The reference Vouvray producer, 30 hectares of Demeter-biodynamic Chenin Blanc across three lieux-dits (Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont, Clos du Bourg) in dry, off-dry, sweet and sparkling styles.
Signature wines: Vouvray Sec Le Mont, Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu, Vouvray Sec Clos du Bourg
Tip: Top Huet moelleux reserve bottlings from great vintages (1947, 1989, 1990) age for half a century. Drink the secs young, hold the moelleux.
Address: 11 Rue de la Croix Buisee, 37210 Vouvray, France, Loire Valley
Vernou-sur-Brenne estate farming 24 hectares of organic Chenin Blanc, vinified in a 16th-century troglodyte cellar across sec, demi-sec, moelleux and petillant.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment; 16th-century troglodyte cave
Signature wines: Vouvray Sec, Vouvray Le Clos, Vouvray Pétillant Brut Nature
Tip: Careme's Petillant is a precise traditional-method sparkling Chenin worth chasing down.
Philippe Foreau's 12-hectare Vouvray on the Premiere Cote next door to Huet, with the Goutte d'Or moelleux made only in exceptional vintages.
Tasting: By appointment, Monday-Saturday 9-12, 14-18
Signature wines: Vouvray Sec, Vouvray Moelleux Réserve, Vouvray Moelleux Goutte d'Or
Tip: Foreau picks parcel by parcel multiple times each harvest; the Sec is a dry-Chenin masterclass.
Vernou-sur-Brenne estate farming 24 hectares of organic Chenin Blanc, vinified in a 16th-century troglodyte cellar across sec, demi-sec, moelleux and petillant.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment; 16th-century troglodyte cave
Signature wines: Vouvray Sec, Vouvray Le Clos, Vouvray Pétillant Brut Nature
Tip: Careme's Petillant is a precise traditional-method sparkling Chenin worth chasing down.
Philippe Foreau's 12-hectare Vouvray on the Premiere Cote next door to Huet, with the Goutte d'Or moelleux made only in exceptional vintages.
Tasting: By appointment, Monday-Saturday 9-12, 14-18
Signature wines: Vouvray Sec, Vouvray Moelleux Réserve, Vouvray Moelleux Goutte d'Or
Tip: Foreau picks parcel by parcel multiple times each harvest; the Sec is a dry-Chenin masterclass.
Montlouis reference, 45 hectares biodynamic across Montlouis (22 ha) and Vouvray (10 ha), with the Clos Baudoin in Vouvray as the historic monopole.
Tasting: Cellar visits at the domaine; tasting room La Cave Insolite at 30 quai Albert Baillet, Montlouis
Signature wines: Montlouis-sur-Loire Les Choisilles, Montlouis-sur-Loire Clos du Breuil, Vouvray Clos Baudoin
Tip: Clos du Breuil is the entry-point dry Montlouis; Clos Baudoin is the Vouvray monopole worth tracking down.
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: Les Grezeaux, La Croix Boissee, 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: Clos de la Dioterie, Clos du Chene Vert, 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: Les Picasses, Les Barnabes
Tip: Aged Les Picasses (15+ years) is one of France's quiet bargains: aged Cabernet Franc at a fraction of Bordeaux prices.
An excellent introduction tour to discover the diversity of Loire Valley wines with a passionate professional wine guide As a small group (maximum 8) enjoy a true and...
Discover the whole wine-making process, from grape to wine, with Myriam, the granddaughter and wife of winegrowers from the Vouvray vineyard in the Loire Valley. 3-hou...
Embark on a full day wine tour, including an amazing "Farm to table" style lunch with tasting. You will discover the Loire Valley wines and gastronomy with a passionat...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Loire Valley (22) · Wine tours and day trips in Loire Valley (35) · Wine tours by bike in Loire Valley (5)
