Bourgueilannual, 15 August1 day
The Fete des Vins de Bourgueil is the appellation's headline annual gathering, held on 15 August in the Bourgueil town centre since 1977. Several dozen Cabernet Franc producers from Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil pour the new and library releases alongside the Touraine wine brotherhood.
Tip: Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil are separate appellations on adjacent gravel terraces; taste both side by side at the fete and decide which Cabernet-Franc profile suits your palate.
Chalonnes-sur-Loireannual, third weekend of May2 days
Wine festival on the Loire quays of Chalonnes-sur-Loire, organised by the UPGV. The 65th edition ran on 16 and 17 May 2026 with a winegrowers' village, tastings, a local-products market, a parade, a walk, a boat parade on the Loire and a guinguette dinner at 20 euros per person; sweet moelleux wines were the theme of that edition.
Tip: The guinguette dinner needs advance registration on the festival site.
Chinon town centreannual, April (a Saturday)1 day
One-day tasting in the centre of Chinon where around sixty Chinon winegrowers pour their wines. Entry is free; a tasting glass costs 8 euros. The 2025 edition was held on Saturday 26 April and the 2026 edition on Saturday 25 April, 10:00 to 18:30.
Tip: The date moves from year to year within April, so check chinon.com before booking travel.
Angers (Centre des Congres)annual, first week of February3 days
The Salon des Vins de Loire is the Loire's flagship trade tasting, bringing several hundred Loire producers together at the Angers Centre des Congres each February.
Tip: Combine the salon with the Levee de la Loire and Demeter Loire satellite tastings the same week for the most efficient Loire-wide assessment of the new vintage.
Saumur and surrounding Saumur-Champigny villagesannual, June through September rolling programmerolling programme across summer
Festivini is Saumur's rolling wine and culture festival running from June through September, with producer open-doors, vineyard walks, tuffeau cellar concerts and tastings spread across the appellation.
Tip: Saumur Brut producers including Bouvet-Ladubay and Ackerman participate. The festival calendar refreshes month-by-month so check the Festivini site for the active programme.
Sancerre (place de la Halle)annual, Pentecost weekend (late May or early June)3 days
Sancerre's annual wine fair is held on the Pentecost weekend in the hilltop town centre, with dozens of growers from Sancerre, Bue, Chavignol, Verdigny and surrounding villages pouring the new vintage of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Free entry on Saturday and Sunday with paid commemorative tasting glasses.
Tip: Buy the commemorative tasting glass on arrival, which gives access to all the producer stands. Combine with a walk along the GR3 footpath through the Sancerre slopes to Chavignol (3 km, ~1 hour) for a vineyard hike between the fair stands.
