Loire Valley 8 days
Our French Wine Tour will be to the Loire Valley where it all began more than 40 years with Wessex Continental. Same place but some changes! In those days very few rooms had private facilities, no charge for visits/tastings, very few lengthy lunches- less bureaucracy!!! Things are different now-however there are still lots of reasons to visit, a scenic and diverse region, not too far away, less driving around and a wide variety of wines to sample.
For many of our clients it will be like a return to home ground.
Wednesday – 1830 Continental Ferryport, Portsmouth (Outside Terminal Building ).
We catch the 2015 Brittany Ferries sailing to St Malo on their newest ship and most modern on the Channel the Saint Malo.
Before boarding, the Tour Escort, Andy McLarin, will hand out Boarding Cards which are also your cabin key.
Thursday – On arrival in France at 0815 we disembark then head leisurely southwards towards Saumur with a break en-route. Thence to Caves Gratien Meyer for our first tasting and a snack lunchbox.
The final leg of the journey is to Saumur and the Hotel Adagio (Phone from UK – 0033241 674530) where we expect to arrive in the early evening. We check in for five nights . Dinner at the hotel.
Friday – This morning we are making the short drive to St Nicholas de Bourgeuil where we will visit Domaine Frederic Mabileau. We will have lunch with their relatives at Odettes’ nearby.
In the afternoon,on our way back to the hotel, we stop at Domaine Bruneau for a visit and tasting. Free evening in Saumur
Saturday – Today we are off to Chinon for sightseeing . Henry II of England built his castle at Chinon, the centre of his French Empire and died here in 1189. Ten years later his son, Richard the Lionheart died in the old town at Hotel des États-Généraux on Rue Voltaire.
We then proceed to Domaine Charles Joguet . Lunch will take place at a Michelin green-starred restaurant a short distance from the domain, offering a four course seasonal menu rooted in its kitchen garden and carefully selected local produce. Three of the courses (the first and second courses and then the cheese) will be paired with our wines, selected to reflect the character of the cuisine.
Final selections of wines and vintages will be refined closer to the date in collaboration with the chef, ensuring an alignment between the menu and the estate’s most iconic cuvées. Depending on the offer you chose, you will be served at lunch a “vin de grande garde” at Les Charmes.
Following lunch, we will be welcomed at the estate for a private visit and guided tasting. The visit will focus on the estate’s terroirs and winemaking philosophy, before continuing with a selection of cuvées. In the late afternoon we visit Chateau de la Grille at 1600 for a tasting. Free evening.
Sunday – This morning we travel to St Georges sur Layon and an 1100 visit and tasting at the popular Domaine Guichoux. Afterwards we’ll continue to the river and Bouchemain where we will have a leisurely Sunday lunch at the Monkey Bar. We then return to Saumur for a free evening.
Monday – Our first visit today is at Domaine de la Perruche at 1100 and afterwards you’ll have free time for shopping/sightseeing in Saumur. At 1600 we have our final Loire visit to Caves Ackerman. It’s then back to the hotel for dinner.
Tuesday – After leaving the hotel we travel to Chateau de Langeais where we ample some of the region’s wines before setting off for the coast. As we near St Malo we hope to arrange a meeting at a Cider distillery. We catch the overnight sailing and have a final dinner together.
Wednesday – Arriving at 0745, the coach then returns to the original pick up points.
The cost includes: Ferry crossings with cabin each way; five nights at 3* hotel; dinners or lunches as detailed; vineyard visits as detailed; coach travel throughout; expert Guide throughout.
Pick up points: Plymouth-Newton Abbot- Exeter-Bristol- Bath-Salisbury-Portsmouth
Departure Date : October 7th 2026
Cost: £1395
Single Supplement: £285
2 persons in a 4-berth cabin- £130 per cabin
2 persons in a 4-berth cabin with porthole- £195 per cabin Return.
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