In 2022, the Clos des Quarterons – certified organic and biodynamic – won the “Outstanding Offer” award of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the “Education and Environmental Protection” category.

The Amirault family has been handing down its vision of winemaking since 1840. The sixth generation is continuing this tradition, keener than ever to raise awareness about preserving the ecosystem, respecting the terroirs and retaining the identity of the soil.

A visit to the estate includes a tasting in the heart of the historic building and an exploration of the concrete vats whose frescoes trace the cycle of the vine and the work of the winegrower ("Chai d'oeuvres"). You can also climb down 20 meters beneath the vines on a tour of the former freestone quarry, the very spot where the six cuvées from the 54 plots are aged.

Œnorallyes (“wine rallies”), treasure hunts and wine-and-heritage quizzes are also organised so that you can enjoy a thrilling day out with the family or friends!

The 500-year-old Domaine de Chambord offers a blend of nature and architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic feature of the French landscape, the estate is constantly reinventing itself and working for a better planet while safeguarding its heritage.

Chambord boasts a biodiversity that can be found nowhere else, and the estate is now keen to establish itself as a front-line player in the ecological transition. In concrete terms, this means conserving traditional species and undertaking research into sustainable development and a project to set up a diversified farm with permaculture vegetable gardens on six hectares at the foot of the monument. The aim of these various initiatives is to raise awareness among the public – especially the very young – through a series of events and workshops on the theme of our natural and architectural heritage. Visitors are also invited to take up the role of “locavores” throughout their visit to the estate – in other words, only eating products made in situ.

In line with this eco-responsible approach, a 14-hectare vineyard using integrated techniques has been created on the Ormetrou farm, based on this same idea of heritage conservation. Historic grape varieties have been re-introduced to this enormous plot that is less than two kilometres from the château. The grapes here are harvested by hand to produce and bottle the estate’s wines on the site. There are two cuvées: a single-varietal white made from Romorantin grapes, which is soon to have AOP recognition, and a red AOP made from a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay.

The old buildings of the much-vaunted hamlet of Ormetrou have also been spruced up. There is now a permanent wine storehouse with an incredible view of the château, where receptions and wine tastings will be held in 2022. The redevelopment also includes the gîte known as La Hannetière, the latest edition to the estate’s accommodation package, which already boasts three other gîtes: La Salamandre, Le Cerf and La Gabillière. Visitors may also opt for a stay at the 4* hotel Le Relais de Chambord, which has a spa and bistronomic restaurant showcasing products from the Domaine de Chambord.

Would you like to take this wonderful experience a stage further? Anyone adopting a vine will receive a batch of bottles at a preferential rate together with a nameplate and an adoption certificate!

From Chinon to Sancerre via Touraine and along the Loire, nearly two-thirds of the tourist wineries here are already committed to an environmentally-friendly approach or are converts to organic farming. And the authentic nature of the products, together with their local origins, are now guaranteed by the regional food label: « Produit en région © du Centre ».

Not far from Château de Chenonceau, Mathilde Sauvète and her family produce organic wines: AOC Touraine Chenonceaux, Touraine and Crémant de Loire. As authentic as they are surprising, these wines reflect the terroir where they are grown. Domaine Sauvète opens its doors to inquisitive visitors keen to discover the métier of winegrower on a treasure hunt and other unusual walks surrounded by the estate’s vines, including by Segway.

Further to the east, in the Berry, Chantal Wilk and Jean Tatin (joined by their daughter Maroussia in 2010) grow vines sustainably on the Domaines Tatin family estate. Their wines – AOC Quincy (exclusively white) and AOC Reuilly – retain all their historical, cultural and qualitative dimensions. A natural sparkling wine rounds off the range to accompany the celebrated Tarte Tatin, which is native to neighbouring Sologne. To soak up the atmosphere, nothing beats a food and wine tasting prepared by the chef alongside a peaceful stay in the estate's stables: dating from the 18th century, they have now been refurbished as a gîte.

Near Chinon and Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Nicolas Paget’s vines are grown organically. Driven by his passion and convictions, this staunch champion of nature produces his own cuvées with three appellations: AOC Chinon and AOC Touraine in red, and AOC Touraine Azay-le-Rideau in white and rosé. And there’s no shortage of activities at Domaine Paget: a picturesque picnic in the vineyards, a tasting meal with local products… or – even more of surprise – a pulsating outdoor escape game!

Very close to the Château de Menetou-Salon – and to the north of Bourges – Pierre-Emile Fraiseau pampers his vines before bottling his AOC Menetou-Salon whites, reds and rosés with great respect for the terroir. Pierre-Emile works the soil of his nine-hectare vineyard by hand, continuing the family tradition in a manner that is both natural and full of quality. To the great delight of visitors, Pierre-Emile’s parents own a gîte and guest rooms in a 19th century building erected in the heart of Domaine Fraiseau Leclerc.

“Outstanding Offer” of the 2023 Wine Tourism Trophies in the "Gastronomy in the Vineyard" category, Maison Bourgeois has been cultivating the art of vines and hospitality for several decades.

The breaks on offer at the hotel-cum-restaurant and wine estate - located at the foot of the Côte des Monts Damnés in the Sancerre vineyards - are as re-energising as they are delightful.

With its 12 bedrooms, gastronomic restaurant, bistro and 72 hectares of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé appellations, the Bourgeois family invites curious visitors who are passing through to take the time to taste the sweet life of Sancerre.

There’s more than enough to enjoy an exotic wine tourism experience in the picturesque village of Chavignol!

Les Caves Duhard make way for Les Caves Ambacia on the edge of the Loire, wowing wine lovers with their unique oenological experience based on the five senses.

In 2023, Caves Ambacia won the “Outstanding Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the “Art, Culture & Savoir-faire” category.

 

In 2024, the “Outstanding Offer” prize of the Wine Tourism Trophies in the "Stay at the Domain and Gastronomy in the vineyard" category was awarded to its bistro Oppidum overlooking the Loire river. 

The history of Les Caves Ambacia dates back to the 15th century when Louis XI tasted the delicious wine produced in the local vineyard on a visit to the royal château at Amboise. Captivated by its aromas, Louis ordered that the wine should be promoted for sale on the Tours market. A few centuries later, in 1874, the Duhards – a family of coopers from Amboise – moved to Les Caves in turn and became wine merchants. Five generations have come and gone, creating an outstanding collection of Vouvray wines.

Building on this history, Les Caves Ambacia are now home to a very special universe, a clever combination of heritage from the past and modernity conceptualised as a multi-stage tour.

It all starts with a sensory trail –a fun way to open the door to a world of wine by awakening each of the five senses: hearing, sight, touch, smell and taste are harnessed to discover a wide range of different families of aromas. There then begins a fantastic journey through 500 years of life in the Odyssey of the Vintages. Three films screened onto the walls of the cellar – including one in 3D – immerse viewers in the history of Loire Valley, introducing them to the local region’s assortment of wines.

And how better to end the tour in style than with a tasting in the cellars accompanied by a sommelier’s expert comments? This is the opportunity to savour the estate's various vintages alongside a platter of gourmet food while learning all there is to know about tasting techniques and food and wine pairings.

On leaving this spot steeped in history, young and old alike will have had their curiosity satiated and their senses awakened!

Named “Chef of the Year 2021” by the Gault & Millau guide, Christophe Hay is deeply committed to sustainable cuisine. He showcases regional flavours on a daily basis, just a few kilometres from Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley.

Originally from the Loire Valley, this talented chef draws inspiration from his native soil. Christophe Hay focuses on a contemporary cuisine that is in harmony with the soil, but also excels in offering a modern take on traditional dishes.

Renowned for his freshwater fish-based dishes, each cooked to perfection, Christophe Hay also uses vegetables grown in his kitchen garden, located next door to the restaurant. Any non-home grown ingredients are sourced from local producers who supply him with regional produce.

In the restaurant, food and wine pairing is never left to chance! The house sommelier provides diners with memorable taste experiences by suggesting the perfect wine to accompany each dish. While the magnificent wine cellar showcases winemakers from Cheverny, Vouvray and the Loire Valley, it also includes wines from across France.

And to make gastronomy accessible to a wider audience, chef Christophe Hay has opened “Côté Bistrot” with his former right-hand man Nicolas Aubry, just next door to the restaurant. Its seasonal set menu is offered at an attractive price, allowing guests to sample the skills of “La Maison d’à Côté” and the local producers, and enjoy the vegetables grown in the kitchen garden. And of course each dish is served with a wine from the restaurant’s carefully selected wine list.

The Loire Valley can be rightfully proud of its ambassador!

Whether you’re looking for seminar rooms, incentives, team building or an off site getaway with colleagues, there are plenty of ways to build stronger teams in the Pays Nantais wine region.

The Muscadet wine region, just a few kilometres from Nantes, is the ideal location to meet colleagues and partners for productive work sessions with a difference. 3 different wine estates with a seminar offer.

Château Guipière in Vallet, whose extraordinary history is guaranteed to raise a smile, has a stone-built meeting room next to the wine cellar. With space for 24 seated and 40 standing, it’s an excellent space for your team get-together. And in September, why not combine your morning work session with a spot of grape harvesting in the afternoon!

Close by in Pallet sits the 14th century medieval Château de la Galissonière. According to legend this was where the first Muscadet vine stocks were planted in 1730. Today, the team is ready to make your corporate event both unique and unforgettable. With its 3 rooms, ranging in size from 60 to 230 m² and a maximum capacity of 250, the château can adapt to meet your needs. Making your event a motivational space for your colleagues, a hit with your partners and strengthening your image amongst your clients.

Staying within the Muscadet appellation, the modern building at Domaine Jérémie Huchet looks out onto Château-Thébaud vine parcels. At 40 m² and able to accommodate up to 20 people, its airy seminar room with vineyard view is sure to trigger discussion and boost creativity. There’s no better way to ensure a successful meeting than to offer an excellent lunch, and Château-Thébaud is no exception. Enjoy a meal prepared by the village's renowned restaurant, served in some of the property's more unusual spaces.

Bien entendu, toutes ces adresses incluent dans leur offre séminaire une dégustation des vins And of course each of these wine estates include a tasting of their own wines, the perfect way to round off a workday that will be like no other! au domaine, de quoi ponctuer en beauté cette journée de travail qui change du quotidien !

Looking for a unique way to discover France’s wine regions? Winalist offers a range of unusual wine tourism experiences. There's something for everyone!

Explore Chinon, a historic town surrounded by vineyards. Renowned for its eponymous wines, mostly from the Cabernet Franc grape variety and produced by almost 200 winemakers, Chinon is also the largest of the Loire Valley's red wine appellations. Its wines are delicate, elegant, and sometimes as intense as the fortress that overlooks the Vienne river and the town’s beautiful historic centre.

The Royal Fortress of Chinon has a rich past and is a must for any visitor. It was in Chinon that Joan of Arc met King Charles VII to persuade him to recapture Orléans, at the time under English occupation. Thanks to HistoPad, and virtual reality reconstructions of certain parts of the fortress, visitors are able to immerse themselves in medieval life. Looking to play? Have a go at the escape game and try to find Joan of Arc’s forgotten treasure.

Chinon is also the birthplace of François Rabelais and other important writers, each a passionate wine lover.

Take your taste buds for a spin with a visit to Domaine Charles Joguet. To discover the different types and styles of wines it produces each year take part in the discovery workshops. You’ll learn about the diversity of its wines and terroirs as well as how they cultivate the vines and make the wine. You can also enjoy wine-tasting lunches, harvesting workshops, and more.

A few kilometres from Chinon, Vignobles du Paradis offers several fun and educational ways to learn about wine and winemaking, set within the property's modern wine cellar. These include, among others, a self-service wine tasting using the Enomatic wine-by-the-glass system and an iPad, a guided tasting of 8 wines, exploring the vines and cellar (by appointment only), and tasting workshops.

Not far from Chinon, in the Indre Valley, discover the Renaissance jewel of Château d’Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the reign of François I, the château is surrounded by idyllic landscaped gardens and boasts sumptuous historic décor spanning its 400 years of history. The lavish collection of artefacts, furnishings, paintings and tapestries will bring the era to life before your very eyes.

Close by, the Azay-le-Rideau wine region sits at the confluence of the Indre and Loire rivers. It produces delicate and elegant rosé, dry-white and medium-dry white wines. To sample these delights, visit Château de l’Aulée in the heart of the Touraine- Azay le Rideau appellation. Stroll through the vineyard and discover how the vines are worked throughout the year as you follow a signposted trail with the aid of an MP3 audio guide.

Become an expert in Loire Valley sparkling wines as you learn how Crémant de Loire, one of the estate’s specialities, is made.

Further north, on the hills overlooking the Indre river, discover the wines produced by the passionate and dedicated team at Domaine Nicolas Paget. The estate has been creating its own cuvées from 3 appellations since 2001: Chinon AOC and Touraine AOC for their reds, and Touraine Azay-le-Rideau AOC for their white and rosé. All of their wines are produced in harmony with nature and the vines are tended in line with organic methods. Why not take part in some the estate’s different activities and experiences? Choose from a winemaker’s picnic, exploring on a Segway or electric scooter, sampling a selection of local produce such as “fouace” bread, Touraine goat’s cheese, Rivarennes dried pears, and more.

In undulating countryside between Tours and Le Mans, explore a pocket-sized wine region that includes the Coteaux du Loir, Jasnières and Coteaux du Vendômois appellations, in the north of the Loire Valley, each connected by Loir river. Enjoy unique experiences with the winemakers, taste a palette of delicate wines and special cuvées in troglodyte cellars and fall for the charm of a magnificent local heritage set within an unspoilt natural landscape. 

At Charles Jumert, winemakers for seven generations in Villiers-sur-Loir, you will be taken on a highly original visit of Domaine de la Berthelotière by cart, followed by a tour of the cellar carved into the tufa rock. Afterwards enjoy a tasting of Coteaux du Vendômois AOC rosé – known as ‘le gris’ – served with a selection of local produce.

At Domaine Patrice Colin in Thoré-la-Rochette, you’ll be greeted by a couple of passionate winemakers. Committed to working the soil, Patrice Colin runs his estate in the Coteaux du Vendômois appellation using organic farming principles and is a true ambassador for its terroir. Visitors can explore the troglodyte cellars and sample the estate’s wines. The fruity and well balanced red wines produced from the iconic local grape variety Pineau d’Aunis are very popular thanks to their characteristic spice notes.

A visit to the troglodyte cellars at Domaine Lelais in Ruillé-sur-Loir are well worth a detour! Several kilometres long and carved out of the rock several centuries ago, this labyrinth of galleries, which also contains a museum dedicated to Bacchus, can be visited on a tour guided by winemaker Claire Lelais. Stay inside the troglodyte cellars for a taste of the famous white wines of Jasnières AOC and Coteaux du Loir AOC, the latter also available as a red and rosé wine.

Over at Domaine de Cézin in Marçon, the Fresneau family has been producing wines from these two appellations in the south of the Sarthe region for four generations. The owners are truly passionate about their work and run a wine tasting workshop. How should you hold the glass? What to look for? How can you identify a wine’s aromas? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more. Domaine de Cézin also offers a visit to its troglodyte cellar as well as a tasting of its wines, all produced according to sustainable methods.

As you leave La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, why not take the Loire Valley Wine Route, either by bike or car, and explore some of the region’s finest producers.

Continue your trip to the Loir Valley with a visit to Vendôme, recognised as a City of Art and History. The city contains both a rich historical and natural heritage, plus countless delightful gardens. To enjoy a picnic among the vines on the hills above Vendôme head to "pente des Coutis". Whether as a family or with friends, this amazing view of the abbey and its castle is the perfect spot for a relaxing break.