37 editor-picked estates growing Cabernet Franc in Loire Valley.
Where to taste Cabernet Franc in Loire Valley: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
Cravant-les-Coteaux reference, 32 hectares of Cabernet Franc on the three Chinon terroirs (gravel, clay-limestone, tuffeau plateau), each bottled as a single-vineyard.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Cravant-les-Coteaux domaine
Signature wines: baudry-les-grezeaux, baudry-la-croix-boissee, baudry-le-clos-guillot
Tip: La Croix Boissee from the high tuffeau plateau is one of Chinon's most age-worthy reds and the appellation's quiet grand cru.
Sazilly estate created by sculptor-winemaker Charles Joguet in 1957, with 30 hectares of Cabernet Franc and 2 of Chenin, single-vineyard bottlings since the 1980s.
Tasting: Visits and tastings Monday-Friday 10-13, 14-18; Saturday 10-18 (April-October)
Signature wines: joguet-clos-de-la-dioterie, joguet-clos-du-chene-vert, joguet-les-varennes-du-grand-clos
Tip: Clos de la Dioterie, an old-vine south-facing parcel, is the appellation's most singular old-vine red.
Savigny-en-Veron family domaine with library reserves going back decades; the Les Picasses cuvee from clay-limestone hillside is the reference Chinon for ageing potential.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment in Savigny-en-Veron
Signature wines: olga-raffault-les-picasses, olga-raffault-les-barnabes
Tip: Aged Les Picasses (15+ years) is one of France's quiet bargains: aged Cabernet Franc at a fraction of Bordeaux prices.
Family-run Chinon at Ligre, 24 hectares of organic Cabernet Franc on a hillside plateau with commanding views over the Chinon fortress.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Ligre domaine
Signature wines: noblaie-les-chiens-chiens, noblaie-pierre-de-tuf
Tip: Jerome Billard trained at Petrus and Dominus; the Les Chiens-Chiens cuvee shows in the polish of the wines.
Cravant-les-Coteaux estate where Philippe Alliet trained in Bordeaux and brought a Medoc-style approach (long extractions, new oak) to Chinon Cabernet Franc.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at Cravant-les-Coteaux
Signature wines: alliet-vieilles-vignes, alliet-coteau-de-noire, alliet-lhuisserie
Tip: Coteau de Noire is the high-end tuffeau-plateau cuvee; the Vieilles Vignes is excellent value.
Restigne natural-wine icons farming 11 hectares biodynamically since 1990, with low-sulphur Cabernet Franc Bourgueils that helped define the Loire natural-wine movement.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment in Restigne
Signature wines: breton-trinch, breton-clos-senechal, breton-les-perrieres
Tip: Trinch! (chinkers!) is the entry-level low-sulphur Bourgueil; Les Perrieres is the old-vine tuffeau-plateau cuvee.
Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil estate of 20 hectares, organic since 2007, with parcel-bottled Cabernet Francs across both appellations.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Bourgueil domaine
Signature wines: amirault-la-petite-cave, amirault-la-source, amirault-les-malgagnes
Tip: Les Malgagnes in Saint-Nicolas and La Petite Cave in Bourgueil are the long-ageing flagships.
Restigne family estate going back 14 generations, 38 hectares of Demeter-certified biodynamic Cabernet Franc with extensive parcel-bottling and a maze of tuffeau cellars.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the cellar; underground tuffeau cave open to visitors
Signature wines: chevalerie-galichets, chevalerie-chevalerie, chevalerie-busardieres
Tip: The cellars house bottles dating back more than a century; book a vertical tasting of the Galichets cuvee.
Rochefort-sur-Loire family domaine farming key plots in Savennieres (Clos du Papillon) and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, with bottlings going back five centuries of family history.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Rochefort-sur-Loire cellar
Signature wines: baumard-clos-du-papillon, baumard-quarts-de-chaume, baumard-clos-sainte-catherine
Tip: Quarts de Chaume from Baumard, drunk after 20-30 years, is honey, quince and chalk in a glass.
Savennieres-based estate uniting the historic Chateau de Chamboureau (former Pierre Soulez property) with Anjou holdings under Philippe Fournier, biodynamic and organic across 65 hectares.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at Chateau de Chamboureau by appointment
Signature wines: fl-savennieres-chamboureau, fl-savennieres-le-parc
Tip: Le Parc is the single-vineyard Savennieres; Chamboureau is the historic monopole anchored in the 13th-century chateau.
Beaulieu-sur-Layon family estate of 53 hectares across Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru and Savennieres, with the Les Rouannieres moelleux as the flagship.
Tasting: Monday-Saturday 10-12, 14-16:45, closed Sundays
Signature wines: pierre-bise-les-rouannieres, pierre-bise-quarts-de-chaume, pierre-bise-clos-de-coulaine
Tip: Les Rouannieres is the estate's flagship Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu cuvée from the south-facing schist slopes above the Layon tributary.
Chaudefonds-sur-Layon estate centred on the schist-and-volcanic Prince site, with dry Chenin and old-vine Coteaux du Layon plus Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Prince cellar
Signature wines: baudouin-anjou-le-cornillard, baudouin-coteaux-du-layon, baudouin-quarts-de-chaume
Tip: Patrick was one of the first growers to push Anjou's dry Chenin into grand-cru territory; the Le Cornillard parcel is the reference.
Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay five-generation family estate of 25 hectares biodynamic (Biodyvin) and organic (Ecocert), with parcels in Anjou, Coteaux du Layon and Savennieres.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay cellar
Signature wines: ogereau-clos-le-grand-beaupreau, ogereau-cote-de-la-houssaye, ogereau-coteaux-du-layon-saint-lambert
Tip: Clos le Grand Beaupreau (Savennieres) and Cote de la Houssaye (Anjou-Villages) are the high-end parcels worth seeking.
Saumur-Champigny's grand cru: the Foucault brothers' 10 hectares of Cabernet Franc and old-vine Chenin at Chace, sold to the Bouygues family in 2017 after eight family generations.
Tasting: No public visits. Wines on strict allocation through importers.
Signature wines: clos-rougeard-le-bourg, clos-rougeard-les-poyeux, clos-rougeard-le-clos
Tip: Le Bourg from old vines is the appellation's reference grand-cru-class bottle; vintages 2005, 2009 and 2010 are the modern benchmarks.
Dampierre-sur-Loire Saumur-Champigny estate of 18.5 hectares, certified organic since 2007, with cellars dug into the tuffeau cliffs above the Loire.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the troglodyte cellars by appointment
Signature wines: hureau-fevettes, hureau-lisagathe, hureau-tuffe
Tip: Lisagathe, from the two best old-vine parcels, is the long-ageing flagship; book the troglodyte cellar visit.
Varrains domaine taken over by Thierry Germain in 1991, 28 hectares biodynamic, trained by the Foucaults of Clos Rougeard.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment in Varrains
Signature wines: roches-neuves-cuvee-domaine, roches-neuves-clos-de-lechelier, roches-neuves-franc-de-pied
Tip: The Franc de Pied cuvee from ungrafted vines is the cellar-door rarity; the Cuvee Domaine is the textbook entry point.
Le Landreau Muscadet pioneer: Guy Bossard converted to organic in 1975 and Demeter biodynamic in 1998; Fred and Claire Niger took over in 2010 and continue the legacy.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment in Le Landreau
Signature wines: ecu-granite, ecu-orthogneiss, ecu-gneiss
Tip: Granite, Orthogneiss and Gneiss are the three soil-cuvee bottlings that mapped Muscadet's terroir before Cru Communals existed.
Maisdon-sur-Sevre estate established by Marc Ollivier in 1984, Cru Communal pioneer with Clisson, Gorges and Chateau-Thebaud bottlings.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Maisdon-sur-Sevre cellar
Signature wines: pepiere-clisson, pepiere-gorges, pepiere-la-pepie
Tip: Clisson from gabbro soils gets 24+ months of lees ageing; it ages 10-15 years and tastes like white Chassagne at one-third the price.
Chinon's largest family-owned domaine, 90 hectares including the historic Clos de l'Echo (a Rabelais-era walled vineyard) directly opposite the town's medieval fortress.
Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Chinon town cellar; underground caves dug into tuffeau
Signature wines: couly-dutheil-clos-de-l-echo, couly-dutheil-crescendo, couly-dutheil-rene-couly
Tip: The Clos de l'Echo monopole is the historic flagship; ask about the Rabelais connection on the cellar tour.
Reference Bourgueil grower founded by Pierre-Jacques Druet in 1980, with parcel-bottled cuvees from Grand Mont, Beauvais and Vaumoreau aged in demi-muids for 24+ months.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Benais cellar
Signature wines: druet-grand-mont, druet-beauvais, druet-vaumoreau
Tip: Druet wines need cellar age: Grand Mont after 10 years is one of the Loire's quiet old-bottle bargains.
Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay estate of 13 hectares plus negociant activity, organically farmed Chenin Blanc across Anjou, Savennieres, Coteaux du Layon and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay cellar
Signature wines: pithon-paille-clos-des-bonnes-blanches, pithon-paille-mozaik, pithon-paille-amphite
Tip: Clos des Bonnes Blanches from old-vine Chenin in Saint-Lambert is the Coteaux du Layon flagship.
Monmousseau-owned Saumur sparkling house founded in 1851. Kilometres of tuffeau caves at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent host the Saphir and Tresor cuvees.
Tasting: Year-round guided cellar visits and tastings in the kilometres of tuffeau caves carved into the cliff at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent
Signature wines: bouvet-saphir, bouvet-tresor-blanc, bouvet-excellence-brut-rose
Tip: Saphir is the gateway Saumur Brut; Tresor Blanc is the barrel-fermented prestige cuvee with at least 24 months on the lees.
Saumur sparkling house founded in 1811 by Jean-Baptiste Ackerman, who brought methode traditionnelle to the Loire. Tuffeau cellars at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent.
Tasting: Guided tours of the monumental tuffeau galleries (20 m high, 50 m long) with a flight of fines bulles at the end; advance booking recommended
Signature wines: ackerman-cuvee-privilege-blanc, ackerman-louis-ferdinand, ackerman-royal-brut
Tip: The Cuvee Privilege Cremant de Loire (1 star, Guide Hachette) is the value entry; Louis Ferdinand is the iconic prestige bottling.
Saumur Cremant de Loire house founded in 1885, part of the Bollinger group since 1973. Terra Vitis-certified 71-hectare estate at Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent cellars
Signature wines: langlois-brut-reserve, langlois-brut-rose, langlois-cadence-extra-brut
Tip: Brut Reserve ages a minimum of 24 months on the lees, double the appellation minimum; Cadence Extra Brut spends five years on lees.
Bouvet-Ladubay troglodyte cellars in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, founded 1851. Eight kilometres of tufa galleries, methode traditionnelle production hall and tasting room.
Sparkling-wine house founded 1811 by Jean-Baptiste Ackerman, with three kilometres of tufa cellars and contemporary art alongside the riddling racks.
InterLoire tasting and information centre on the Saumur quayside, pouring a rotating selection of 50 wines from Saumur, Saumur-Champigny and Coteaux de Saumur.
Family-owned Chinon house founded 1921 with cellars cut into the cliff beneath the medieval fortress, pouring the Clos de l'Echo Cabernet Franc and full range.
Jean-Pierre Chevallier's biodynamic Saumur-Champigny estate, tastings in the 18th-century chateau on Le Grand Clos. Reference Cabernet Franc producer.
Cremant de Loire specialist owned by Champagne Bollinger since 1973. Tufa galleries, riddling and disgorgement halls finish with a Quadrille and Cremant range tasting.
Marc Angeli's foundational Anjou natural-wine estate, working Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc in Bonnezeaux with no-sulphur cellar protocol. Cult status among natural-wine sommeliers.
Tip: Sansonniere wines are nearly impossible to find at retail; allocations move through specialist natural-wine cavistes (La Cave des Papilles in Paris, Le Vin en Tete in Lyon). Direct estate contact for visits is possible but requires patience.
Anjou natural-wine pioneer working horse-ploughed Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc with no cellar additions. Cult name in the no-sulphur natural-wine world.
Tip: Cousin's Pur Breton (100 percent Cabernet Franc) is the signature wine. Direct contact for cellar-door visits is by horse-drawn appointment, which is itself the experience.
Cult Saumur-Champigny grower working old-vine Cabernet Franc and biodynamic Chenin Blanc. Allocations move through Becky Wasserman in the US.
Tip: Sanzay's Saumur blanc Les Salles Martin is a top reference for biodynamic Chenin Blanc dry whites. Direct contact for visits; the estate is small and the schedule is tight.
Couly-Dutheil's gateway Chinon Cabernet Franc, a juicy, light-tannin red from gravel terraces along the Vienne. The Rene Couly cuvee is the negociant house's most widely distributed bottling and the easiest introduction to Loire Cabernet Franc at sub-EUR15.
Tip: Couly-Dutheil also produces the Clos de l'Echo, a single-parcel Chinon at a higher tier. The Rene Couly is the everyday-drinking benchmark for the appellation.
Domaine de la Noblaie's organic, gravelly-soils Chinon shows a peppery, light-bodied Cabernet Franc profile at a strong sub-EUR20 price. The estate is certified organic by Ecocert and was an early Chinon adopter of biodynamic vineyard practices.
Tip: Pair with white meats or lighter game; this is the Cabernet Franc that converts wine drinkers used to bigger Bordeaux blends to the Loire's lighter, peppery red style.
Thierry Germain's biodynamic (Biodyvin certified) Saumur-Champigny Cabernet Franc from clay-limestone terroir, with riper fruit than the gravel Chinons and a darker tannin profile. Terres Chaudes is the gateway cuvee to an influential biodynamic Loire estate at the appellation's value ceiling.
Tip: The Roches Neuves single-parcel cuvees (Clos de l'Echelier, Marginale) are at a higher tier. Terres Chaudes is the entry-point biodynamic Saumur-Champigny under EUR25.
Cremant de Loire from Ackerman, a Saumur sparkling house founded in 1811, is a traditional-method blend dominated by Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc support. The wine is bottle-aged on lees for at least nine months and the entry Brut sits comfortably under EUR15.
Tip: Cremant de Loire is the value sparkling category of France: bottle-fermented method at a third the price of entry Champagne. Ackerman's cellar tour in Saumur explains the tuffeau cave-ageing process well.