Vineyards in La Loire

These small vineyards and winery, run by Alphonse Delecheneau, are a family business producing some excellent organic wines without the use of chemicals or additives.

Made with vines grown on slate soils, this domaine produces some of the finest Anjou-Villages red and Coteaux de l'Aubance white wines in the region. They also produce some good rosés and Cremant and have repeatedly won medals for their wines.

The wines produced by the Saumur-Champigny vineyards are regarded as some of the best in the Saumur region. Having a deep red colour and a cherry aroma, their reds are produced predominantly from the Cabernet Franc grape.

Created in 1928 by Victor and his son Gaston Huet, this domain has been run by Noel Pinguet, son of Gaston Huet, for the last 30 years. It now accounts for 35 hectares spread over three main properties: Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Le Clos du Bourg. Using biodynamic methods, it produces some good Vouvray wines. Tasting can be arranged by appointment.

Located in the south of the region, in Varrains, this vineyard has an excellent reputation for producing good Saumur-Champigny wines.

Built in 1070, the Château de Fesles is one of the oldest estates in the region. It is sited on the summit of one of the four Coteaux du Layon hills possessing the right to use the appellation Bonnezeaux. This exclusive appellation is 100% Chenin Blanc, grown in pebbly ground covered with a blue or red clay. This château also produces Anjou wines though it is most well known for its Bonnezeaux.

This medieval château, with a tower and a courtyard, was home to Roland Michel Barrin, Marquis of Galissonnière, in the 18th century. A Lieutenant General of the Naval Armed Forces, he distinguished himself in Fort Mahon in 1756 with victory against the English.

The Maison des Vins de Bourgueil, located in the town of Bourgueil, is located in a 15th century restored house. It offers a wine-tasting tour with a selection of locally produced wines of differing vintages. It also has over 80 different local wines for sale in its shop.

The vineyard of Domaine de Bablut is located around Brissac in the heart of the vineyards of the Loire Valley. Run by the Daviau family who've been growing in the valley since the 16th century, this domaine is fully organic. They produce some excellent wines.

The little known sweet white wines of the Coteaux d'Aubance are produced on the hills close to the Aubance river. The appellation wines cover a tiny area of land growing only Chenin Blanc grapes. Grapes are manually harvested using the goblet method. These wines age well.

The Domaine de Lusqueneau, between Blois and Amboise, stands up in front of the château of Chaumont sur Loire on the Mesland vineyard. It is one of the most important vineyards of the Touraine Mesland appellation, with a 36-hectare surface.

François Chidane produces Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation wines using biodynamic methods at the Cave Insolite. Located not far from the river Loire, they also produce some good Vouvray AOC wines.

Making natural wines over a small 15 hectare plot, brothers Jean-Maire and Thierry Puzelat produce some lovely Cheverny white and red appellation wines from their vines as well as Vouvrays, Touraines, Pouilly-Fumé and Montlouis from grapes they buy at harvest.

Bouvet-Ladubay was the first exporter of Saumur Brut wines and continues to be a luxurious home-made wine producer. The location used to be an underground cathedral for the Saint Florent monks and its cellars are the very same ones used by the monks in the 11th century.

Three generations of women have been producing Closel-Château des Vaults wines at this vineyard. They have even held the presidency of the AOC Savennières.

This vineyard has grown from being just one and a half hectares at the turn of the 20th century. It mainly produces the Coteaux d'Aubance wines from the noble rot of the grape, it also produces Anjou Villages.

Château de Valmer, with its striking park and gardens, nestles on the edge of a hillside overlooking the Brenne Valley, a tributary of the Loire river. 

This wine house in Ancenis offers a good way of discovering the wines of the Coteaux d'Ancenis VDQS and their production methods before heading off to visit some of the wine-growers individually.