After hosting our wedding at the Chateau de Jalenes in France, my new husband(!!) and I celebrated with a wine trip in the Loire Valley and Champagne. Instead of calling it our honeymoon, we called it our “Wineymoon” to reflect the focus on wine. Six friends joined us on our journey, visiting nine wineries in five AOCs in just four days!
Our wedding was in the Loire Valley, one of France’s 11 major wine regions, about three hours south of Paris. The Loire Valley wine region is huge — it contains four sub-regions and 80+ AOCs within it. An AOC, or Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, is a designation that protects the geographical origin, production method, and standards of a particular product in France. Because many AOCs are two- to three-hours’ drive from each other, we could cover a lot of ground in only a few days.
After starting at the Chateau de Jalesnes in Vernantes, we visited wineries in Vouvray, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Chablis, and ended in Champagne. Here’s how it went, the wineries we visited, and tips for doing it yourself.
A Honeymoon Wine Trip in the Loire Valley
How to Take a Wine Trip in the Loire Valley
I enlisted the help of Grape Escapes, a UK-based travel company focused on European wine tours, to execute our wine trip in the Loire Valley. They have several wine tour packages focused on the Loire Valley, but because our itinerary was so specific, I worked with them to create a custom trip.
Grape Escapes was really easy to work with. Most notably, they responded quickly to every email and provided a lot of information along the way. They were also really flexible; some of our group left a day early, so they priced their package accordingly. The only downside is they are in the UK so paying in British pounds for us Americans was pricey! (This post is not sponsored by Grape Escapes, I just enjoyed our trip.)
It’s possible to plan a similar trip yourself, either driving to the Loire Valley or taking the train, then working with the individual groups mentioned below. (Grape Escapes scheduled our tours for us, but each day we worked with a different guide who specialized in each region’s wines.) Or check out some of these tours here.
Historic Caves and White Wine in Vouvray
We started our wine trip in the Loire Valley at the Chateau de Jalesnes, where we got married. Grape Escapes arranged a driver from A la Française Loire Valley to drive us about 30 minutes to Château Gaudrelle in the town of Vouvray (population 3,397).
The town of Vouvray is located in the Vouvray AOC, which makes white wine using only the Chenin Blanc grape. Vouvray wines range from dry to sweet and still to sparkling, with floral aromas and light fruit notes (like pears, honeysuckle, and yellow apples), plus high acidity.
After touring Château Gaudrelle’s cave cellars (dating to the 14th Century!), we tasted through their organic wines. Then we moved onto the Caves Ambacia, whose cellars opened in 1463 and were once the king’s favorite. There we had a fascinating sensory lesson on smells typically found in French wine, learned how to properly taste wines, and enjoyed wines paired with charcuterie. (Book the same tour here.)
Then we had an incredible lunch at the Caves Ambacia restaurant, Bistro L’Oppidum. After, we drove 2 hours to Sancerre, where we’d spend the next two nights.
Panoramic Views & Delicious Dinners in Sancerre
Sancerre is a medieval hilltop town with a colorful history dating back to Roman times. The town is perched above rolling hills blanketed with vines for as far as you can see. And during sunset, especially in fall when the light hits warm and crisp, it’s something to see.
The town of Sancerre is the perfect place to stay for proximity to wineries in the Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé regions. We stayed at the Le Panoramic Hotel in Sancerre, an easy spot for our drivers to meet us. But the best part is how it got its name: the panoramic views of Sancerre vineyards from the nearly drop-off cliff behind it. Many rooms, as well as the wine bar and restaurant, have perfect views of the valley.
Surprisingly, despite being a town with a population of just 1,300, Sancerre has a Michelin-starred restaurant. La Pomme d’or focuses on seafood prepared in creative ways and the tasting menu did not disappoint. But neither did our dinner the next night at Le Clos du Maréchal, a welcoming restaurant in the former home of Napoleon’s right-hand man, Marshal MacDonald. As with most restaurants in Sancerre, advance reservations are a must.
Yellow Vines & Beautiful Wines in Sancerre & Poully-Fumé
The Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé regions straddle the Loire River, with Sancerre on the left bank and Pouilly-Fumé on the right. Even though there’s only 10 miles between their closest points and both focus on Sauvignon Blanc, they have different AOCs!
Both Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are dry, mineral white wines, but Sancerre tends to have more crisp, citrusy flavors with notes of green grass. Pouilly-Fumé has a medium body with more stone fruit and apple notes, and sometimes smoky flavors. While 80% of Sancerre wines are Sauvignon Blanc white wines, they also make Sancerre rouge and rosé with Pinot Noir. Fun fact: Sauvignon Blanc’s earliest documented history is in the Loire Valley valley in the mid-1500s!
On day two of our wine trip in the Loire Valley we explored both regions on a private tour by Vinitour Sancerre. We started at Domaine Serge Dagueneau in Pouilly Fumé, a family-run winery with a laid-back tasting room.
After a three-course lunch at le Coq Hardi, our guide drove us to the top of a hill overlooking endless rows of yellow vines. In the fall, Sauvignon Blanc vines turn yellow while Pinot Noir vines go red. She opened a bottle of Sancerre made from grapes from right where we were standing, and paired it with Crottin de Chivgnol goat cheese from the region. It was magical! Our last winery was Domaine Bernard Fleuriet, a family-owned winery with a cozy tasting room. (Here is a similar tour to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.)
Cute Towns & Crisp Wines in Chablis
The next day we set out to explore the Chablis AOC with Chablis Vititours. Chablis is the northernmost AOC in the Burgundy region, producing Chardonnay wines known for their minerality, with green apple, lemon, and chalky notes. We started among the vines with a lesson about how the slightest variation in elevation, slope, and soil can change the wine.
Then we toured the production facility at Maison Brocard and did a side-by-side tasting of Jean-Marc Brocard’s organic wines next to his son Julien Brocard’s biodynamic wines. All the the wines were the same except for the farming styles, and it was fascinating to taste the difference!
Then we had a delicious lunch at Bistro des Grand Cru, including Burgundy escargot since we were in Burgundy! Then we did a quick tasting at Domaine William Fèvre, one of the most prestigious wineries in the Chablis region.
Our final tasting was at Domaine Long-Depaquit, where we saw their small aging cave and enjoyed Chablis in the garden. That technically ended our wine trip in the Loire Valley; afterwards we drove two hours to Champagne.
Elegance & Extravagance in Champagne
We arrived in Reims, the largest city in the Champagne region, early enough to head to dinner. We stayed at the Hotel De La Paix in the heart of the city. It was walking distance to everything, had an expansive breakfast buffet, and a nice lobby bar.
Our last day was touring wineries in Champagne. Since we only had one day (and you could spend an entire multi-day wine trip to Champagne!), we visited two of the biggest. We started with Ruinart, the oldest Champagne house, opened in 1729. Their underground caves feel endless and are simultaneously eerie and beautiful.
After lunch at Brasserie Le Jardin, we toured the famous caves at Veuve Clicquot. I was excited to show my husband the World War I signs on the cave walls and we even tasted wines at an underground bar!
Champagne was such a contrast to the wineries we visited in the Loire Valley. The wineries were much bigger and fancier. Funny enough, most of us preferred the little family-owned wineries better. But that’s not to say Champagne wasn’t fun and interesting. For similar experiences, take this private tour from Reims or this tour of Veuve Clicquot with a small winery.
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The next morning we took the early morning train from Reims to Charles de Galle Airport in Paris. The 30-minute train is quick and convenient, which is why we opted to end our wine trip in the Loire Valley in Champagne.
The entire trip was incredible and I already can’t wait to return to the Loire Valley to explore more wineries!
Related :: Our Wedding at the Chateau de Jalesnes in the Loire Valley, the Best Itinerary for Champagne Tasting in Champagne and Staying at Veuve Clicquot’s Private Hotel
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