LOIRE
FRANCE
Season 6, Episode 2
Known as “The Garden of France,” the Loire is France’s most exquisite wine region. Winding between vibrant cities, charming small towns, and illustrious castles is the Loire River—the longest in France and the lifeblood of the surrounding vineyards. From crisp Muscadet to fruity rosés, savory Chenin Blanc to floral Cabernet Franc, and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc to lively Gamay, this diverse and authentic region will change the way you think about what French wine can be!
filmed July, 2024 | runtime 62 minutes
(opens in a new tab)Famille Lieubeau
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Bel Abord
(opens in a new tab)Famille Lieubeau
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Clisson
(opens in a new tab)Leduc-Frouin
Rosé de Loire
(opens in a new tab)Leduc-Frouin
Rosé d"Anjou
(opens in a new tab)Leduc-Frouin
Cabernet d'Anjou
(opens in a new tab)Maison Audebert et Fils
Chinon "Cuvée les Perruches"
(opens in a new tab)Maison Audebert et Fils
Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil "La Contrie"
(opens in a new tab)Maison Audebert et Fils
Bourgueil "Le Grand Clos"
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Champalou
Vourvray Brut
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Champalou
Vourvray Sec
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Champalou
Les Fondraux
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Champalou
La Moelleuse
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Champalou
Les Tries
(opens in a new tab)M. Plouzeau
Les Devants de la Bonnelière
(Sauvignon Blanc)
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Timothée Delalle
2022 Pl. 1953 G (Gamay)
(opens in a new tab)Domaine Nicholas Paget
Brut Méthode Traditionnelle
LOCATIONS & WINERIES
from the Loire episode
CHÂTEAU DE CHENONCEAU
There are a lot of Châteaux in Loire, but Chenonceau is one of the most iconic because the Loire River runs right below it!
NANTES & LES MACHINES DE I'ÎLE
Nantes is a great town full of all sorts of art installations, museums, restaurants, and bars. One of the most impressive parts of the city is an exhibit called Les Machines de I'île, robotic animals inspired by the works of Leonardo DaVinci and Jules Verne.
LA CIGALE
The prettiest brassiere you'll ever see, La Cigale has been serving local fare in 1895. Stop in and have some seafood and the local white wine, Muscadet. While you're in this part of the Loire, you should take a drive to visit our winemaker from this scene, François Lieubeau, and his family winery; or at the very least, order some of his incredible wine!
CHÂTEAUX
We visited over a dozen Château, or castles, during our trip to the Loire. Most were built during the Renaissance era, and many are open to the public. Besides the ones separately called out in this section, here are some other favorites from our time here!
CHÂTEAU DE BRISSAC
This Château is where I got to meet the Duke of Brissac and explore the castle from top to bottom. Stop in, say hello to Charles-André, and explore!
LEDUC-FROUIN
The rosé wines from the Loire are quite famous, and some, like Rosé d"Anjou and Cabernet d'Anjou, have a bit of sweetness that makes them great summer wines. Leduc-Frouin also makes some great white, red, and dessert wines from the area and will treat you like royalty if you come, so make sure to visit!
DOMAINE DE CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE
This Château is home to the annual International Garden Festival and were our favorite gardens of the trip: each one was so unique! Don't skip this one!
MAISON AUDEBERT ET FILS
The floral and fresh Cabernet Franc from Loire are some of my personal favorite wines of all time, and Maison Audebert et Fils makes examples from most of the major AOCs that produce them. Stop in for a tasting and say hello to François!
LE MOULIN BLEU
The cozy and homey fare from Le Moulin Bleu will warm you up as the region starts to chill in fall and winter. A family-run restaurant will have lots of character, great food, an animal sanctuary, and kind owners!
DOMAINE CHAMPALOU
Chenin Blanc from Loire are some of the greatest wines you'll ever try when done right, especially the aged and sweet styles. Domaine Champalou is an iconic producer of Chenin from Vouvray area, and Céline would happily welcome you for a tasting!
LA CABANE À MATELOT
In a region full of seafood restaurants, La Cabane à Matelot is doing something unique and special with fish. All your local seafood will come from their in-house fisherman Romain, and Chef Ambroise will prepare it up beautifully. Make reservations, this place gets busy, even for lunch!
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST!
For updates, discounts, and more!