Touristic cellars: vary your pleasures!
Touraine, with its hundred-odd touristic cellars, can truly pride itself on a wide range of wine-themed visits. Vineyards, troglodytic cellars, museums, events… all marked by interesting commented tasting sessions. Enter the world of oenotourism with a capital O!
A stroll through the vines
Several wine estates have created pedestrian trails through their vines, like Château de la Grille, Plou et Fils and la Noblaie. A map and/or explanatory signs guide you along your stroll and, in the case of Château de l’Aulée, in Azay-le-Rideau, accompanied by an audioguide. A wander through the vines marked by a tasting session… a great way to get to know the key event Vignes, Vins, Randos, held on the 1st weekend of September!
Touristic cellars – Tasting sessions in the vineyard
Amazing touristic cellars
At Pierre and Bertrand Couly’s winery, a state-of-the-art cellar at the entrance to Chinon, contemporary art exhibitions accompany the tasting sessions, but only if you manage to finish the Escape Game “Le secret de la Dive Bouteille”! And what about having fun with the family in touristic cellars like at the Grandes Caves Saint Roch-Blanc Foussy, where the kids have their own adapted booklet to help them explore this gigantic 3-kilometre-long troglodytic space.
In Amboise, head off on a Wine Vintage Odyssey in the Caves Duhard: as well as sensorial discoveries, the scenography here links historic events to age-old vintages for which this honourable winery is famed. A captivating idea, as is Jean-Max Manceau’s one, which blends boat trips, horse-drawn carriage rides and the discovery of the Domaine de Noiré.
Touristic cellars: Pierre et Bertrand Couly’s Escape Game
Enter the troglodytic cellar world
One of Val de Loire’s particularities: Loire-region wines are often aged in galleries dug out in the tufa (or tuffeau, Loire Valley limestone) where the temperature and degree of humidity are conducive to the development of the cuvées. These troglodytic cellars, incredibly-well hidden in the hillsides, often amaze visitors with their size. Why not come and discover for yourself, and push open the doors of the Cave de Vouvray, the Cave des Producteurs de Montlouis-sur-Loire, the Cave Touristique des Vignerons de Panzoult as well as estates like Pierre Sourdais, La Chevalerie, Les Ouches, Benoit Gautier or Plouzeau.
La Jarnoterie and Wilfrid Rousse estates also invite you to discover their gigantic troglodytic cellar but it is best to call beforehand and book a date.
Practical info
The Vouvray vineyard
Discover the full list of Touraine’s touristic cellars