Vouvray & Touraine Wine Tours from Tours and Amboise
Vouvray and Touraine wine tours from Tours and Amboise: Chenin Blanc in tuffeau caves, Chinon Cabernet Franc, half-day tastings, and how to book.
The short version: if you are staying in Tours or Amboise, the best Loire wine experience is a half-day tour into Vouvray and the Touraine. Vouvray makes only white wine, all from Chenin Blanc, from crisp and dry to sweet and sparkling, aged in cool caves carved into the soft tuffeau limestone. Add Chinon or Bourgueil for Cabernet Franc reds and Montlouis across the river. Here is what to taste and how to book.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon, Bourgueil, Amboise |
| Vouvray | White only: Chenin Blanc, from sec to moelleux, plus sparkling |
| Reds | Cabernet Franc from Chinon and Bourgueil |
| Cellars | Troglodyte caves carved in tuffeau limestone |
| Format | Half-day (about 4.5 hours) from Tours, or full day with lunch |
Vouvray and Chenin Blanc
Vouvray, just east of Tours, is all about Chenin Blanc, a grape that can be steely and dry (sec), lightly off-dry (demi-sec), lusciously sweet (moelleux) or sparkling (fines bulles). Producers age their wines in caves dug into the tuffeau, the pale limestone the chateaux are built from, and many tastings happen deep inside them. Across the Loire, Montlouis makes similar Chenin, often a touch more affordable.
Chinon, Bourgueil and Amboise
For reds, head west to Chinon and Bourgueil, where Cabernet Franc makes fragrant, food-friendly wines. Around Amboise, small cellars offer tastings close to the chateau. Bring a jacket: the caves stay cool all year. For the chateaux side, see Loire Valley wine tours.
Our pick: the From Tours: Afternoon Loire Valley Wine Tour to Vouvray visits two Vouvray wineries to meet the producers, with a guided tasting class.
Compare all the regions: the best wine tours in France.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vouvray red or white?
White only. Vouvray is made from Chenin Blanc, in styles from dry to sweet and sparkling.
Can you visit Vouvray from Tours?
Yes, Vouvray is about 15 minutes from Tours; half-day tours visit two wineries with tastings.
What are tuffeau caves?
Cellars carved into the soft local limestone, which keep wine at a cool, steady temperature; many Vouvray tastings take place inside them.
Book a Touraine wine tour
Compare Tours and Amboise wine tours, or the Loire chateaux and wine day trips.
