Gastronomic Loire Valley - From the Atlantic coast to Saumur

The Loire Valley is one of Europe’s most picturesque cultural landscapes. Vineyards, riverside towns and resplendent châteaux are inseparably entwined. Once the favoured domain of French royalty, it is now celebrated equally for its wines and gastronomy.

To explore the Loire is to encounter gastronomic variety of the most rewarding kind. Every style of wine is produced here: saline Muscadet from the Atlantic coast, mineral Sauvignon from the central vineyards, noble Chenin Blanc in sparkling, dry and sweet forms, supple Cabernet Franc, and Crémant with a finesse that rivals Champagne. Paired with a cuisine rooted in local produce: cave-grown mushrooms, artisanal pâtés and rillettes, fresh fish, and the finest selection of cheeses – these wines achieve their fullest expression.

But this is no mere indulgence. The region’s heritage is among the richest in Europe, from the working salt marshes of Guérande which reveal centuries-old methods of harvesting Fleur de Sel, to the medieval Apocalypse Tapestry at Angers, to the Renaissance façades of Saumur and the serene grandeur of Fontevraud Abbey, resting place of Eleanor of Aquitaine. The landscape itself, with its fertile soils and luminous tuffeau stone, has shaped both its architecture and its viticulture.

In the company of expert guides, with private wine tastings and memorable meals, this journey explores the Loire as both a cultural heartland and a gastronomic paradise.