Take an old-fashioned ramble through the Anjou vineyards perched on a Solex electric bicycle or in the comfort of a classic car.  As a romantic break, a trip with family or a getaway with friends, this is a unique and unforgettable experience.

What do wine, Solex bikes and classic cars have in common? Passion of course !  And the delightful fusion of these obsessions was the joint brainchild of passionate winemakers and classic car enthusiasts.

Rétro Emotion’s packages for bicycle or classic car enthusiasts offer delectable vintage rambles through the Anjou vineyards for two days or more.

Saddle up on a Solex at the Vignobles & Découvertes accredited Domaine de Pied-Flond to discover the charms of this 25 hectare family estate.  Your hosts will be proud to share their wine-making secrets with you !

Are you pining for a change of scenery ?  If so, we have just the thing for you !  Take a wander by foot, by bicycle or by boat through the Val de Loire vineyards and discover the features, the wines and the unique countryside of the banks of the Loire.

Get ready, get set, go!  Take a hike through the vines ; cycle the length of the nearby ‘Loire à Vélo’ itinerary ; take a cruise on the Loire.

At that pace, you will need to take some breaks! So why not take the owners of the estate up on their invitation to taste their numerous appellations, like the AOC Muscadet-coteaux-de-la-loire for example, whilst at the same time soaking up the panoramic views on the slopes overlooking the Loire. 

And to top it all, why not take a well-deserved break by staying on the estate in the Génaudière’s gîte or in the Tiny House "Les Abers"… right in the middle of the vines!

To set the scene for you, the Bergerie estate contains 36 hectares of Chenin, Cabernet and Grolleau and is a little over 30 minutes south of Angers.

David Gitton, the young chef whose refined and inventive cuisine has not gone unnoticed by the major food critics, opened his 'La Table de la Bergerie' restaurant in buildings on the family estate in 2009. After completing international classes (USA, Monaco, London) with Ducasse and Robuchon, he moved to Anjou to sample a different style of exoticism in Champ-sur-Layon. A gourmet connoisseur such as you won’t get lost in David’s menu, which contains just two starters, two mains and two desserts. This simple approach ensures that recipes and produce are prepared with a careful attention to detail, making La Table de la Bergerie a blend of simplicity and finesse. A winning recipe: in 2017 the restaurant has gained a Michelin star. The dining room and terrace overlook the estate’s vines, but the vineyard tastes as good as it looks, something you can find out for yourself thanks to the chef’s carefully selected food and wine pairings.

Leah is a bona fide wine lover. She went to the heart of the Loire Valley, and she tells the story of this historic wine region on her blog. Follow her magical journey using #VisitFrenchWine 

DAY 1 :

Lunch at Restaurant Jean de la Queue

Guided tour of Clisson

Dinner at l’Itacaré in Château-Thébaud

Night at La Demeure de Saint-Fiacre

DAY 2 : 

Visit of Château de la Cassemichère

Lunch at Les Terrasses de Bonnezeaux

Visit and tasting at Château de Fesles in Thouarcé

Discovery of Layon Valley and Savennières area

Tasting of Coteaux du Layon 1er cru Chaume wines at Château de Bellevue

Dinner and night at l'Hôtel les 3 Lieux

DAY 3 : 

Visit on a bike in the wineries of Bouvet-Ladubay

Discovery of Loire Valley wines on a traditional boat with the winegrower Denis Retiveau

A unique and tailor-made experience with Myriam Fouasse-Robert : guided walk in the vineyard, tour of the winery and cellar in the rock, tutored tasting of Vouvray and Touraine wines with local food.

Flight above Loire Châteaux with Patrick Plançon

Dinner in the wine bar Chez Bruno

Night at La Bagatelle 

DAY 4 : 

Visit of Tours and stop by the central market Les Halles

Visit of Château de Chenonceau also known as the Castle of the Ladies

Meet and tasting of Touraine - Chenonceau wines with Adrien Godeau, winegrower of Caves du Père Auguste

Lunch at L'Orangerie Château de Chenonceau

Visit of the Monmousseau enlightened cellars

City of Bourges discovery

Dinner at the Michelin-star restaurant Le Cercle

Night at Hôtel de Panette

DAY 5 :

Visit of Domaine Gilbert 's cellards, vineyards and tasting

Lunch at its restaurant Le Fluteau 

Boat ride with a traditional Tour boat, le Raboliot along the Loire with tasting of local products

Visit of Domaine Vacheron's cellars

Dinner at P’tit Goûter

Night at La Côte des Monts Damnés in Chavignol

DAY 6 : 

Visit of Domaine Landrat-Guyollot

Maison des Sancerre discovery

Lunch at La Pomme d'Or

Passionate winemaker, Jean-Max Manceau offers several escapades in the vineyard of Chinon at the Domaine, on foot or by “gabare” boat on the Vienne to discover the wines of the Loire Valley and the gastronomy of Touraine

Winemaker from father to son, Jean-Max Manceau has been working on the Domaine de Noiré since 2001, in the heart of the Chinon AOC. Committed to the Vignobles & Découvertes approach, his 18-hectare estate is managed using organic and biodynamic methods. The wines, made from the Cabernet Franc grape variety, are highly expressive with aromas of red and black fruits. "I have a passion for the vine and its history. I like to talk about my job, to praise my vineyard. That's why my wife and I offer a real wine tourism service", says the winemaker, whose estate has been awarded the label "Cave touristique d'Excellence" for the quality of its welcome.

Tasting visit with meal in a troglodytic cellar, hike, and boat on the Vienne River.

The discovery of the vineyards, the landscapes and the historical city of Chinon can be done through a visit-tasting at the domain with a meal in a troglodytic cellar, in a boat on the Vienne River or during a hike. The meal is prepared by Christophe Duguin, restaurateur in Chinon, while the boatman Julien Ayrault ensures the trips in the boat on the Vienne. Also, on the program are walking tours to the impressive royal fortress of Chinon and aperitif-concerts that take place on three Friday evenings during the summer at the estate to combine wine and music. "The vineyard always has a history, a traceability. Wine tourists want to understand all these aspects and not taste a wine identical to that of the neighbors," says Jean-Max Manceau. The experience ends in the cellar with a tasting of the best vintages, with evocative names: Soif de Tendresse, Elégance or Caractère. The signature of a grand cru winemaker!