New Wine Partner

For years we've had to say to clients that we can't offer them a wine tasting on Sundays. This is because the local winemakers don't see themselves as tourist attractions, and Sunday is their only day off. They tend to spend it with their families. We do use independent wine merchants too, but they are very small businesses and also close on Sundays rather than try to juggle staff time within a very small team.

Summer Jauneaud is waiting to welcome you to La Cave.

Happily, well known local winemaker and restaurateur Fréd Plou has acquired La Cave Amboise. This charming boutique is situated right opposite the exit to the Chateau Royal in Amboise -- and they are open on Sundays for tastings. So if you email us (or use our contact form) to get in touch with us and ask for a tour on a Sunday, we can round off the day just like any other tour, with a special tasting of local wines.

Maintaining Classic Electrics

Our clients often ask if it is difficult or expensive to maintain Célestine and Claudette, the classic Citroën Traction Avant cars that we use as tour vehicles. It's important that we keep on top of maintenance issues and late last year we realised that Célestine's electrics needed work. Luckily, we have a company who specialise in classic car electrics almost on our doorstep and so she was booked in recently for the necessary overhaul.

Baptiste from Classic Auto Elec explaining to Simon the work they've done.

If you would like to experience old fashioned touring in a classic car in the Loire Valley, please email us or use our contact form. We would be delighted to design a tour for you (and lift the bonnet to show you Célestine's lovely new electrics if that's what floats your boat!)

When Do You Eat Cheese in France?

In the Loire Valley most people eat some cheese every day. All the local cheeses are made from goats milk and that's what people will mostly eat, but they don't restrict themselves to just the local cheese. Hard mountain cheeses are popular, as are the stinky northern cheeses. Most restaurants offer a cheese course with a small selection of carefully chosen cheeses. Cheese is served, usually with a green salad and a glass of local red wine, and slices of baguette, after the main course and before dessert. It is never served with pre-dinner drinks.

The cheese course at a village community lunch.

If you love cheese and want to experience it the way the French serve it, email or use our contact form. and we will include a restaurant that offers a good cheese board in your tour.