Vignobles en Scène

Fascinating Weekend becomes Vignobles en Scène

Vignobles en Scène is France’s must-see wine tourism event, inspired by European Heritage Days. Every third weekend in October, destinations with the Vignobles & Découvertes label invite you to enjoy an immersive and accessible experience in the heart of the vineyards. Tastings, walks, shows, and encounters await you to celebrate the richness of French terroirs, combining culture, heritage, and sensory pleasures.

A series of activities divided into three themes: taste, creativity, and immersion.

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.

Domaine de la Raderie  in Chahaignes (Jasnières et Coteaux du Loir)
Domaine de la Charrière in La Chartre-sur-le Loir (Jasnières et Coteaux du Loir)
Domaine de Cézin in Marçon (Jasnières et Coteaux du Loir)
Domaine Lelais in Ruillé sur Loir (Jasnières et Coteaux du Loir)

Domaine de la Roche Bleue in Marçon (Jasnières et 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)
Cave de la Bertholière in Villiers-sur-Loir (Coteaux du Vendômois)
Cave des vignerons vendômois in Villiers-sur-Loir (Coteaux du Vendômois)

Events on offer in the Vendôme area

Theatrical wine tasting – ‘A glass of your own’

Saturday 17 October – 6.00 pm: Cave coopérative (60 avenue du Petit Thouars – 41100 Villiers-sur-Loir)

Sunday 18 October – 6.00 pm: Les Caves aux Caux (33 Rue de la Cave Aux Caux – 41100 Thoré-la-Rochette)

In a cosy atmosphere, accompanied by a pianist, an oenologist welcomes you and guides you through the world of flavours. The wine-tasting session begins. She talks about grape varieties, colours, ‘caudalies’ and other citrusy aromas. Everything could be proceeding as usual, but then the mask slips. The sophisticated oenologist transforms into a down-to-earth winegrower, outspoken and unpretentious. She opens the doors to her world: a world of hard work but also of simple, accessible pleasures of wine, available to everyone. She challenges the language of the initiated, its codes and its often very masculine imagery, and what lies beneath. Presented as a wine tasting, ‘Un verre à soi’ subverts conventions with elegance and humour.
Get ready for a few whiffs of invisible rebellion during a convivial and joyful aperitif. Cheers!

Prices: €2 to €17

Performance presented by l’Hectare – Territoire Vendômois

Tel. 02 54 89 44 00

Paintings and Sculptures Exhibition

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, 10.00–19.00

Extending from our farmhouse nestled against the hillside, we are offering a unique tour of the barns that have been converted into studios. There, I create sculptures from discarded items originally used in farming and wine-making. On display will be paintings on the theme of vines and wine by our friend Antoine Allopeau. In partnership with the Cave du Vendômois, of which I was a member, visitors will be able to taste wines from the Coteaux du Vendômois and, if they wish, take some bottles home with them.

Admission: free

19 rue du Coudray – 41100 Villiers-sur-Loir

Tel. 02 54 72 90 81

L’alliance des Terroirs – Food and Wine Pairings

Saturday 17 October at 6.30 pm at the Château de Vendôme (rue du Château – 41100 Vendôme)

Immerse yourself in a refined sensory experience where the exceptional wines of Domaine Colin (AOC Coteaux du Vendômois wines) are paired with gourmet, locally sourced dishes by chef Pascal Brindeau (De ma cuisine).

In the intimate setting of the Pavillon at the Château de Vendôme, Loir Découvertes invites you to an evening of food and wine pairings, combining elegance and conviviality, in partnership with the Château de Vendôme association.

Price: €25 per person

Information and bookings: 06 12 45 31 05 – [email protected]

Guided cycle tour through vineyards, art and heritage

Saturday 17 October at 2.00 pm – Starting point: Château de Vendôme Park

Come and discover the AOC Coteaux du Vendômois vineyards on a cycle tour organised by Loisirs Découvertes. Let us guide you and be amazed by the beauty of the Loir Valley’s wine-growing landscapes, whilst enjoying exclusive access to heritage sites and artists’ studios usually closed to the public – not to mention a gourmet tasting (afternoon tea) halfway through the tour in an elegant white stone (tuffeau) mansion.

Prices:

€19 per person – Price includes the guided tour, visits and the gourmet tasting halfway through the route.

Option: electric bike hire: €25.

Rue du Château – 41100 Vendôme

Information and bookings: 06 12 45 31 05 – [email protected]

Wine Estates and Music

Sunday 18 October at 3.00 pm at the Musikenfête Museum

After discovering the 500 musical instruments from around the world during a guided tour of the Museum of World Music, enjoy a wine tasting of Coteaux du Vendômois accompanied by music.

Price: €10 (tour + tasting)

Marescot district – 41800 Montoire-sur-le Loir

Tel. 02 54 85 28 95