Loire Valley is one of France’s best known wine regions, but not for red or white wines. Instead, the region is known for its plethora of sparkling wine vineyards. If you love the bubbly stuff, then this will be a region you want to visit for a few days.
History
The region spans roughly 170 miles, right in the middle of the Loire River. Along with the vineyards, many of the towns date back to the 10th century. In the cliffs around the town of Saumur, many troglodytes lived in the caves and there is a museum dedicated to their history.
Vineyards
Obviously, you cannot visit Loire Valley without a stay at a chateau and tours of the many vineyards. Bouvet Ladubay had been making sparkling wines with the champagne method since 1851. This winery features underground tunnels, a vast array of sparkling wines to try, and daily guided tours of their hidden sculpture collection.
Le Domaine des Vallettes is another vineyard with a long history. The vineyard has been owned by wight generations of one family and continues to produce some very fine vintages. If you are a fan of sparkling rose, then you have to do a tour of this vineyard.