Hi, I'm looking to take a group of friends wine tasting and buying along the Loire river. I've lead a few of these wine trips and I've visited parts of the Loire a fair few times now and I'm looking for new discoveries of interesting wines and winery in Sept 18

So, for example I've visited the La Pallet AC, I've seen George Brunet's non frozen fizzy wine robot, I've visited Baumard and a whole load of Saumur, Champigny, Chinon, Bourgeil, Sancerre etc. I tend to book around 4 months before we go and we try and choose a central town with at least 4 nights of good eating so we can base there.

What other interesting vineyards or ACs, probably going no further south than Sancerre, should I look out for who could handle 12 visitors turning up and sell interesting good value wines?

September may not be the best time to visit a small winery, at least not if you want the owner´s attention. One would think that he would probably very involved with the <i>vendange</i>.

Still, no Loire Valley vineyard visit would be complete without stopping by la Cave de la Grande Brosse in Chémery:

http://www.cavegrandebrosse.com/

You can arrange for dinner for 12 and dine among the aging bottles of wine deep below ground.

Thanks Sarastro, understand about the vindage, but that is when we always go and 4 months to plan normally is not an issue. Brosse looks interesting.

Anyone else?

There is some very interesting wine offered at Chenonceaux, which has it's own appellation.

ah yes, two types of red Gamay or Cab Franc/Malbec and a white Sauvignon Blanc/Gris. Only recently its own AC, thanks burta

These guys even do farm gate tastings http://www.pereauguste.com/fr/