"Fascinant week-end"

Fascinating weekend 2023

Created in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, this friendly event celebrates the terroirs and professionals with the Vignobles & Découvertes label who make French vineyards famous and excellent around the world.

After seven regional editions, the “Fascinant Weekend” event has been organized on a national scale since 2021.
No fewer than 8 major wine-growing regions and some 60 destinations with the Vignobles & Découvertes label are preparing to welcome visitors from October 19 to 22.
The program includes 600 events and activities organized in the heart of France’s vineyards.
With tastings, magnificent sites, iconic vineyards, unusual activities and passionate winegrowers, this is a wine tourism event not to be missed!

Welcome to the vineyards of the Vallée du Loir

For the “Fascinating Weekend”, we invite you to discover our 3 AOPs (Jasnières, Coteaux du Loir and Coteaux du Vendômois) on foot, by bike or by car:

– Get on your bike and set off along our small country roads in the heart of the “Jasnières” appellation. A relatively easy 16.5 km loop that takes you through the vineyards that produce this famous white wine.
And if you want to pedal without getting too tired, you can even try an electric-assist bike. It’s easy: you can rent one at the start of the tour at the La Chartre sur le Loir tourist office!

– take the “Vignobles & belles demeures” route.
On the Routes des Vins, this 54 km wine tour takes in Ruillé-sur-Loir, Poncé-sur-le-Loir and Chahaignes… An opportunity to taste Jasnières and Coteaux-du-Loir wines!

– hike along the signposted paths of our winegrowing towns and villages: Entre caves et coteaux in Chahaignes (9 km), Escapade autour du Jasnières in Lhomme (12 km), A travers le vignoble in Marçon (8 km), entre vignes et coteaux in Thoré-La-Rochette (12 km), Au coeur des Coteaux du Vendômois in Villiers-sur-Loir (12 km).

Meet our Vignobles & Découvertes winegrowers

From one hillside to the next, from one cellar to the next, from one estate to the next, meet these passionate men and women who will reveal (almost) all the secrets of our grape varieties, including the emblematic Pineau d’Aunis.

The Gigou family at La Chartre-sur-le Loir (Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir)
Domaine de Cézin in Marçon (Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir)
Domaine Lelais in Ruillé sur Loir (Jasnières and Coteaux du Loir)
Domaine de la Gaudetterie in Thoré-La-Rochette (Coteaux du Vendômois)
Domaine du Four à Chaux in Thoré-La-Rochette (Coteaux du Vendômois)
La Cave de la Bertholière in Villiers-sur-Loir (Coteaux du Vendômois)
La Cave des vignerons vendômois in Villiers-sur-Loir (Coteaux du Vendômois)

And some special events:

Saturday, October 21 & Sunday, October 22 in Montoire-sur-le Loir
A musical tasting at the Musikenfête museum

After a guided tour of this incredible museum-show, join us for a tasting of 2 or 3 Loir Valley wines (Domaine Martellière), accompanied by local produce (Le Trèfle goat’s cheese, rillettes…), limonaire music and Andean flutes with Massiko.
RV at 5pm (duration: 1h30)
8€/person 6€/children
Bookings T 02 54 85 28 95

Thursday 19th, Friday 20th & Saturday 21st October at Villiers-sur-Loir
A tractor ride through the vineyards

Stroll through the vineyards of Domaine de la Berthelotière aboard an old harvesting tractor, with a tasting break.
An intimate & unusual tour that will take you behind the scenes of a wine estate.
Departure at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (Duration: 1 hour)
10 €/person
Registration on 02 54 72 94 09

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd October, Villiers-sur-Loir, France
An unusual visit to the viti-sculptor’s workshop

Jean-Pierre RENARD’s workshop is located in the agricultural and winegrowing outbuildings of a farmhouse.
Here, you can discover his world and his creative process, based on worn parts and tools of agricultural and viticultural origin.
Free admission
10am to 12pm & 2pm to 7pm