The Loire Valley has been a prolific wine-growing region for centuries. Vines thrive in the fertile soil near the Loire and the wine ages in stunning networks of caves hollowed out of the riverbanks. There are currently no less than nineteen Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées!
The nearest producers to Domaine des Vignes are the celebrated red wines or Bourgueil and Chinon.
East of Tours, the most famous appellations are the white wine producing areas of Vouvray and Mountlouis sur Loire, based on the Chenin Blanc grape variety. Saumur itself is home to the sparkling Crémant de Loire, again produced from Chenin Blanc.
For wine enthusiasts, the ‘Route des Vignobles Touraine-Val de Loire’ provides a fascinating insight into the region’s wine production. This 400km vineyard trail tourist route passes through Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire, then south of Tours along the Indre valley, ending with a circuit round Bourgueil and the Chinonais.
Before setting off to the vineyards, it is worth visiting the ‘Maison du Vin’ near the tourist information centre and overlooking the Loire. It has a wealth of information on the wine varieties of the area and provides the opportunity to taste and purchase carefully selected Anjou, Saumur and Touraine wines.
Guests of Domaine des Vignes also receive free admission to selected vineyards and discounts on purchases.
Gratien & Meyer overlooking the Loire
|
Gratien & Meyer
Against the almost luminous backdrop the Gratien & Meyer cellars dominate major producer of sparking wines, authorised as a still wine producer. Twenty hectares (fifty acres) of the best region. Why not visit Gratien & Meyer of wine production!
Sparkling Wine made in Saumur
Other vineyards in Saumur and the surrounding region include:
Caves de Grenelle Caves
20, rue Marceau – BP 206
Caves rue Ackermann
19, rue Léopold Palustre
Maison du Vin
Quai Lucien Gautier
Distillerie Combier
48, rue Beaurepaire
Caves Langlois-Chateau
3, rue Léopold Palustre – BP 57
Caves Bouvet-Ladubay
1 rue Ackermann
Caves Veuve Amiot
19-21, rue Ackerman - BP 67
Cave des Vignerons de Saumur
Rue de Saumoussay
09260 Saint-Cyr-En-Bourg
|
