Tagged with "Things to do in the Loire valley"

A dreary day here in the Loire. Grey and dull. It’s trying to rain but not making a very good job of it. A sluggish start in this house.

My yesterday’s bread was not voted the favourite so far it has to be said. It rose well and has great flavour but seems a bit dry.

Franco/American couple Matt and Katie Perradeau are brewing American craft style beers using French ingredients. We popped in yesterday to have a taste and to wish them good luck.

The beginning of May saw another few days when the temperature dropped below zero. Growers were out in force all through the night lighting fires, burning candles and pumping water from the Vienne trying to minimise the damage.

Growers in Vouvray, Montlouis sur Loire, Saumur Champigny, the hills of the Layon in Anjou and Savennières braced themselves for another sleepless night.

April has been an eventful month in the Loire valley vineyards with temperatures dropping well below zero on both the 4th and 14th of April.

We spent the day with Diane, the American blogger of Oui in France. We met 10 years ago when she spent the day with us and we have remained in contact.

Growers are rushing to get pruning finished as buds are already bursting. Young vines were at the wooly bud stage about 10 days ago.

It can be tricky to find good restaurants in areas that receive a lot of tourists. It pays to leave the main tourist drag and explore the local villages.

The Chateau de Nazelles is a wonderful 16th century manor set amongst beautiful tranquil gardens, perched on the limestone hillside in the countryside.

Things are really taking shape here at le tasting room in the Loire valley. Our new home is semi-troglodytic (partially built into the rock face).

For two nights in August, the centre of Saumur becomes the biggest restaurant in the world as thousands gather for the annual celebration of Saumur Champigny and its wines over a delightful open air dinner on the banks of the river Loire.