Experience
Private Tour
A day planned around your interests.
Private Central Loire Wine Tour
Discover the hidden gems of the Central Loire
Taste the distinctive wines of Quincy, Reuilly and Valençay, with the possibility of exploring Touraine Oisly. Visit independent winemakers and discover the varied vineyards and villages along the River Cher.
€499 per personFull day · Minimum two guests
Plan Your Central Loire TourPHOTO FOR COLINColin and guests tasting wines at a small Central Loire domaine near Quincy, Reuilly or Valençay
Price
€499 per person
Minimum two guests.
Duration
Full Day
Approximately eight hours.
Wine Areas
Quincy & Reuilly
With Valençay or Touraine Oisly as the route allows.
Food & Wine
Lunch & Tastings
Winery tastings and lunch are included. Drinks ordered with lunch are extra.
Exceptional wines beyond the familiar names
Between eastern Touraine and Sancerre, the vineyards of the Central Loire offer remarkable variety, character and a chance to meet producers away from the busiest visitor routes.
Travel along the Cher with Colin to explore wines made by independent growers. Quincy is celebrated for Sauvignon Blanc, Reuilly has its own distinct range of whites, reds and rosés, and Valençay combines wine heritage with a celebrated local goat cheese.
The route is tailored around the wineries open to visitors and where you are staying. The aim is a rewarding selection of growers and appellations, not a hurried attempt to visit every region in one day.
The Central Loire Experience
Three sides of the Central Loire
Discover the wines, producers and local food that give the vineyards around the Cher their individual character.
PHOTO FOR COLINQuincy Sauvignon Blanc tasting at a wine estate near the Cher
Discover Quincy Sauvignon Blanc
Taste expressive dry white wines from Quincy, an appellation devoted to Sauvignon Blanc, and find out how different vineyard sites and growers shape the wines.
PHOTO FOR COLINWinemaker presenting white, red and rosé wines in Reuilly
Explore the wines of Reuilly
Compare the region’s white, red and rosé wines. Learn why a small appellation can offer such diversity and how its limestone soils influence the wines.
PHOTO FOR COLINValençay wine and AOP goat cheese, with the château or village as context
Experience Valençay and local flavours
Enjoy a journey through a landscape known for both wine and its distinctive goat cheese. Depending on your itinerary, there may also be time for Valençay’s château and village.
A Typical Day
How your Central Loire day could unfold
An illustrative private itinerary. The order and choice of wineries depend on your pickup location, interests and producer availability.
Meet Colin in the Central Loire
Begin at your agreed hotel or railway station, then travel into the vineyard country along the Cher.
Visit a local winemaker
Explore a carefully selected domaine, perhaps in Quincy or Reuilly, and enjoy a guided tasting of its wines.
Enjoy a French lunch
Take time over an included restaurant lunch, with a chance to discover more about the region’s food and villages.
Compare another appellation
Visit a contrasting producer or wine area, such as Valençay or Touraine Oisly when the route permits, before your return transfer.
Wine Knowledge
A closer look at Quincy, Reuilly and Valençay
Quincy is one of France’s historic wine appellations and makes dry white wine exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. Tasting it beside neighbouring wines reveals the personality of this part of the Loire.
Reuilly produces white, red and rosé wines, showing how different grapes and winemaking choices create variety within a relatively small wine area. The limestone-rich landscape connects it geologically with other renowned Central Loire vineyards.
Valençay is distinctive for its protected-origin wines and goat cheese. The wine appellation produces white, red and rosé, while nearby Touraine Oisly is particularly associated with Sauvignon Blanc from the Cher Valley. Your selection depends on the day's route and open domaines.
Ask Colin which appellations suit your visitPHOTO FOR COLINSauvignon Blanc vineyard, limestone soil detail or winemaker tasting in Quincy, Reuilly or Valençay
Practical Details
What's included in the €499 tour
The price is per person, with a minimum of two guests. Colin confirms the date, local pickup point and visits before your tour.
Included
- Private English-speaking guide for approximately eight hours
- Comfortable transport during the tour
- Pickup and return from an agreed local hotel or railway station
- Visits to carefully selected Central Loire wineries
- Guided winery tastings and restaurant lunch
- Bottled water and a Loire Valley Wine Tour welcome gift
The itinerary is tailored to your interests and the producers available on your chosen date.
Not included
- Drinks ordered with lunch
- Travel to and from the agreed local pickup location
- Accommodation and travel insurance
- Wine purchases, shipping costs and personal expenses
- Gratuities and separately agreed optional extras
- Château admission or other optional visits unless specifically arranged
Wine purchases are optional. Ask Colin if you would like to add a particular wine or cultural experience.
Your Local Guide
Discover the Central Loire with Colin
The smaller wine appellations of the Cher Valley reward curiosity, and a local guide helps connect the producers, wines and places.
Having made the Loire his home for more than 15 years, Colin can introduce you to distinctive wines beyond the best-known names. He brings together visits with independent winemakers, local food and the character of the countryside.
Meet ColinGuest Experiences
What guests say about exploring the Loire with Colin
We got history and culture at the chateau in the morning ... local flavor with a great lunch ... wineries in the afternoon ... and great commentary from Colin along the way.
Colin was a fantastic host and guide throughout the Loire Valley for the day.
Planning Your Tour
Central Loire wine tour FAQs
The route draws from Quincy, Reuilly, Valençay, Touraine Oisly and nearby Touraine vineyards. Colin chooses a sensible selection for your day rather than promising every appellation. You can discuss your preferred wines when you enquire.
Quincy is devoted to dry white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc. The grape’s freshness, the vineyard setting and each grower’s approach give the wines their individual styles. For a different Sauvignon Blanc experience, see our Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Tour.
Yes. Reuilly produces white, red and rosé wines. The range offers an excellent opportunity to compare different grapes and wine styles within one appellation, subject to what the visited producers have available.
Yes. Valençay has protected-origin status for both its wines and its distinctive pyramid-shaped goat cheese. If regional food is a particular interest, you may also enjoy our Food & Wine Tour.
Not as part of the standard route. The Central Loire Tour focuses on the Cher Valley and appellations such as Quincy and Reuilly. To explore Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in the eastern Loire, see our separate Sancerre Wine Tour.
The Central Loire is best explored from a nearby base. Vierzon, Romorantin and Bourges are potential collection areas, with local hotels and suitable railway stations discussed when planning. Confirm your accommodation or arrival station before making travel arrangements.
Yes. The €499 per person price (minimum two guests) includes guiding, transport during the tour, agreed local collection, guided winery tastings and restaurant lunch. Drinks ordered with lunch are extra; the winery tastings themselves are included.
Dates and producer availability are confirmed by Colin when you enquire. The itinerary depends on open wineries and your preferred collection point, so send your proposed travel dates for suitable options.
More Ways to Explore
Another perspective on the Loire
Interested in a different grape, wine style or combination of experiences? These private tours offer rewarding alternatives.
A grape variety
Chenin Blanc Tour
Taste the remarkable range of Chenin Blanc in Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire.
€499 per personDiscover this tourRed wine regions
Best Reds Tour
Discover Cabernet Franc in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.
€540 per personDiscover this tourSustainable viticulture
Organic Wine Tour
Meet talented growers making distinctive Loire wines using organic or biodynamic practices.
€499 per personDiscover this tourBrowse the collection
All Loire Wine Tours
Explore all 16 private tours, from short introductions to multi-day wine journeys.
Explore all toursPlan Your Central Loire Visit
Discover the wines of the Cher Valley with Colin
The Central Loire Tour is €499 per person, minimum two guests. Agreed local transport, guided winery tastings and lunch are included, while drinks ordered with lunch are extra. Tell Colin your dates and where you are staying so he can recommend the best route and available producers.
Plan Your Central Loire Tour