What do you
think of when you imagine visiting France? If, along with the glorious food and scenery, it’s the splendid wines of the
Loire Valley that come to mind, you’re in for a treat.
Since 2016, Chateau
Chenonceau has hosted an evening’s wine tasting each summer in the Chateau and
its manicured gardens, and the best news? There are lots of wines to try, and
it’s open to all.
What better way
to decide which Loire Valley vintage is your favourite than by trying them all?
The producers of the Touraine Chenonceaux wines come together each year at the
‘Degustation sous les etoiles’ (Wine tasting beneath the stars), held mid-July
at Chateau Chenonceau.
What to expect
Producers set
up their pitches under individual white canopies outside the Chateau, and some
in the Gallery of the Chateau itself. Most offer both red and white wines, some
offer organic wines, and others also offer locally made baguette slices and
bottles of water, in case you need to pace yourself!
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| Wine producer tents outside Chateau Cehnonceau, Loire, Valley, France |
Inside the
Chateau
The only room
open to visit in the Chateau during the evening event is the Gallery, rather
appropriately, since Catherine de Medici renovated it in the 1500s to be the
ultimate venue for glorious Royal parties. Visitors are not able to combine the
tasting evening with a thorough tour of the other rooms (probably wise given
some of the lethal staircases and historic artwork…)
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| Wine tasting in the Gallery of Chateau Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France |
The gardens at night
Outside, the
manicured gardens stretch elaborately either side of the Chateau. Diane’s
Garden, named after Diane de Poitier, King Henry II’s mistress, and to whom he
gave Chateau Chenonceau in the mid 1500s (that must have irked his wife
Catherine), is the larger of the manicured gardens and stretches east along the
riverfront. Catherine’s Garden is the more intimate garden stretching west from
the Chateau. Classical music plays in Catherine’s Garden during the
wine-tasting evening, setting a magical scene.
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| Chateau Chenonceau, view from Diane's Gardens, Loire Valley, France |
What does it
cost?
The evening has
a special entry fee of €6 and you need to buy a ticket from one of the machines
by the entrance. Just inside the grounds there is a tent offering ‘degustation’
glasses for a €2 deposit. They are marked with an image of the Chateau and the
words ‘Degustation sous les etoiles,’ and make a nice souvenir, so I suspect
most of the deposits don’t get reclaimed.
The experience
For just €6 entry
fee, visitors can taste as many of the different wines as they wish, while also
enjoying a magical evening visit to the Chateau, which is beautifully
illuminated at night, and it’s manicured gardens in which the delicate scent of
roses and beautiful classical music hang in the still summer evening air. For
the ultimate Loire Valley wine-tasting experience, Chateau Chenonceau’s annual
‘Degustation sous les etoiles’ is not to be missed.
Handy info
What to wear –
the event does not require formal attire but I recommend comfy shoes as there
is little seating available and lots of uneven ground.
What to bring –
as little as possible, not only will you have to carry it all night, but
security conducts bag searches, and the less they need to search the better!
How to get
there – Many visitors to the Loire Valley hire a car to explore the region, but
you can also get trains to Chenonceau station from Tours and Paris.
Where to stay –
The closest accommodation options are in the village of Chenonceau, just behind
the train station, but other nearby options include Civray de Touraine and
Chisseaux.
