Experience
Private Tour
Two days planned around your interests.
Private Two-Day Loire Valley Wine & Château Tour
Two days to discover more of the Loire
Discover two contrasting sides of the Loire Valley with Colin. Taste Cabernet Franc in Chinon and Bourgueil, explore the châteaux and vineyards of Touraine, and enjoy two unhurried days of wine, food and local culture.
€999 per personTwo full days · Minimum two guests
Plan Your Two-Day TourPHOTO FOR COLINGuests with Colin in a Loire vineyard, with a château or historic town in the landscape
Price
€999 per person
Minimum two guests.
Duration
2 Full Days
Approximately eight hours each day.
Wine & Culture
Chinon & Touraine
Wineries and château or garden visits.
Food & Wine
2 Lunches & Tastings
Winery tastings and both lunches are included. Drinks ordered with lunch are extra.
A more complete taste of the Loire
One day introduces you to a corner of the Loire. Two days allow you to appreciate just how varied its wines, landscapes and history can be.
Travel west into Cabernet Franc country around Chinon and Bourgueil, then discover the châteaux and diverse wines of Touraine, including the vineyards around Chenonceau, Vouvray or Montlouis-sur-Loire.
Colin brings together carefully selected producers, memorable cultural stops and relaxed French lunches. The days are planned as a coherent journey rather than a long list of wineries, with time to enjoy each place and meet the people behind its wines.
The Two-Day Experience
Three reasons to stay a little longer
Two days bring together contrasting wines, the region’s architecture and the conversations that make a private Loire visit memorable.
PHOTO FOR COLINCabernet Franc tasting in Chinon and Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc tasting in Touraine
Taste the Loire from west to east
Discover Cabernet Franc in Chinon and Bourgueil before comparing the whites, reds and sparkling wines of Touraine. The winemakers and their vineyards explain the differences.
PHOTO FOR COLINA Loire château and formal gardens, such as Chenonceau or another estate
Explore historic châteaux and gardens
Combine winery visits with the region’s history, architecture and landscapes. The agreed itinerary normally includes a château or garden visit on each day.
PHOTO FOR COLINColin with guests at a local producer or a relaxed Loire lunch
Enjoy the region at your own pace
Meet independent producers, stop for two relaxed lunches and learn about local life with an English-speaking guide who knows the Loire.
Your Two-Day Itinerary
Two days, two sides of the Loire
This is an example itinerary, not a fixed schedule. Colin will arrange winery and château visits around your interests, pickup point and producer opening times.
Day 1 · Western vineyards
Chinon, Bourgueil & Cabernet Franc
Travel west of Tours to vineyards celebrated for elegant Loire red wines and the historic riverside town of Chinon.
PHOTO FOR COLINCabernet Franc vineyards near Chinon, Bourgueil or Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil
- Discover Cabernet FrancVisit a carefully chosen family winery, meet the producer and learn what distinguishes the local appellations.
- Pause for a French lunchEnjoy a relaxed restaurant lunch, with time to discover the local food and culture.
- Add a château or historic siteExplore Chinon or a nearby château or garden, with another winery visit arranged when the day allows.
Day 2 · Touraine & the Cher
Chenonceau, Touraine & Loire whites
Turn towards Touraine and the Cher Valley to explore Renaissance heritage and a very different set of Loire grapes and wines.
PHOTO FOR COLINChâteau de Chenonceau, its gardens and vineyards in Touraine
- Explore a château or gardenVisit an agreed site such as Château de Chenonceau, with its architecture, gardens and links to the River Cher.
- Meet Touraine winemakersTaste regional wines, potentially including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc or sparkling styles, depending on the domaines chosen.
- Lunch and returnEnjoy your second included lunch before the final visits and your agreed drop-off.
Your overnight hotel stay is arranged separately; Colin can discuss suitable pickup locations for both days.
The Wines Behind the Journey
From Cabernet Franc to Chenin Blanc
In Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Cabernet Franc can produce fragrant, supple reds as well as more structured wines capable of ageing.
Travel east towards Touraine and the range expands. Sauvignon Blanc gives expressive dry whites, while Chenin Blanc is central to Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire, appearing in dry, sweeter and sparkling styles. The Cher Valley also has its own varied Touraine wines.
Visiting both areas over two days makes those contrasts easier to understand. Colin can adapt the tasting focus if you have favourite varieties or particular appellations in mind.
Explore the Best Reds Tour or see our Chenin Blanc experience for a deeper look at each grape.
PHOTO FOR COLINTwo contrasting Loire wine tastings: Cabernet Franc reds and Chenin Blanc whites or sparkling wines
Your Tour Price
What's included in the €999 two-day tour
The price is per person for a private two-day itinerary, with a minimum of two guests. Hotel accommodation is not part of the tour price.
Included
- Colin as your English-speaking guide on both days
- Private local transport between the agreed tour stops
- Pickup and return within the agreed local collection area
- Winery visits and guided tastings on both days
- Two restaurant lunches, one each day
- Entrance fees to the agreed château or garden visits, normally one per day
- Bottled water during the tour
Not included
- Drinks ordered with lunch; winery tastings are included
- Hotel accommodation between the two tour days
- Travel to and from the agreed pickup location
- Travel insurance and personal purchases
- Wine bought at the estates or any shipping charges
- Gratuities or separately requested extras
Colin will confirm the itinerary, collection arrangements and any optional additions before your tour.
Your Local Guide
Discover more of the Loire with Colin
Two days with a local guide bring context to the wines, vineyards, châteaux and villages you visit.
Colin has made the Loire his home for more than 15 years. His relationships with local winegrowers and knowledge of the region's culture and history help connect the experience from one day to the next.
Tell him what interests you most, whether that's Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, gardens, architecture or lesser-known producers, and he can shape the route around those priorities.
Meet ColinGuest Experiences
What two-day guests say about touring with Colin
… our two days with Colin added huge value to the experience.
We feel so fortunate to have booked a two day Loire Valley tour …
Planning Your Two Days
Two-Day Loire Experience FAQs
A typical first day explores Chinon and Bourgueil to the west of Tours. Day two focuses on Touraine, potentially including Chenonceau, Vouvray or Montlouis-sur-Loire. The exact route is agreed with Colin and depends on your interests and available visits.
Yes. Entrance fees for the agreed château or garden visits are included in the standard tour price, normally one visit on each day. Specific sites are confirmed when the itinerary is arranged.
Yes. Guided winery tastings and a restaurant lunch are included on both days. Drinks ordered with lunch are charged separately; this does not apply to the guided winery tastings.
No. Accommodation is arranged and paid for separately, so you can choose a hotel that suits your plans. Colin can discuss practical collection locations for both days before you book.
Local pickup may be arranged from suitable hotels or railway stations around Tours, Amboise and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, subject to your agreed itinerary. Please ask Colin about your collection location before finalising travel plans.
Yes. The two-day programme is a starting point. Colin can adjust the balance of winery visits and cultural stops, subject to distances, availability and the arrangements agreed for the tour. Tell him what you would most like to see.
This tour typically combines Chinon and Bourgueil with Touraine and Chenonceau. The Two-Day Chinon & Sancerre Tour travels farther east to the Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé vineyards for a greater contrast in geography and wine styles.
Colin can discuss a bespoke two- or three-day itinerary built around your preferred wines, food, châteaux and gardens. Enquire about a tailored Loire journey rather than trying to fit your interests into a fixed route.
Dates depend on the season, winery and château opening times, and Colin’s availability. Send your preferred dates so he can confirm what can be arranged.
More Ways to Explore
Make the Loire journey your own
If you'd prefer Sancerre, another day among the vineyards or more time in the gardens, explore these alternatives or create your own itinerary.
East meets west
Two-Day Chinon & Sancerre
Compare Chinon’s Cabernet Franc with Sauvignon Blanc in the Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé area.
€1,080 per personExplore this tourA longer wine journey
Three-Day Enthusiast’s Tour
Explore more Loire appellations over three privately guided days.
€1,499 per personExplore this tourChâteaux and gardens
Three-Day Gardens Tour
Discover the Loire’s gardens, design and architecture at an unhurried pace.
€1,620 per personExplore this tourTailored to you
Bespoke Two- or Three-Day Tour
Choose the vineyards, châteaux, food experiences and pace that matter most to you.
Discuss a bespoke tourPlan Your Loire Journey
Enjoy two exceptional days in the Loire
The private Two-Day Loire Experience is €999 per person, minimum two guests. Both days include guided winery tastings, lunch and the agreed château or garden admissions. Drinks ordered with lunch and overnight accommodation are separate. Tell Colin your dates, preferred pickup point and the places or wines you most want to discover.
Plan Your Two-Day Tour