Page Text Content
The Loire by Train
Saturday 25 - Thursday 30 October
Classic Wine Journeys
The ¾ood of New World and warm southern European wines had to cause some casualties. The Central Loire was one. The reds had a reputation for being light but not particularly fruity and de½nitely out of step with the change in taste towards fruit driven, warmer wines. It has to be said that some of the wines especially Muscadets and Anjou Rosé could be dreadful, but the image is actually worse, early 1980s picnic wine. Loire Wine, why bother? Well, the Loire has had some crackingly good years recently with serious reds, ½ne balanced dry whites and some lush dessert wines too. The warmer climate has helped but the wine-making has improved, (there always was a constellation of star wineries with superb wine making), the wineries are now better equipped and in the vineyard there have been huge advances. This, after all, is where organics and in particular Biodynamics really started. All of this should cause wine drinkers to reassess the wines and to visit with us. The base for the tour is the town of Saumur with its famous castle. Our hotel is a particularly comfortable well run 3* with a lovely, riverside position and a good restaurant.
We start by looking at the local red, Saumur-Champigny at one of the top estates, Château de Parnay. Lunchtime and the afternoon are free in Saumur, where there is the castle, military riding school and much else to see. On our Anjou day we visit Coulèe de Serrant of Nicholas Joly, God-father of Biodynamism in French viticulture and wine making. We have lunch at Château de Fesles, leading producer of Bonnezeau, tasting the luscious wines of the chateau and other ½ne wines from Anjou including Savennières. The reds of Chinon and Bourgeuil are a somewhat heavierweight proposition than Saumur. We have always been fans of the wines of Charles Joguet. We have a free lunchtime in Chinon then visit Domaine de la Chevalerie in Bourgeuil. For top quality Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine we visit Domaine de la Grange and after this have lunchtime in Nantes, perhaps to enjoy that classic combination, oysters washed down by muscadet. This evening we have a special dinner at the sparkling wine cellars of Gratien & Meyer.
(shown above). On the last day we visit Vouvray. Here we have a superb tasting followed by lunch with Marc Brédif. In the afternoon we pick up the TGV in nearby Tours for our return journey This tour travels down from London by Eurostar and the TGV, making a very comfortable start to your holiday and avoiding the increasingly congested airports. (However, please ensure that you are able to carry your own luggage on and off the trains as porters are not easily available) Alternatively you could drive to the Loire to join us or ¾y to Tours if you prefer. The Wine Guide is Andrew Williams
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
E. Mangeat
Eurostar St Pancras 10.00 / Tours 17.00. Dinner. 3* hotel, Saumur. Visit in Saumur & Dinner. Visits and lunch in Savennières & Bonnezeau. Visits in Chinon Visit in Muscadet. Saumur wine estate Dinner. Visit in Vouvray. Lunch. Eurostar 15.00 / St P 20.00
Includes
Return travel by1st class Eurostar & 2nd classTGV, coach, 5 nights 3* hotel (superior rooms), breakfasts, 5 meals with wines, visits & tastings. Wine Guide & Tour Manager.
Travel Travel Price £ pp Price 1269 £ pp Sole occupancy Sole 170 occupancy Deposit £ pp Deposit 250 £ pp Room Upgrade Room Upgrade
TGV Meet at destination
The Loire, vine and chateau!
1069
170
250
37
|
inbro