Chinon Epicurean Wine Experience

Chinon is a small town of narrow lanes and tufa houses beneath a vast ruined fortress, and it is the home of some of the Loire's best red wine. This epicurean experience brings the town's two strengths together: a guided tasting of Chinon wines paired with local specialities, in the shadow of the castle. It is a short, relaxed and very enjoyable way to understand the place. You learn why Cabernet Franc grown on chalk and gravel slopes makes wines that range from fresh and fruity to deep and age-worthy, and you taste them with the cheeses, charcuterie and sweet things that the region does well. The format is informal and sociable, so it suits couples, friends and solo travellers who like to talk. It also fits easily into a day that includes a visit to the fortress itself, which gives the wine its setting and its history.

Chinon's story is one of the most striking in France. It was a stronghold of the Plantagenet kings and later a royal residence, and in 1429 Joan of Arc came here to meet the future Charles VII and persuade him to let her lead an army. The town below the castle has kept its medieval character, with half-timbered houses, steep lanes and a riverfront along the Vienne.

Writers have loved it too, and Rabelais, the Renaissance satirist, was born nearby and wrote about its wine and its appetite for life. A tasting here is therefore more than a drink; it is a way of tasting a landscape with a very long memory.

The wines of Chinon are made mainly from Cabernet Franc, with some white from Chenin Blanc. Growers on the gravel terraces by the river tend to make lighter, fruitier reds that are good young, while those on the chalk slopes make fuller wines with more structure. A guide will explain these differences as you taste, and the local specialities are chosen to match: fresh and aged goat cheeses, rillettes and other pork charcuterie, bread, and something sweet to finish.

Many producers store their wine in cellars cut into the tufa rock, and the cool, quiet atmosphere underground is part of the charm of the region.

Check the details when you book, including the meeting point, the language of the host, the length of the session and whether the experience includes a cellar visit. Tell the organiser about dietary needs in advance, as the food is part of the tasting. If you are driving, arrange a designated driver or choose to spit, since the tastings are generous.

Many visitors combine this with the fortress in the morning and a walk through the old town, or add a vineyard picnic or a bike ride on another day. Chinon is easy to reach from Tours by car and is a natural stop on a day that also includes Ussé or Fontevraud Abbey.

It helps to know a little about the grape before you taste. Cabernet Franc is the signature red of the Loire, and Chinon is one of its heartlands. Young wines show red fruit, a touch of pepper and a green, leafy freshness, while older bottles develop notes of tobacco and forest floor. Ask your host to explain the vintage and the soil, and do not be shy about asking for a second taste of the one you like. Most producers also sell directly, so you can buy a bottle for the evening.