't really transport very much. It's also much easier to say that when the winery exports to America, because I can then say that I can get their wines at home.
As to your second question, if you send me a message directly and let me know whether you mean specific wineries or simply appellations, I can give you some suggestions. While the Loire has many outstanding whites, red Loire wines from Cabernet France may be my favorite wines in the world.

If you are going to pop into Montlouis-sur-Loire, you have to cross the river into Vouvray! I strongly recommend visiting Sebastien Brunet in Chancay,and Vincent Careme in Vernou-sur-Brenne. I count them among the best wine-makers the Vouvray appellation has to offer! As for reds...again, i strongly recommend Nicolas Grobois in Panzoult and Fabrice Gasnier of Chezelet...both are in the appellation of Chinon and are close to each other. Again crossing back over the river...Hubert Audebert in Bourgueil and Jean De La Noue in St.Nicolas de Bourgueil are among my absolute favorites. There are so many to chose from really...get off-the-beaten-path, you won't be disappointed. Cheers...Dave...Select Wine Journeys (www.selectwinejourneys.com)

Great suggestions Dave. I'll have to add some of those producers to my itinerary for our 2013 trip.

Different types of wine often have wildly different prices. "In general, I would say that the best value would be when you choose lesser-known grape varieties.
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The most well known red wines from Loire are Chinon and Bourgueil. Generally easy to find, both made from Cabernet Franc. Try them both, generally I prefer the Chinon, but do go for the better wines. There are some realy good estates which specialize in red wines

I certainly agree with Petter in general. Anything with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nour, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay is likely to be higher-priced than a wine made from Mondeuse, Jacquere, Cabernet Franc, Romarantin, etc. However, some lesser-known grapes have at least temporarily acquired cult status in the US, particularly in NY and San Francisco, so you'll find sometimes absurdly high prices for such wines. For example, Savignin-based wines from the Jura, and Gruner Veltliner from Austria. I'm worried that this will happen to Mondeuse from the Savoie or Cabernet Franc from the Loire, 2 of my favorite types of wines. As to Loire Cab Franc, I generally prefer Bourgeuil to Chinon, in contrast to another commenter, but not by much. They're both great wines, and it's why a visit to Domaine de la Chevalerie is on my agenda for next Spring.

Robert another tip for you (because of your love for Bourgeuil) and another for anyone interested: We had a lovely visit last year at Yannick Amirault, you need to make an appointment. (website is his name.fr) For any wine enthusiast who'll be in Amboise, I highly recommend a stop down the road in Montlouis sur Loire, at François Chidaine's wine shop, right on the quai (riverside) road. The day my friend and I stopped in, he was on hand, and his wife as well, and what fabulous hosts they were! The rain started coming down outside, but we were cozy inside tasting their bio wines and having questions like "What is choisilles answered by Manuela, who started rubbing two rocks together to make us smell their origins. Their wine shop is called "La Cave Insolite". His wines are a great value for money. Hmmm, my taste buds are tingling thinking of them now!! love Loire wines!

Thanks Kim. I've had Chidaine's wines many times; never a dud. And the one bottle of Yannick Amirault's wine I had last year was fabulous. I'll have to check out the wine shop too. And Jacky Blot also, whose wines are so hard to find here.