Archives

Loire Insider’s Private Wine Tour

An exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey into the heart of the Loire Valley’s wine country. Designed for true wine lovers, this private experience (for just 1–4 people) offers unparalleled access to some of the Loire’s most interesting wineries, guided by seasoned English wine professionals. Bookings for 2026 are now open. Please email nigel@letastingroom.com for more information or to secure a tour. 

Collection from and drop-off back to your accommodation within a 30 minute radius of our Tasting Room in Noizay or from the TGV station at St Pierre des Corps (just outside Tours).

Highlights

A private experience just for you and your group (1-4 people) led by English wine professionals with deep industry expertise. Tastings spread throughout the day. Lunch in our unique troglodyte home in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards. Artisan cheeses, charcuterie, home-made fresh salads and dessert accompanied by wines from further afield in the Loire.

What’s Included?

✅ Pick-up from your accommodation and private transportation between locations
✅ Exclusive tastings at three wineries throughout the day
✅ Vineyard visit 
✅ Lunch featuring premium French cheeses, charcuterie, home-made salads, and dessert
✅ Wine insights from English wine professionals Cathy & Nigel Henton based in the Loire since 2006

The details

Your day unfolds at a relaxed pace, with visits to three hand-picked wineries spread throughout the day. You’ll taste exceptional wines and gain rare industry insights from your expert guides Cathy & Nigel Henton.  Midday, we welcome you to our troglodyte home in the heart of the Vouvray vineyards, where you’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch featuring a curated selection of France’s finest cheeses from Tours’ top supplier France Fromages, alongside charcuterie, home-made fresh salads, and a delicious dessert.

After lunch, we continue our journey, delving into the varied approaches to viticulture during a vineyard visit.

With pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation or the train station, it’s easy to join us—whether you’re staying in the region or coming down from Paris for the day.

This is not your average wine tour—this is an insider’s experience, crafted for those who seek deeper knowledge, exceptional wines, and exclusive access.

Book your private tour today and uncover the Loire like never before.

Availability & Booking

If you would like to make a reservation email nigel@letastingroom.com or call Cathy on 00 33 (0)6 77 91 44 60 and she’ll be more than happy to discuss your individual requirements. Payment is required in full at the time of booking.

Any tours cancelled on our part will be fully refunded.

Loire Wine Discovery Tour from Amboise

Our most popular Loire Wine Discovery day tour includes a comprehensive tasting and lunch in the comfort of our old winemaker’s home followed by a guided winery visit in the afternoon.

The tour starts from our home in Noizay, a tiny village in the heart of the Vouvray appellation 10 minutes from Amboise. Available as a day trip from Paris.

Bookings for 2026 are now open. For more information please email nigel@letastingroom.com

Highlights

Tasting a range of wines from all over the Loire valley, candlelit farm style 3 course lunch, chance to buy wine at cellar door prices, small groups of 2-6, opportunity to meet the producers.

What’s included?

Tutored tasting in English, 3 course home-cooked lunch, guided winery visit. English guides with 35 years experience in the wine trade.

Details

Make your way to our home in Noizay (just 10 minutes from Amboise) for a 10h00 start with coffee and biscuits.

Enjoy a tutored tasting of 6 wines reflecting the diversity of this great winemaking region in the comfort of our tasting room.  We run through the basics of tasting technique, discuss the geography of the region and unravel the mysteries of French wine labelling.

Relax in the garden with an aperitif before a delicious home-made 3 course lunch with wine.  Indulge in a selection of dishes creatively prepared using local ingredients sourced from our neighbouring potager, herbs from our garden and a selection of cheeses from a top quality supplier.

After lunch we drive to one of the many famous appellations and visit a winery where you’ll have the chance to taste a range of wines, stroll around the vineyards and buy wine at cellar door prices.

Availability & Booking

If you would like to make a reservation, please  email nigel@letastingroom.com or call us on 00 33 (0)2 47 96 50 86 and we will be more than happy to discuss your individual requirements. Payment is required in full at the time of booking.

Any tours cancelled on our part will be fully refunded.

 

Loire Wine Discovery Day Trips from Paris

Our most popular Loire wine day trip from Paris which gives a fascinating insight into the wines and winemakers of the Loire valley. The day includes a comprehensive tasting and lunch in the comfort of our old winemaker’s home close to Amboise followed by a guided winery visit in the afternoon.

Bookings for 2026 are now open. Please email nigel@letastingroom.com for more information or to reserve a tour. 

Highlights

Tasting a range of wines from all over the Loire valley, candlelit farm style lunch, chance to buy wine at cellar door prices, small groups of 2-6, opportunity to meet the producers.

What’s included?

Morning collection from St Pierre des Corps TGV (just outside Tours), tutored tasting in English, 3 course home-cooked lunch, guided winery visit, delivery back to the TGV at the end of the day.

What’s not included?

The cost of your train tickets from Paris.  Book using www.sncf.com for the best prices and choice of trains. (Ask Cathy if you need assistance)

Details

All tours start in Noizay just 10 minutes from the beautiful town of Amboise and 20 minutes from the lovely city of Tours.

Enjoy a tutored tasting of 6 wines reflecting the diversity of this great winemaking region in the comfort of our  tasting room.  Cathy will run through the basics of tasting technique, discuss the geography of the region and unravel the mysteries of French wine labeling.

Unwind in the garden with an aperitif before a delicious home-made 3 course lunch with wine.  Indulge in a selection of dishes creatively prepared using local ingredients sourced from our neighbouring potager, herbs from our garden, and a top quality cheeseboard sourced from Loire valley based fromager Pascal Beillevaire who has shops in Paris and London.

After lunch we drive to one of the many famous appellations and visit a winery where you’ll have the chance to taste a range of wines, stroll around the vineyards and buy wine at cellar door prices.

Availability & Booking

Please check the on-line calendar for availability and email nigel@letastingroom.com.  Any cancellations on our part will be fully refunded.

Book Now

French Cheese & Loire Wine Discovery

Do you love cheese and wine? This tour, only available on Sundays will tell you all you need to know. During the morning you’ll learn about the different types of French cheese, how to put together a classic French cheeseboard, how to cut the different  cheeses correctly and how to pair them with wines that complement them perfectly.

The tour starts from Le Tasting Room in Noizay, a small village in the heart of the Vouvray wine producing area of the Loire just 10 minutes from Amboise.

Bookings for 2026 are now open. Please email nigel@letastingroom.com for more information or to book a tour. 

Highlights

A comprehensive introduction and tasting of French cheeses. Learning how to put together a delicious balanced cheeseboard. Introduction to the wines of the Loire valley. Food and wine pairing.

What’s Included?

Coffee or tea and biscuits. Introduction to French cheese and how to put together a classic French cheeseboard. Tasting of a selection of French cheeses. Introduction to the wines of the Loire valley. Tasting of a range of wines from the Loire. A delicious home cooked  lunch (main course and dessert prepared by Cathy and Nigel) served in their delightful troglodyte home in the heart of the vineyard area.

Details

Make your way to our home in Noizay (just 10 minutes from Amboise) for a 10h00 start with coffee and biscuits.

Enjoy an introduction to French cheeses and Loire valley wines. You’ll learn about the different types of French cheese, how to put together a balanced cheeseboard and how to cut them correctly.  We’ll taste the cheeses as we go along and pair them with wines from the Loire valley that complement them.

Relax in the garden with an aperitif before a delicious home-made 3 course lunch with wine. Indulge in a selection of dishes creatively prepared using local ingredients sourced from our local markets and our garden.

The day finishes around 15h00 after our relaxed French style Sunday lunch.

Availability & Booking

Bookings made within 48 hours of the tour date will be subject to payment in full at the time of booking.  Any tour cancelled within 48 hours of the tour date will be subject to full payment.  Any cancellations on our part will be fully refunded.

Book Now

Small Group Private Chateau Wine Experience

We’re excited to offer this exclusive wine experience for groups of 8-12 people in collaboration with one of the most dynamic young domaines at its beautiful historic chateau in the Loire countryside. The domaine’s winemaking history dates back to 1508.

Bookings are now open for 2026. Please email nigel@letastingroom for more details or to secure a day. 

A whole day immersive experience in the beautiful home of the owners and winemakers and guided by experienced English wine professionals.

The tour takes place at the Chateau which is located in a beautiful village just 10 minutes from Amboise.

If you’re in the Loire valley with a small group of friends this is a wonderful immersive day that combines wine tasting, history, great food, art and of course, much laughter.

Highlights

Introduction to the wines of the Loire led by Cathy, aperitif in the beautiful salon of the chateau, 3 course home cooked lunch served in the fabulous dining room of the chateau, personal tour of the caves and winemaking facilities of the domaine, walk up into the vineyards

What’s included?

Coffee and biscuits, introduction to the wines of the Loire and a tutored tasting, 3 course home made lunch served with wines from the domaine, guided walk to the vineyards above the chateau, private tour around the caves and winery. English guides with 35 years in the wine industry in France and the UK,  hosted by the owners of the domaine.

Details

Make your way directly to the chateau for a 10h00 start with coffee and biscuits.

Enjoy an introduction to the wines of the Loire led by Cathy Henton DipWSET HND Viti Oeno. Cathy will show you a range of wines from all over the Loire valley and talk about grape varieties, farming methods and wine styles as well as unravelling the complexities of French wine labelling and production.

Move into the elegant salon for an aperitif. Relax with a glass of the domaine’s delightful sparkling Vouvray and a few canapés.

Across the hallway is the beautiful formal dining room of the chateau. Here you’ll enjoy a home cooked lunch prepared by Cathy, Nigel and Louisa, the owner of the chateau. Local and seasonal produce will be on the menu together with beautiful cheeses and carefully selected wines from the domaine to accompany each course.

After lunch we’ll walk up through the woods to the vineyards above the chateau. As you look over to the Royal Chateau of Amboise in the distance we’ll talk about how the domaine farms organically and why that’s so important.

A private tour of the many caves which house the winemaking, ageing, labelling and more concludes the day. You’ll also have the chance to buy the wines at cellar door prices and the estate can ship wines back to the USA.

Availability & Booking

This tour is a bespoke option that can’t be booked on-line. Please contact nigel@letastingroom.com for further details or to book a date.

The tour is open for groups of 8-12 people and a non-refundable deposit is taken to secure a booking. For smaller groups please enquire.

 

 

Le Tasting Room Gift Cards

Why not offer someone a Tasting Room gift card or treat yourself! You can purchase a day as a treat for someone in advance or choose any amount to offset against a wine tasting, tour or break.

Thinking about travelling in 2021? You might like to support a small business like ours by buying a gift card or certificate that can be redeemed against any of our tours or tastings.

We know that tourism will be slow to return but we know you will be back and we can’t wait to see you again.

Merry Christmas!