Wine Gourmet France

Day 1

Sparkling welcome to Bumblebee Manor

After a 200-mph train journey on the TGV from Paris, you will be picked up at Angers and taken to your private self-contained cottage at Bumblebee Manor in Saint Macaire du Bois, your French village for the week.

A glass of bubbles awaits along with a briefing on the week ahead.  You will enjoy a 4 course dinner with wine in your cottage so you can relax and unwind at your own pace.

 Day 2

Loire sampler wine tour

Continental breakfast in your cottage then we meet in the wine room with Martin for a primer on the wines of the Loire Valley, how to taste wine and unravelling the mystique of food pairings.  Your wine tour gives you privileged access at several local vineyards and a chance to taste a variety of 20+ wines using your new-found skills.  Lunch is provided at a local restaurant with wine of course!
Back to the manor house for a relaxed BBQ in the garden.

Day 3

Castle visit with wine tasting

Magical Riverside Dinner

Ride to the boulangerie with Sue to get the breakfast pastries for a late breakfast and relaxing morning. 
After a light lunch in the garden we are off to the local 15th century castle Brézé, which conceals the largest underground fortress in Europe beneath its stone foundations. You will have the chance to explore the chateau and maze of moats, tunnels and fortifications beneath. Next is a wine tasting, where you can decide for yourself whether you agree with Chateau Brézé that they should have their own appellation.

Dinner is at a magical riverside restaurant in a nearby village that serves locally sourced, organic produce. 
*Restaurant wine extra

Day 4

Exceptional whites
wine tour

Explore the famed wine region of Savenierres, one of France’s most revered appellations that the legendary food critic Curnonsky declared ”one of the five great white wines of France”.  Enjoy a picnic lunch amongst the vines.
Return to the manoir late afternoon and spend a quiet evening in with a prepared dinner in your cottage.

Day 5

Free day

Troglodyte dining experience

A picnic lunch will be delivered to your cottage in the morning so that you can spend your day as you please, maybe visit a local attraction, do an individual activity, or just relax by the pool.
Dress warmly for your evening meal as you will be descending into a troglodyte cave to eat a traditional meal of stuffed mushrooms and fouets cooked in a wood fired oven.
*Activities extra

Day 6

Rich reds wine tour

Focus on the Loire Valley’s best reds in a visit to the town of Chinon with its renowned vineyards and fortress.  A simple lunch in the old town is a charming treat.
On your return your meal will be delivered to your cottage for a quiet evening in.

Day 7

Wine and food pairing
challenge

Visit Saumur

Degustation dinner in the manor dining room

Today you will put into practice everything you have learned this week with our wine challenge! Breakfast together on the manoir terrace where Sue will give you the details of a dinner course, then you will be dropped off in Saumur where you are to find a bottle of Loire Valley wine to go with it. You’ll have complete discretion as to where you shop, whether you have help, and how much you want to spend.  This is also your time to explore Saumur, the castle, the sparkling wine caves, Combier distillery or maybe get out on the Loire River.
Upon your return to the manor house, we will dine in the formal dining room with the family china and fine crystal glasses. Our five-course gourmet meal will be prepared by Sue in the classical French Bourgeois style and accompanied with your wine challenge pairing. We all hope you chose well!
*Wine purchase and activities in Saumur extra.  A packed lunch is available on request.

Day 8

Champagne Farewell

A champagne breakfast will be served in the dining room to give us a chance to reminisce about our week together experiencing this unique part of France. You will be dropped back to Angers to pick up the TGV to take you home, or maybe to your next adventure. We won’t say “au-revoir, goodbye” but “à bientôt, see you again soon”.