Relive the saga of Jean-Baptiste Ackerman, a pioneer of the sparkling wines of the Loire Valley, at Saumur. Descend into the heart of the monumental white limestone wine cellars, and discover the secrets of the traditional method of producing effervescent wines.

Ackerman, 1811.  Writ large on the hillside, these letters and numbers reveal a saga set among historical sites, but most of all they reveal one individual’s soul. If the street, on the banks of the Thouet, a tributary of the Loire, is home to most of the sparkling wine producers of Saumur, the Ackerman winery is at the origin of the traditional method which allowed for its development in the Loire Valley, during the nineteenth century. The Loire Valley has thus become the second largest producer of sparkling wines in France, after the Champagne region.

A dynamic scenographic display takes the visitor on a unique and fascinating voyage into to the heart of the highest underground cellars in the Saumur region. Enchanting, fun and educational.

Since 2011, the bicentenary year, a dynamic scenographic display takes the visitor on a unique and fascinating voyage into the heart of the highest underground cellars in the Saumur region. Enchanting, fun and educational, this ‘Voyage to the centre of the bubble’ begins in the vast caves dug into the Tuffeau limestone, the characteristic white stone which was extracted to construct the chateaux of the Loire Valley. Dedicated to the blending and maturing of fine sparkling wines, this vast underground cellar enjoys natural light thanks to its huge glass roof. It is here, through the presentation of the vintages and the portraits of the wine growers, that we uncover the secrets of the traditional method of producing these sparkling wines.

The magic of art in a labyrinth of underground cellars

Enjoy an artistic experience among the art installations created specially for the galleries of this vaste underground maze. With this exhibition, the artist Yorga has created a colourful, aerial and original artwork within this monumental, 20 m-high space. Julien Salaud, the first laureate of the Ackerman Fontevraud La Scène residency, produced the artwork Fleuve celeste (Celestial River), a delicate, ephemeral work which spreads out in the underground gallery like a canopy of stars. The third part of the tour invites the wine tourist to take a voyage along the Loire River: projections allow the viewer to contemplate the World Heritage landscapes, taste the lifestyle of the Loire and enjoy its subtle light. Or learn how to play la boule de fort, a typical regional game similar to bowls, before the expert-led wine tasting commences!