48 hours in Saumur, a land of wines

Centre-Val de Loire - Pays de la Loire/2023

Cradled by the Loire, which seems to impose its rhythm, sometimes nonchalant, sometimes spirited, Saumur is also an appellation d'origine contrôlée for whites and reds to be (re)discovered. A town whose terroirs you can explore and whose wines you can taste, following in the footsteps of Vignobles Edonis.

(Publirédactionnel) The river sets the tempo for the city. With its castle perched on a hillside, which has watched over the town for over a thousand years, Saumur seems to be living happily in the shade of its tall trees. Its location in the heart of the Loire Valley - a Unesco World Heritage site - makes it an ideal starting point for discovering the many activities on offer in the surrounding area, particularly vineyard tours. While Saumur is an important appellation d'origine contrôlée for sparkling white wines made from Chenin, as well as for reds produced mainly from Cabernet Franc, visitors will also discover some lesser-known still whites and rosés (without bubbles). In a small enclave on the left bank of the Loire, be sure to stop off at one of the many Saumur-Champigny wineries, whose wines are now enjoying a solid reputation, thanks to the impetus of a few enterprising winemakers, including Cave Robert et Marcel, which recently created the Vignobles Edonis brand of wine tourism experiences. The vineyards of the Saumur appellation cling to the white cliffs overlooking the river. You'll be carried away by the beauty of these sharp colors, deep greens and shades of chalk, more or less light and luminous. Limestone, in the form of a layer of chalk known as tuffeau blanc, is the main constituent of the soils here. Not only is this rock well-suited to vine-growing, it has also given the region its distinctive color, having been used in the construction of numerous châteaux and other historic monuments. The hand of man has transformed the landscape: the excavations left by the extraction of the rocks have been used for mushroom cultivation, wine conservation and to accommodate the population in the famous troglodytic houses, where the temperature is always cool. Perfect conditions in these times of global warming.

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Clos Cristal

The Clos Cristal estate is located in the Saumur-Champigny appellation and extends over 10 hectares surrounded by walls, hence the name Clos. It is unique in the world since its founder, Antoine Cristal, had the funny idea, in 1890, of growing vines through walls. Some of the vines grow through a hole dug in a wall built in the middle of the plots, with the vines planted on the north-facing side, thus keeping them cool, and the bunches of Cabernet Franc planted on the south-facing side, soaking up the sun. On site, an educational trail explains the history of this crop. A tasting of this famous red wine is included at the end of the tour. In summer, the "Déjeuners d'Antoine" (in honor of the founder's first name) are an invitation to share a picnic in the countryside, while concerts are organized among the vines.

Address 49400 SOUZAY-CHAMPIGNY

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Maison Edonis

Here's your chance to discover the famous tuffeau cellars. Visitors have to make their way through a tunnel to reach a winegrower's dwelling. The air is cool, and the temperature never exceeds 14°C. In this troglodytic house, adults and children move from room to room (vestibule, library, kitchen, patio, etc.), guided by local personalities portrayed by actors in video format. At each stop, visitors can experience a sensory tasting of 12 vintages representative of the Loire vineyards, accompanied by sound and images of the Loire landscape.

Address BELLEVIGNE-LES-CHÂTEAUX