Tagged with "Loire wine tours"

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.

Chateau Gaillard is a beautiful Renaissance chateau in the centre of Amboise that has been lovingly restored and has delightful gardens.

An easy recipe that I adapted slightly from Ottolenghi’s Simple. It’s great served at room temperature alongside a roasted chicken leg marinated in harissa and greek yoghurt.

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

Such a simple dessert and one that you are going to love (if you love the sharp tang of rhubarb). This easy summer recipe is a real winner.

A firm family favourite when the children were little, we toasted them and then slathered them with melted butter. A taste of the past.

Domaine Filliatreau is having a ‘portes ouvertes’ on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th. Pop in to taste good quality Saumur Champigny wines and I’m sure much more.

As we drive around the vineyards of Vouvray it’s easy to see who is respecting the environment and who is not.

Once again frost has struck the Loire valley. 2 nights ago growers lit the burners, turned on the aspersion and cranked up the hot air turbines.

This is a really delicious beetroot salad that comes from Ottolenghi’s book Simple.

Growers who choose not to use chemicals to control weeds underneath the vines ‘work’ the soil mechanically or occasionally use a horse.

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