Discover vineyards and food
Welcome to the most famous “Garden of France”! Touraine is a feast for your eyes and your taste buds, whether served on a plate or in a glass. Chefs, winegrowers, fishers, farmers and market gardeners love to share their unwavering commitment to the region’s ingredients and terroirs and revive the beloved Touraine tradition of eating and drinking well.
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Tourist route through the vineyards
Viti, Vini and enthusiasm guaranteed!
In the heart of the third largest wine-producing region in France, Touraine has around one hundred tourist cellars. Winery tours, oenology and tastings are some of the destination’s top attractions.
The subsoils, made up of white tuffeau chalk, calcareous-clay soil or “tufs”, produce ample, powerful wines. The dry whites are generally light and fresh, while the reds are light and fruity. Appellations such as Bourgueil, Chinon and Vouvray have long since spread beyond the country’s borders and are served in the top restaurants in the world. They reflect know-how and a genuine trademark specific to Touraine. You can count on passionate winemakers to help you discover the full range of wine produced. They think outside the box to personalise your immersion in vines and wines. For outdoor discoveries, attend “Vignes Vins Randos” on the first weekend in September. This wine tourism event offers walks in the appellation areas of the Loire Valley. Other options: follow the circular cycle routes through the vineyards, tour the immense troglodyte caves on an all-terrain segway, or why not put your minds to the test with Pierre and Bertrand Couly’s surprising escape game in Chinon, where you become a winegrower through a rather unusual interview...
An outstanding terroir makes for fantastic restaurants!
Tours is brimming with fantastic restaurants, most with two sittings per evening, giving you plenty of time to make the most of the paved pedestrian streets, characterful squares and green parks nestled in each neighbourhood, and the monuments lit up at nightfall. The restaurants offer universal, creative and accessible cuisine that fully respects the environment and ingredients. Located in the heart of the “Garden of France”, the chefs benefit from an inexhaustible network of producers and resources within forty kilometres. Naturally, menus feature local, seasonal ingredients with a focus on healthy raw materials.
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Ambroise VOREUX, La Cabane à Matelot restaurant
Gourmet tour
The Halles de Tours is an expression of what the rich terroirs of the Loire Valley have to offer: nearly forty traders (cheesemakers, greengrocers, bakers, wine merchants, caterers and more) make up this gastronomic heart of the Loire Valley’s capital. The market is open every day, even on Sunday and bank holiday mornings.
Head west to Bréhémont for “La Cabane à Matelot”. Romain Gadais, a professional Loire fisherman, supplies his catch of the day to Ambroise Voreux, an adventurous chef from Normandy at the restaurant La Cabane à Matelot.
This time, go east of Tours to Maxime Cottereau in Amboise. The fourth generation of this famous family of traditional charcuterie makers is updating their craft by revisiting recipes from bygone days and pairing them with organic wines to be enjoyed on site...
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Picnic on the boat
7 wines, 7 unusual places
Between late June and late September, the “7 tastings, 7 extraordinary locations” activities offer the chance to discover thecultural and food heritage of the Loire Valley. The programme features over 40 unusual events put on by the Touraine Tourist Offices. On the menu: discover flavours, local produce and exceptional products unearthed by specialists. These guided tastings take place in iconic or secret sites on water or land in Touraine. With monuments open specially and chances to meet the owners, prepare to be surprised!
