Loire Valley Wine Tours

The Loire Valley was one of the first regions to which we started running tours, and we at SmoothRed have been have been in love with “Le Jardin de France” ever since.

In fact, one of the SmoothRed team is originally from the picturesque Loire village of Saint-Rémy-la-Varenne in Anjou, famed throughout France for its peace and tranquillity. Or, as they call it over there, “La Douceur Angevine”. It sounds so much more poetic in French, n’est ce pas?

To read more about Loire Valley use the links below

More About Loire Valley

“Le Jardin de France”

We run trips to the Loire Valley all year round, its mild climate making it a perfect region to visit whenever the fancy takes you. With more than 300 châteaux to explore, fans of architectural splendour are in for a real treat. From the earliest fortified castles which date back to the 10th century, to the noble residencies of kings from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the châteaux give visitors a fascinating insight into French nobility through the ages.

Of course, it is the wine that draws many to this area of France. The world renowned appellations d’origine contrôlées of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé produce some of the best wines in France – many would argue the world. Throw in wines from Muscadet, Chinon, Vouvray and Touraine and wine-lovers will find it hard to leave this most enchanting region. So contact us today to arrange your wine tasting trip and experience the wine of the Loire Valley for yourself.

Loire Valley Activities

Châteaux of the Loire Valley

Of course, it’s not all just about wine. The Loire also boasts over 300 beautiful Châteaux, from the gardens of Villandry to the Italian Renaissance-inspired splendour of Chenonceau. In between we can show you secret villages like Candes-St-Martin, the troglodyte cave houses of Troo and the winding canals of Combreux.

French royalty have chosen the Loire Valley as their base throughout the centuries, and they and their entourages built new châteaux or renovated existing structures with opulence as their watchword. History buffs will have a field day here too with so much to learn and investigate.

The Château de Loches, for instance, was occupied by none other than Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century. The Château de Chinon played host to a meeting between Charles VII and Joan of Arc in 1429, while the château King Philip IV had leaders of the Knights Templar imprisoned there in the early 1300s. With some truly beautiful gardens to complement the châteaux, it is easy to while away the hours in style.

Loire Valley Wine Guide

Wines of the Loire Valley

More than just a single region, the Loire Valley also has many sub regions – Nantes, Anjou, Touraine, Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, Valcay and Côteaux to name just a few – each producing its own inimitable wines. This makes it France’s most diverse wine region, producing wines in every style imaginable.

Crisp dry whites

The Loire Valley is probably best known for its crisp dry whites, such as the archetypal Sancerre offerings and the Sauvignon de Touraine. Utilising primarily Sauvignon Blanc grapes, many of the whites from the region possess a heady combination of refreshing acidity and distinct fruity notes and to many the best whites found here are quite simply the best whites found anywhere.

Reds, rosés, fizzes and sweet wines

But let’s not forget the Loire Valley’s fine, fruity red wines made from Pinot Noir and Gamay. Nor its rich earthy reds made from Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Not to mention its dry and off-dry rosés, elegant fizzes and luscious dessert wines.

All these varied Loire Valley wines offer their own charms. And we know just where to go to enjoy the finest examples of each and every one, so book your SmoothRed Loire Valley wine holiday today.

 

 

Loire Valley Hotels

Les Trésorières

Located in the historic heart of Tours next to the covered market, Les Trésorières is…

Loire Valley

“Thanks for taking the time and trouble to call. You really have set the standard by which we compare all other companies!! Thank you so much for organising a fantastic itinerary with such an interesting and varied range of stop-overs. We are already starting to think about next year’s trip to France so would welcome any suggestions.”

Hilary Alder

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