Sunday

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Your adventure begins!

 

Welcome to Manoir du Grand Echeneau, our home for the week. Enjoy a glass of sparkling Vouvray on the patio, and a walk through the cellars of the Manoir, as you settle in for a week of adventure!

 

Dinner this evening will be at Restaurant L’Épicerie in Amboise. Situated in the heart of Amboise, this Renaissance style 14th century building, sits under the impressive walls of Chateau d’Amboise, and is one of the oldest buildings in the village. It is the perfect place to enjoy your introduction to the cuisine of Touraine!    

 

 

Monday

 

After breakfast, we will leave for the chevre (goats' cheese) appellations in Val de Cher, a short ride east of the Manoir. There, we will visit with a local producer, whose family has been making goats' cheese since 1904. The Moreau family produces two distinct types of chevre: Sainte-Maure de Touraine and Selles-sur-Cher. Both are delicious!

 

We will have lunch in Pontlevoy, and then head toward Les Caves Champigonnieres des Roches in Bourré to experience the unique mushroom growing conditions. Bourré  is known for its exceptional quality of limestone, harvested to create some of the amazing chateaux of the Loire. Once quarried, the caves left behind are the perfect spot for growing mushrooms. Mushrooms have been grown in these caves since the late 1800s.

 

This evening, we will enjoy a fabulous meal at one of my favourite local restaurants, Le Val Joli. It is located only a short walk from the Manoir. Owner, Stéphanie Bouland, will introduce us to her menu that includes many of her grandmother’s recipes, long held in the family.           

 

Tuesday

 

Today, we will follow the north bank of the Loire River, as we head to the appellation of Bourgueil. There, we will enjoy our first taste of the cabernet franc of this region with my friends Anne and Sophie at their Domaine Ansodelles. Anne and Sophie are newcomers to this region, having come to Bourgueil only a few years ago. In 2016, they were devastated by crop loss, and a 90% loss of grape production due to early seasonal storms, but they continue to persevere and develop their craft. Together, they work the land using only environmentally friendly practices: no pesticides or harsh chemicals. Their aim is to produce the highest quality cabernet franc that their terroir will allow.

 

From Bourgueil, we will head toward the historical city of Chinon, to enjoy lunch in the village square, and a walk through the old city that lies beneath the massive walls of the over 900-year-old fortress.

 

After lunch, we will not have to travel far before meeting my friends, Pascale and Claude Vidal. Pascale and Claude are managers of Cave Montplaisir. Despite being just on the other side of the river from Bourgueil, the cabernet franc of this region is typically bigger and bolder. The Chinon reds of this area are perhaps the finest the Loire has to offer. Nowhere in the world can you find cabernet franc like that which is produced right here in the Loire. We will enjoy a visit to their cellar, and a glass or two along the way!

 

We will then return to the Manoir for some late afternoon rest and relaxation.

 

For dinner, we will head to L’Épicurien in Monnaie, where Chef Didier Frébout will create a magnificent meal for us.  

 

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Wednesday

 

Today will be your day off. Feel free to venture out on your own, or accompany me for some planned activities. Following breakfast, I will head toward the city of Orléans . Recorded history of Orléans dates back many centuries, including its occupation by the Roman Empire, French royalty from the early middle ages, the Valois-Orléans dynasty to the high middle-ages, and Henry Plantagenet, the King of England. Orléans is where Joan of Arc led the French armies in battle against the English, and won victory for the future King of France, Charles ll. Later, in the 1700s-1900s, when France colonized North America, the present day city of New Orleans in the United States, was named for King Louis XV’s regent, the Duke of Orléans, who ruled the powerful duchy of Orléans for the King. Lastly, Orléans was an important staging ground for the German military during WWII. The city was heavily bombed by the allies, and was also one of the first cities to undergo a rebuild, which started before the end of the war.      

 

 

Thursday

 

After breakfast, we will head toward the Renaissance Château de Chenonceau. During the 45-minute drive, we will cross the Loire River at Montlouis, and head east along the north bank of the Cher River until we reach our destination. The Château de Chenonceau is also known also as the “Château des Dames”, due to the women associated with its construction and development. It was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet on the medieval foundations of earlier out-buildings on the chateau grounds. It was further developed by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici in the mid 16th century, and ultimately spared from the destruction of the French revolution by a local resident, Mme. Dupin, who converted the chateau into a hospital. The chateau is not only remarkable for its architecture and history, but also for the quality of its Renaissance furniture, its ensemble of 16th and 17th century tapestries, its many great works of art, and its beautiful gardens.    

 

Following our tour of the chateau, we will enjoy lunch on the garden grounds at Restaurant L’Orangerie.

 

After lunch, we will head to Domaine Le Capitaine in the village of Rochecorbon. Here, we will meet one of the owners, Alain Le Capitaine. Alain, along with his brother Christophe, and nephew Florian, have been producing excellent chenin blanc wine since the mid 1980s. Alain will welcome us into his incredible cave that was carved out of the limestone cliff 500 years ago. We will taste some of his delicious Vouvray wine.    

 

This evening, we will dine at Les Gueules Noires in la Vallée Coquette, just a short drive from the Manoir. Chef David and his partner Catherine will welcome us into their charming troglodyte restaurant, situated among the vines.

 

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Friday

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After breakfast, we will head to the Château du Vau in Ballan-Miré, just south of Tours. There, we will meet with Édouard Clément for a tour of his farm, and a foie gras tasting! A typical wine paring with foie gras in the Loire is the Moelleux sweet Vouvray. The richness of the foie gras paired with this amazing sweet wine is a decadent treat!

 

From Ballan-Miré, we will depart for the city of Amboise, only a 25-minute drive away. Amboise has a population of approximately 10,000, and was once home to the Renaissance King of France, Francois I. Through the 15th and 16th centuries, Amboise was the heart of France, and enjoyed political and economic prosperity. One fifth of the original chateau remains, rising above the Loire River and the city centre. We will enjoy a traditional crêpe lunch in a local restaurant, followed by a walk through the ancient city.   

 

We will then head to Vernou-sur-Brenne for a visit with wine-maker Vincent Carême. Internationally recognized, Vincent is perhaps the best wine-maker the region of the Loire has to offer.

 

Our final dinner together will take place at the Manoir Echeneau, where not only will we experience more local delicacies, but we will be joined by Didier, Sylvie, and my close friends Mireille and Laurent Daubert. If we play our cards right, Didier may even dip into his collection for us!

 

 

Saturday

 

We will enjoy our last breakfast together at the Manoir, followed by your departure. Transportation will be provided to the train station at Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. Please advise me of your departure times in advance.

 

 

It has been my pleasure introducing you to a few of my favourite places in Touraine! I hope to see you again on another Select Wine Journey!