Wines of the Loire

Day 1 – Arrive at Camping Isle Verte

Upon arrival at the campsite, settle into your pitch and then take the opportunity to meet your fellow members with a welcome meeting, drinks and welcome meal at the campsite restaurant.

Day 2 – Domaine de Rocheville

Today you will visit the Domaine de Rocheville – a certified organic and independent winegrower set in the heart of the Saumur-Champigny region. Here, they specialise in the production of Saumur Blanc and Crémant de Loire (sparkling wine), as well as Saumur Champigny and Saumur Rosé, with a strong emphasis on eco-responsibility.

The estate buildings themselves are also a point of interest where modern cellars have been built overhanging the ancient Troglodyte ones.

Day 3 - Vineyard tour and Troglodyte caves and Pommes Tapées

The Troglodyte caves of the Loire are intrinsically linked to the oenology of the region. Many of the caves are now used as wine cellars, offering the perfect temperatures and levels of humidity for storing and ageing the wines. Take a tour around some of these caves and sample some of the wines kept here. Within the caves another culinary delight is produced - the ‘pommes tapées’ or dried apple slices. This is the last remaining place that makes these in the traditional way.

Day 4 - ‘Blind’ wine tasting experience

Today, experience wine tasting like never before! Test your wine knowledge and challenge your taste-buds in a ‘blind’ wine tasting, sampling wines for black-coloured glasses! Can you correctly identify the colour of the wine just by taste alone? Enjoy this experience with a food pairing to go with the wines.

Day 5 - A free day at your leisure

Day 6 - Montsoreau Market and the Cadre Noir gala

Spend the morning browsing the vibrant market in Montsoreau, with fresh local produce including meats, cheeses, fish and seafood and local specialities. Then, enjoy an evening at the Cadre Noir elite equestrian academy, with one of their famous galas. The Cadre Noir is where horses and riders are trained by ‘master’ instructors for top level competition and to the highest standards of excellence. This time, the Cadre Noir is joining forces with the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art for a truly spectacular display of impressive horsemanship!

Day 7 – Domaine Nerleux and Domaine Arnaud Lambert

Today, set off from the campsite on foot to visit 2 local wine producers and vineyards. Enjoy a guided tour of these domaines and an explanation into the processes used for these particular wines. Between them, these domaines produce wines such as Saumur Blanc and Rosé, Crémant de Loire and Cabernet Franc to name a few. Enjoy some lovely cheeses to go along with the wines while here.

Day 8 – Château de Brissac

Known as the ‘Giant of the Val de Loire’ due to its seven storeys and 204 rooms, this château has been the residence of the Dukes of Brissac since 1502! During this guided visit, take in the fabulous views, the gold leaf ceilings, the Belle Epoque Theatre as well as many other historic rooms. After your tour, enjoy lunch in the château’s medieval kitchens!

In the afternoon, head over to the Château Princé wine estate, an organic winery which produces wines of the controlled ‘appellations’ of Coteaux de l'Aubance, Anjou Villages Brissac and Anjou Blanc.

Day 9 – A free day at your leisure

Day 10 – Clos de la Richardière

Your Loire wine adventure continues over in Amboise today at the charming Clos de la Richardière. This former wine estate now offers beautiful walks and trails amongst the vineyards, where the growing and cultivation of the vines is explained along the way. Enjoy a guided walk followed by lunch here as well as some more wine-tasting.

Afterwards, you will have free time in Amboise at your leisure.

Day 11 - Boule de fort and Domaine de la Perruche

Discover the game of ‘boule de fort’, a sport unique to this region. A cross between pétanque and bowles, this game uses weighted, ‘flat’ sided boules, played on a concave surface and is played wearing slippers!

Afterwards, spend the afternoon at Domaine de la Perruche, a prestigious wine estate in Montsoreau. Domaine de la Perruche is renowned not only for its wines produced from vines grown in its chalk soils but also for its château, the setting of a book by ‘Three Musketeers’ author, Alexandre Dumas.

Day 12 – Villandry

Take a break from the vines and wines today and enjoy a day trip to Château de Villandry, renowned for its stunning gardens and its equally impressive architecture.

Before its restoration and the creation of the gardens in the early 1900s, the Renaissance-era Château de Villandry was home to historical figures including Count Michel-Ange de Castellane (ambassador to Louis XV), and Jerome Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon l.

Enjoy free time for lunch in the pretty village of Villandry or at the château restaurant whilst here.

Day 13 – A free day at your leisure

Day 14 - Ackerman Wine Cellars

Today, visit the Ackerman wine cellars near Saumur, for a guided tour. The 'Maison Ackerman' specialises in sparkling wines using the 'traditional method'. Learn about the processes involved from the harvest, first and second fermentations, blending to 'riddling' - the process of rotating the bottles in order to collect the sediment in the neck.

Whilst here, enjoy a gourmet lunch in the Ackerman grounds (weather permitting).

Day 15 - Les Clos d’entre les Murs

Today you will travel by vintage VW campervan to the Clos d’entre les murs vineyard where you will experience something truly exceptional - a château vineyard where vines grow through walls! Especially constructed to help them flourish, the foot of the vines keep cool and moist on the North side of the wall, and the rest of the vines enjoy the sunlight on the South side!! Enjoy a walk amongst the vines and a 'dégustation' with appetisers here.

Day 16 - Free day and farewell meal

Another free day. Why not head back into Montsoreau for some last minute souvenir shopping?

In the evening, end the tour with a farewell dinner at the campsite restaurant to say goodbye to your host and fellow tourers.

Day 17 – Depart from campsite