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You are here: Home / Travel / Europe / France / Loire Valley Trip

Loire Valley Trip

July 11, 2012 by Fiona Maclean 2 Comments

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Vines, Wines and Yet More Food!

rilletes de poisson at La Croisette

We started the afternoon of the second day of our Press Trip in the Loire with a great lunch at La Croisette overlooking the river.  The food here was not as spectacular as some of our other meals but it was a delight to sample the local pike in beurre blanc and rilletes of fish rather than meat.  And, for a relaxed lunch it was a lovely peaceful setting.

la Croisette, pike in beurre blanc

Then on to another vineyard, Domaine de Bablut which looks like a sleepy little farm.  But, as early as 1546, the Daviau family owned windmills and a vineyard in the hills of the Aubance.

domaine de bablut

Today they produce a wide range of organic wines including Anjou Villages Brissac, Coteaux de l’Aubance, sparkling roses, petra alba and roca nigra named for the terroir on which the vines are cultivated.  For me the charm of this vineyard was partly in the history.  The Domaine means ‘two mills’ in French and until the 19th century the Daviau family were millers as well as wine makers.  Today, the old mill houses some of the wine making equipment and caves together with a tasting room.

domaine de bablut

After our meeting and wine tasting with Christophe Daviau we went on to Chateau de Brissac, a stunning historic chateau, still home to the Marquis Charles Andre de Brissac, his wife and children, but open to the public for tours.

chateau de brissac

In fact, although at first glance everything looks perfect, the façade is half finished and has been that way since the death of Charles II de Cosse, who started some modernisation of the building, in principle to create a perfect symmetry.  In the words of the guide ‘a new castle partially built in an old castle partially destroyed’.  Well, to be honest it still looks pretty splendid!

fireplace chateau de brissac

Inside, the rooms are grand and exactly what you imagine a French Chateau should be like.  If you want a little self-indulgence, then you can stay in one of the four guest rooms in a splendid four poster bed. Apparently the Chateau books a number of visitors each year.

banqueting hall, chateau de brissac

My personal favourite was the dining hall with minstrel’s gallery, resplendent with the hunting trophies of one of the previous inhabitants, Anne de Moremart, who also was the first woman in France to get her driving licence…and then the first to be fined for speeding.  Her portrait is in the gallery along with a large portrait of the world famous Veuve Clicquot!wine cellar chateau de brissac

 

The chateau caves house a tasting room and stocks of wines produced on the estate.

domaine de la tuffiere

Our final trip the following day was to Domain de la Tuffiere.  Another family venture, but with quite a recent heritage, although the vineyards have been there since the fourteenth century, it wasn’t until 1972 when Daniele and Jean-Claude Coignard took running the estate, eventually becoming the owners in 1989.  Now it’s run by their son and daughter and their respective partners.

domaine de la tuffiere vineyard

We were treated to a variety of the wines and a picnic of local produce including some fabulous cold meats, cheeses and cherries!  And then back to the airport

domaine de la tuffiere picnic

 

domaine de la tuffiere picnic meats

 

domaine de la tuffiere cherries

Filed Under: France, Travel Tagged With: Loire Valley, wine, Wine Tasting

Comments

  1. Janice says

    July 11, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    Oh that looks beautiful, when you you move in? ha ha

    Reply
    • Fiona Maclean says

      July 11, 2012 at 11:23 pm

      I take it you mean the rather nice chateau???

      Reply

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