We're staying for 2 nights in Amboise and would like to visit at least one vineyard for a tasting. Any suggestions?

Why would you want to do that? A rhetorical question asked in serious vein.

I have visited a few vineyards in the Loire Valley (none particularly close to Amboise). Here is the deal:
- If you turn up at the right time, you meet the vigneron or a member of the family.
- There is a good chance the person will not have much English.
- There will be about four wines open for tasting.
- The tasting is really intended for serious buyers (not commercial quantities, but those who buy a case or two at a time). Tourists buying nothing, or a single bottle, are tolerated, but don't expect to be loved.
- and that's about it.

I go to vineyards to buy wine. So I go only to those where I already know the product. If I want a tasting experience, I go to a Maison de Vin. I think there is one in Amboise.

hi, chawkins,

this is where google is your friend. [i seem to say that a lot, here, not complaining].

i just goggled "vineyards near Amboise" and came up with several suggestions, but this seems teh most useful: www.vinsdeloire.fr - lots of info on vineyard visits plus links to the local tourist offices.

when we stayed in Saumur [slightly west of amboise] there were a number of places offering "degustations de vin" along the road. they were clearly aimed at the tourist market and were happy if you bought a few bottles. one i remember was hollowed out of the tufa which was very interesting.

I also recall that there is also a tasting place right in the middle of Amboise on the main street. not sure about the prices there, though or whether you can buy from them.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

annhig wrote: "when we stayed in Saumur [slightly west of amboise] there were a number of places offering "degustations de vin" along the road. they were clearly aimed at the tourist market and were happy if you bought a few bottles. one i remember was hollowed out of the tufa which was very interesting."

I'd bet that was Domaine Filliatreau. It's one of the best visits, because they are better set up for tastings than the average producer. We went there because we had one of their wines in a local hotel, and liked it. Each time we have been there we have bought about two dozen bottles. We are down to about four, so we must think of heading for the Loire some time soon.

The wine areas closest to Amboise that I'm familiar with are Vouvray, Chinon, and Bourgeuil. When we were there in May we were lucky enough to chance upon a wine festival in Vouvray, held in one of their tuffa caves. For 3 euros we got a glass and tasted at any and all the "booths". It was wonderful but one of those serendipitous things you can't count on. As you drive east along the river
from Amboise you'll see caves with a few signs offering tastings. These are obviously not big producers but it is apparent that they have wines on offer and you can supposedly just drop by. If you cross the river and head west to Rochecorbon there is a large producer just west of Les Hauts Roche hotel that may have tours and tastings.

I'm sure you can find some opportunity to taste at a winery, but if all else fails you can check in the towns for some wine bars which will afford greater selection.

On the road from Chinon to Saumur we struck a few vinyards and wine caves offering tastings. They were also happy to show us around and explain things. You won't have any trouble finding them.

Mont Saint-Louis (sp?) are probably the closest - just a few miles towards Tours but Vouvray is also very close and one of France's most celebrated wines - several lavish wine houses to tour.

When the TGV tunnel to Tours was built some years ago right thru the mountain the Vouvray vintages are stored and cured in local vintners were up in arms that vibrations could make their white sparkling wines even more bubbly than usual

SNCF had to pay lots to put special vibration dampening things in the tunnel - you can see the Vouvray vineyards when the Paris- St Pierre des Corps train emerges from the tunnel just before crossing the Loire River - Mont St Louis is on the other side of the river.

I like Vouvray not only because of the wine houses but it's a sleepy sweet small village - the proverbial quaint small French village but also perhaps the most prestigious Loire wine along with Sancerre, far upstream from ths Val de Loire here

Loire Valley Wine Guide: Touraine
The Vouvray vineyards, which lie on the slopes and plateau above the town, are ancient; St Martin de Tours, who established a monastery at nearby Marmoutier ...
http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regiona...ouraine1.shtml


Loire Valley
The Vouvray vineyards are subject, in good years, to botrytis cynera, the mold responsible for most the world's greatest sweet white wines. ...
www.loirevalleywine.com/wines_astvouvray.html