Blog
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – roasted guinea fowl
Guinea fowl (Pintade) is very popular in France. It has a slightly more gamey flavour than chicken but not quite as gamey as pheasant. It’s delicious!
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What’s on the cheeseboard this month? Valençay
Valençay is one of the most famous cheeses from the Loire valley. A goat’s cheese shaped like a truncated pyramid the story goes that …
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Good restaurants in and around Amboise – La Part Belle, Rochecorbon
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.
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The wisteria is coming out!
One of the signs of spring that we look out for is the beautiful wisteria that grows all over the Loire valley. It’s generally out in time for my birthday!
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Close to budburst here in Vouvray
Vines in the region are weeping as they come out of dormancy. Baby vines are already at the wooly bud stage but more established and older vines are not.
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Wine education – focus on the Vouvray appellation
It seems pertinent, having moved to a small village that falls within the geographical boundaries of the Vouvray appellation, to have a closer look.
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Salon des Vins de Loire – Jean-Francois Mérieau
It’s a while since we caught up with Jean-Francois Mérieau. We’re big fans of his wines and are really excited he’s now only half an hour away from us.
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Places to stay in and around Amboise
The Chateau de Nazelles is a wonderful 16th century manor set amongst beautiful tranquil gardens, perched on the limestone hillside in the countryside.
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Le Tasting Room gets in shape for the 2019 season
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).
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Technical wine and vineyard vocabulary demystified – clos
You’ll often see the word ‘clos’ mentioned on a wine label. A clos is a walled vineyard or a vineyard that used to be enclosed by walls (not always still standing).
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Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – saucisse de Morteau with flageolet beans
Saucesse de Morteau (a delicious smoked sausage) is a protected product which means it must meet the strict regulations that surround its production.
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Salon des vins de Loire – tasting with Mathieu Cosme
We were delighted to taste with Mathieu Cosme at the Salon. He’s based in our village and his vineyards are just a short stroll from our house in Noizay.
