Easter Wine Tour 2012 in the Loire Valley Vineyards

Easter Wine Tour in the Loire Valley Vineyards with a Qualified English Speaking Wine Guide

Spring time in the Loire is simply beautiful. Everything is fresh, vines are coming into bud and the weather is warming up. The perfect time to take a Wine Tour over the Easter weekend. All you need do is arrive - we’ll take care of the rest!

 Experience the French countryside, fabulous chateaux and enjoy Loire Valley Wines with our Easter Wine Tour 2012.

We collect you from either Angers or Saumur station, or Tours or Poitiers Airport and transfer you to La Grande Maison in the heart of the vines. It won’t be long after arrival that you are sitting in the vineyards and sipping your first glass of cremant. 

Once you have settled in you will have chance to go walking in the vines or even go for a bike ride before dinner.


On the first the evening we serve you a delicious Wine Sampling Supper the grand hall. The home cooked meal with ingredients direct from our own organic potager is accompanied with a AOC Loire wine with each course, whilst we informally introduce you to the wine styles, grapes and terroir of the region. 

Accommodation is available in one of our four well appointed bedrooms all with private en-suite shower or bathroom and wc.

A delicious continental breakfast is offered with freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh coffee or tea, croissants and baguettes all collected daily from the boulangerie and Easter Eggs of course.

After a yummy breakfast we head off the next day into the Saumur Region on the Easter Wine Tour where we will have the opportunity during the day to visit 2-3 wineries, sample the wines, tour the caves and buy wines at cellar door prices. There is a picnic lunch en-route either in the vineyards or on the banks of the beautiful Loire River. In the evening we’ll take you to a local restaurant where you can sample the regional food.

On the second day of the Easter Wine Tour we’ll venture a little further to discover the delights of the Chinon, Bourgeuil and St Nicolas de Bourgeuil vineyards.

The area is so rich in history and culture that we always throw in a little sight seeing along the way too. 
 

Back at La Grande Maison you will greeted with tea/coffee and biscuits in the stunning gardens and have time to relax before being taken to a local restaurant in the evening. After a delicious breakfast the following morning we return you to your selected departure point. A not to be missed tour of the caves and tunnels at La Grande Maison is also included. SO EASY!


EASTER WINE TOUR IN THE LOIRE VALLEY VINEYARDS



What’s included in this package:

THREE NIGHTS STAY AT LA GRANDE MAISON in the VINES - ONLY 495 euros per person (based on two persons sharing a double/twin room)




Collection to/from ANGERS OR SAUMUR STATION, TOURS OR POITIERS AIRPORT


Welcome drink on arrival


3 night(s) accommodation at La Grande Maison 



1 Wine Tasting Supper at La Grande Maison (per person)



3 Breakfast(s) at La Grande Maison



2 Picnics in the vineyard or on the banks of the river
Loire


Transport in roomy 6 or 9 seater vehicle



Qualified Wine Guide - English Speaking



Translation and explanations by guide whenever necessary



A one day visit to 2-3 local Saumur/Saumur Champigny wine producers


A one day visit to 2-3 local Chinon/Bourgeuil/St Nicolas de Bourgeuil wine producers
Tastings of local white, red, rose and sparkling wines



Route map



Details of Domaines to be visited and meet the winemaker



Helpful descriptions and notes



Wine Tasting note book and pencil



Bottled water to take on the tour



Opportunity to buy wines at vineyard prices



Transportation of wines bought to La Grande Maison



Tour of the wine caves and tunnels at La Grande Maison

Lifts to and from local restaurants of choice on 2nd & 3rd evening


Tea or coffee in the gardens on return from your tour


DATES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST - BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!!


"Our first trip to France. Six nights in Paris followed by four nights at La Grande Maison. Whilst Paris was interesting, historic and busy, our four days with you were relaxing and we experienced more of the REAL FRANCE than in Paris. Your facilities, service and hospitality were the "Icing on the Cake!" Thank You" - Max and Deena Warren - Arizona USA



“How wonderful to be able to drink 29 different wines in the space of one weekend and console yourself with the fact that it's educational as well as pleasurable - heavenly from the first to the last drop. Our hosts not only provided great food and fascinating lessons in viniculture but were excellent company too. We shall be back!” Kirsty Lang of BBC Radio 4 - London UK



"This is as good as it gets. Thank you for an amazing four days. All five senses are fully engaged in pleasure, when you have the perfect combination of fun & interesting people, delicious home made food & beautiful wines!!" - Leah & Barton Melbourne Australia



"This is exactly what we were looking for! Your hospitality and thoughtfulness made our stay extra special - we will definitely see you again! Graete" - Leonie, Helonna and Nicolas - Pretoria South Africa




A Selection of Dates are available this year for the Easter Wine Tour choose from :

• 30th March 2012 - 2nd April 2012
• 6th April 2012 - 9th April 2012
  
• 13th April 2012 - 16th April 2012
  

Other dates available on request please ask.

Why not see a little more of the real France with an Easter Wine Tour 2012 in the Loire. To book today email resv@lagrandemaison.net and check our availability.

In Deep Water ! (but obviously not deep enough....)

La Loire, longest river in France and probably the most capricious. Winding it's way north over 1000 km's from the Massif Central to Orleans where it then cuts west and heads out to the Atlantic Ocean. Shallow in summer and often in full flood during the winter she is tricky to navigate in any season.

So the first challenge was to get La Sterne off her winter mooring in the Port of Le Thoureil. A bit of a tight squeeze but with a few reverse thrusts of the engine we edged our way slowly out into the current.

We left the port of Le Thoureil in sun but although the forecast looked good there were ominous clouds on the horizon.

The river was beautiful, calm and as smooth as ice as we made our way past St Maur's and the little port of La Menitré.

"There is plenty of water at the moment" - everyone had advised us before our trip. But still we felt safe knowing we had taken copies of the flow of the river and it's sandbanks on google maps. Cunningly storing them on the iPad we had devised a sort of marine offline GPS!

Safely navigating the waters under the bridge at St Mathurin, always a challenge as the current speeds up here and spits you out the otherside!

Direction La Bohale and pretty clear sailing so far with lowest reading of 1.1 metres on the depth sounder at the shallowest points. We need a minimum draft of 0.60m to clear the sands. So at this point we are still feeling pretty chipper. That was until we hit the sandbank. The 'sonder' had been reading 1.2m ish but it was already too late (And, no, we weren't waving to friends on the shore) as we grounded 6 tons of 'toue cabanée' into the sand at a depth of only 0.20m of water. No amount of pushing with poles and gaffes was going to free her. We were well and truly stuck.

There aren't many boats out on the Loire at this time of year. Usually none...so how lucky were we to find the gabare, La Nonchalante, making her way up stream to her winter mooring in St Hilaire-St Florent. Somehow their noble crew managed to miraculously navigate the shallows and after several attempts holding her off against the current managed to throw us a line. Within seconds we were pulled off the sandbank and floating free. The crew of La Nochalante are probably still waiting in the bar for the drink we owe them but we never made it back that evening.

Hail and dark clouds descend as La Nochalante follows us back up stream. La Sterne was struggling against the current with a blocked filter full of sand and soon an alarm was going off in the cabin signaling engine problems.

Don't panic we'll just take a few photos of rainbows and hope the alarm stops ;) - no seriously it was time to moor up and sort out the problem before the engine completely exploded.

We managed to come alongside the quay in St Mathurin and moor up. Time to take stock and let the adrenalin levels subside for a moment. In fact let's stop here the night and sort the engine out in the morning in a calm manner. We like this idea as there are a couple of good restaurants in St Mathurin and we were ready for a glass of wine!

Took some amazing riverside strolls and watched the sunset over 'La Loire.'

Idyllic place to stop for the night with the boat well protected out of the current.

We were greeted by the most amazing sunrise the next morning over the bow of the boat.

Whilst Sue enjoyed a cup of tea all warm and cosy in the bunk.....

....I pretended to know what I was doing to fix a Yamaha 50cv engine!

Clear blue skies but the wind is getting very cold.

Having effected the engine repairs by un-blocking the filter and adding more oil to the engine (just in case this might help) we decided we would head back to port at Le Thoureil. The forecast was about to turn nasty and we didn't want to risk getting stuck so we started to head for home.

Back in home waters and sailing round the Ile de Baure.

Returning back to the Port waters starting to get a little choppy.

Pheeew just got La Sterne back on her mooring in time for the snow to start falling.

Getting chilly!

We managed to track down La Nochalante in the snow a fews days later and left a case of wine on board. Our thanks go out to the crew for helping us out of what could have been a long cold wait in the middle of the Loire had they not been passing by and willing to help us out.

If you want to experience life on the Loire in warmer conditions then why not join us on one of our Boat & Wine Tours. More details can be found on the link here. Happy Sailing!!