One of the pleasures of any visit to the Loire Valley is the opportunity to sample the region’s superb wines. Some of them are widely available, notably Muscadet and Sancerre, while others rarely leave the region or are exported only in very small quantities. So keep an eye out for these names on local wine lists and also when browsing the shelves of your wine merchant back home.

Bourgueil

Domaine de la Chevalerie Galichets

Fourteen generations of the Caslot family have been making wine on this magnificent estate in the heart of the Bourgueil AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée). The grapevines here average 75 years old, which means that they produce small mineral-rich fruit that gives the wines exceptional depth and elegance. One of the best Bourgueils in France, this wine is a truly poetic expression of the Cabernet Franc grape. The winery offers cellar visits and tastings, along with a unique activity: hoeing, where guests work in the vineyards breaking up the soil around the feet of the vines.