Experience
Private Wine Tour
An itinerary shaped around your interests.
Private Three-Day Loire Valley Wine Tour
Three days exploring the wines of the Loire
Discover the remarkable range of Loire Valley wines over three privately guided days. Meet independent winemakers, compare vineyards and appellations, and explore the region’s châteaux, gardens and villages along the way.
€1,499 per personThree full days · Minimum two guests
Plan Your Three-Day Wine TourPHOTO FOR COLINColin and guests exploring a Loire vineyard or tasting with a winemaker
Price
€1,499 per person
Minimum two guests.
Duration
3 Full Days
Approximately eight hours each day.
Experiences
Wines & Heritage
Winery visits plus a château or garden each day.
Food & Wine
3 Lunches & Tastings
Winery tastings and all three lunches included. Drinks ordered with lunch are extra.
A deeper discovery of Loire wine country
Three days offer the freedom to go beyond a single grape or appellation and experience the extraordinary diversity of Loire Valley wine.
From Cabernet Franc reds and Chenin Blanc whites to sparkling, rosé and sweet styles, the Loire rewards curiosity. Colin introduces you to selected winegrowers and vineyards while connecting what you taste to the places and people behind each bottle.
There is plenty beyond the cellar too. Your tour also includes a guided château or garden visit each day, with time for lunch and the regional stories that make the Loire more than a wine destination. The itinerary is tailored to your interests and where you are staying.
The Enthusiast’s Experience
Three reasons to explore the Loire over three days
Explore more appellations, spend time with their winemakers and discover the history and landscapes surrounding the vineyards.
PHOTO FOR COLINA tasting of Loire red, white, rosé and sparkling wines
Discover the Loire’s full range of wines
Compare contrasting grapes, vineyard sites and styles across several wine-producing areas. Discover excellent-value favourites and bottles you might never encounter at home.
PHOTO FOR COLINColin and guests talking with a winegrower inside a Loire cellar
Spend time with independent producers
Enjoy guided visits to carefully selected wineries, with conversations about vineyard work, winemaking choices and the character of each appellation.
PHOTO FOR COLINA Loire château and formal garden visited during a wine tour
Combine wine with Loire heritage
Explore a château or garden each day. Colin brings the region’s architecture, horticulture, history and local culture into a well-rounded experience.
An Illustrative Three-Day Itinerary
Three days, a world of Loire wines
These are suggested themes, not a fixed route. Colin selects regions, wineries and cultural visits to fit your interests, accommodation and producer availability.
Day 1 · Red wine country
Discover the Loire’s distinctive reds
A day built around expressive Loire red wines, potentially exploring Cabernet Franc in Chinon and Bourgueil or other suitable appellations.
PHOTO FOR COLINCabernet Franc vines or a tasting in Chinon or Bourgueil
- Compare wines with local growersTaste how grape variety, terroir and the choices of different winemakers shape the wine in your glass.
- Lunch and a château or gardenEnjoy the first included restaurant lunch and a guided heritage visit selected for your route.
- Explore more of the regionContinue tasting or visit a neighbouring wine-producing area, depending on the itinerary.
Day 2 · Chenin & the central Loire
Whites, sparkling wines & historic places
Explore the range of Chenin Blanc around Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire, or other Touraine wine areas suited to your interests.
PHOTO FOR COLINChenin Blanc tasting or limestone wine cellar in Touraine
- Discover the diversity of CheninCompare dry, off-dry, sparkling or sweet wines when the selected producers have them available.
- Meet the winemakersVisit independent domaines and find out how limestone cellars, vineyard sites and winemaking shape style.
- Enjoy lunch and local heritageTake time for a second included lunch and another château or garden visit.
Day 3 · Your chosen wine focus
Explore another side of the Loire
Shape the final day around another area or wine style, perhaps Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, Saumur or a different part of Touraine.
PHOTO FOR COLINSancerre vineyards, Saumur cellars or another Loire landscape
- Follow your own wine interestsSpend more time comparing a favourite grape or discovering a new appellation with Colin.
- Taste and talk with producersEnjoy selected winery visits and the third included restaurant lunch.
- Finish with a cultural highlightDiscover a final château or garden, completing a three-day journey through Loire wine and heritage.
From Saumur in the west towards Sancerre in the east, the Loire covers a substantial distance. The route is agreed with Colin so each day is enjoyable rather than rushed. Not every named region will be visited on every tour.
The Wines Behind Your Journey
Explore the remarkable diversity of Loire wines
Few French wine regions offer so many different styles along one river. Three days create space to discover several of them in the places they are made.
Cabernet Franc is celebrated in Chinon and Bourgueil, while Chenin Blanc ranges from dry and mineral to rich and sweet in Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire. There are exceptional traditional-method sparkling wines too, explored in more depth on our Sparkling Wine Tour.
Further east, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are famous for Sauvignon Blanc. Other Loire appellations add rosé, Pinot Noir and a wide variety of characterful wines to the picture.
Colin builds the tasting route around your preferences, selecting a rewarding mix of wine regions without suggesting every appellation can be fitted into three days.
PHOTO FOR COLINA selection of Loire wines and a tasting with Colin across several appellations
Your Tour Price
What's included in the €1,499 three-day tour
The price is per person, based on a minimum of two guests. The tour includes approximately eight hours of guiding on each of the three days.
Included
- Colin as your English-speaking guide throughout the three days
- Private local transport during the agreed tour hours
- Collection and return within the agreed local pickup area
- Winery visits and guided wine tastings on all three days
- Three restaurant lunches, one each day
- One château or garden visit each day, including standard admission
- Bottled water and a Loire Valley Wine Tour goodie bag
- Help purchasing wine and arranging shipment where available
- An itinerary tailored to your interests and the available producers
Not included
- Drinks ordered with lunch; guided winery tastings are included
- Overnight accommodation and any breakfasts or evening meals
- Travel to and from the agreed pickup location
- Wine purchases, shipping charges and other personal expenses
- Travel insurance and gratuities
- Optional activities or extras beyond the agreed itinerary
The original tour recommends accommodation in or near Chabris. Discuss your planned base with Colin before booking so the daily routes and pickup arrangements work together.
Your Local Guide
Explore more of the Loire with Colin
The best wine discoveries often come from knowing the people behind the labels.
Colin’s local relationships and knowledge help create an engaging three-day experience, from visits with growers to the history of the châteaux and gardens you explore.
Tell him which wines and regions interest you and how much heritage you would like to include. Your itinerary can then strike the right balance between discovery, depth and time to enjoy the journey.
Meet ColinGuest Experiences
What guests say about exploring the Loire with Colin
“He generated a balanced and varied itinerary for us”
“The depth of his knowledge, access to the inner workings of the producers we visited”
Planning Your Tour
Three-Day Wine Enthusiast’s Tour FAQs
Your route can draw on wine areas between Saumur and Sancerre, including Chinon, Bourgueil, Touraine, Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire. These appellations are spread out, so Colin selects a practical combination rather than trying to visit them all. For a more specific route, see the Two-Day Chinon & Sancerre Tour.
Yes. You can concentrate on Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc or a mix of reds, whites, rosé, sparkling and sweeter styles. Compare our Best Reds Tour, Chenin Blanc Tour and Sparkling Wine Tour for ideas.
Yes. The standard Three-Day Enthusiast’s Tour includes one château or garden visit on each of the three days, including ordinary entrance costs. Colin confirms the actual sites with you before the trip so they complement the winery route.
The number depends on the regions selected, producer availability and the time set aside for château or garden visits. The priority is rewarding visits and conversations with winemakers rather than fitting in the highest possible number of stops.
Yes. Guided winery tastings and one restaurant lunch are included on each day. Drinks ordered with lunch are paid for separately; this does not apply to the included winery tastings.
No. You arrange your own accommodation. The original tour recommends staying close to Chabris; Colin can advise whether your preferred location works for the proposed route before you book. Ask about accommodation and pickup.
Pickup and return are arranged within the agreed local area, which depends on where you stay and the planned destinations. Share your hotel or station details with Colin before finalising travel arrangements.
Potentially, yes. The wider tour can include wine regions from Saumur towards Sancerre, but these areas are far apart. Colin will recommend what can realistically fit your three days. If Sancerre is your priority, the Sancerre Wine Tour is another option.
The Two-Day Loire Experience is based around Chinon, Touraine and Chenonceau. The Three-Day Enthusiast’s Tour offers an additional day to explore more Loire appellations and wine styles, while still including heritage visits.
Yes, winery purchases may be possible, and Colin can help discuss shipping where available. Wine purchases, delivery charges and any import taxes are separate from the tour price.
The dates and winery itinerary are confirmed directly with Colin. Send your preferred three-day window, planned accommodation and particular wine interests so he can advise what is available.
More Ways to Explore
Another way to experience the Loire
Prefer fewer days, more château time or a completely tailored itinerary? Explore these private alternatives.
Wine & Culture
Two-Day Loire Experience
Explore Chinon, Touraine and Château de Chenonceau across two days.
€999 per personExplore this tourTwo Wine Regions
Two-Day Chinon & Sancerre
Compare Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in distinct regions.
€1,080 per personExplore this tourChâteaux & Gardens
Three-Day Gardens Tour
Dedicate more time to the Loire’s gardens, châteaux and horticulture.
€1,620 per personExplore this tourFully Tailored
Bespoke Two- or Three-Day Tour
Choose the wine areas, cultural experiences and pace that work for you.
Discuss your itineraryPlan Your Loire Wine Journey
Discover three exceptional days in the Loire
For €1,499 per person, with a minimum of two guests, enjoy three days of privately guided winery visits, wine tastings, cultural highlights and included lunches. Accommodation and drinks ordered with lunch are separate. Tell Colin when you would like to visit, where you plan to stay and which wines interest you most.
Plan Your Three-Day Tour