Loire Valley wine tour and tastings in Chinon & Bourgueil
Join a Loire Valley wine tour and tastings in Chinon and Bourgueil. Explore wineries, sample wines, and enjoy expert commentary from a local guide.
A Loire Valley wine tour and tastings offers a direct way to explore one of France’s most historic wine-producing regions. From the town of Tours, this experience takes you through the vineyards of Chinon and Bourgueil, two key appellations of the Loire Valley. Known for their red, white, and sparkling wines, these areas produce millions of bottles annually.
With the help of a local guide specialized in Loire Valley wines, you will visit selected wineries, taste multiple wines, and gain insight into the local terroir and winemaking methods. Transport is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Tours ensure a seamless experience.
This wine tour in the Loire Valley is an opportunity to taste and learn, whether you’re a casual wine enthusiast or more experienced. You will sample wines crafted from Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, and other local grape varieties. Guided tastings, historical information, and direct contact with local producers are included throughout the day.
Available from April to October, this tour is run in English, with other languages available on request.
Where and When
Location
The tour begins and ends in Tours, a town located in the central part of the Loire Valley. Wineries visited are located in the Chinon and Bourgueil / Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil areas, roughly 50 km (31 miles) west of Tours.
Dates and schedule
The tour operates from April to October, Monday to Saturday.
Pickup is at 09:00, and drop-off is around 17:00. The tour lasts approximately 8 hours.
The experience
Morning in Chinon wine region
After pickup at your accommodation, your guide will introduce the day’s itinerary. A short drive brings you to Chinon, a region producing over 12 million bottles of wine annually. The area is known for its Cabernet Franc red wines and Chenin Blanc white wines. You will visit a local winery, walk through the vineyards (weather permitting), and attend a guided tasting session with expert commentary.
Lunch break in Chinon town
After the morning tasting, the tour stops in the town of Chinon. You will have free time to explore and have lunch at your own expense. Restaurants and cafés are easily accessible, and your guide can offer recommendations.
Afternoon in Bourgueil wine region
In the afternoon, the group travels to Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil, where wines have been produced since the 10th century. Soils range from sandy gravel to clay-limestone, influencing the style and structure of the wines.
You will visit two different wineries, where you may walk through the vineyards and view wine production areas and aging cellars. A guided tasting session follows each visit, featuring red wines and sometimes rosé, white, or sparkling wines.
The Loire Valley wine tour and tastings ends with a return to Tours in the late afternoon.
The vehicle
The experience is conducted in a premium, air-conditioned vehicle. The vehicle offers space and comfort for a small group of up to 8 guests. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
All transfers between wineries and towns are managed by the guide, ensuring no need for public transport or parking arrangements. The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible.
Benefits of the experience
A wine tour in the Loire Valley offers several clear benefits:
- You visit authentic wineries, selected for their quality and variety.
- You gain first-hand insights into regional winemaking from a local expert.
- You participate in three different tasting sessions, each covering multiple wines.
- The Loire Valley wine tour and tastings allow you to understand the impact of soil, climate, and grape varieties on wine styles.
- The experience is structured and informative, offering practical knowledge rather than abstract notions.
- Transport and itinerary management are handled by the guide, so the day remains focused and relaxed.
- The small group size ensures direct interaction and access to the guide’s expertise.
Conditions and restrictions
- Available from April to October only
- Operated in English, other languages available on request
- Minimum age: 18 years for wine tastings
- Group size: maximum 8 persons
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Lunch not included
- Tour begins at 09:00 and ends at 17:00
- The entire tour can be fully privatized
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