Loire Valley wine tours from Chinon are the perfect way to guarantee an exciting and unforgettable trip in the western part of France. Chinon is a small commune in the heart of the Loire Valley, France, known for its fantastic wine offerings, historical buildings, and more. Choosing a wine tour, wine tasting, or other wine-related excursion in Chinon will be sure to make your Loire Valley wine tour in France special.
Chinon is a French commune located in the Centre-Val de Loire region in the department of Indre-et-Loire. Chinon is an exceptional and renowned site, known as the home of French Humanist writer Rabelais. It’s also regarded as a place for good times - somewhere where one shares and celebrates with friends or family. Known as the “Garden of France”, Chinon played a significant and strategic role for French and English kings during the middle ages. In Chinon, there is no shortage of fun things to do for wine-lovers and all visitors alike.
Chinon offers a wide array of wine types and is known for its wines, castles, and quaint historic main town. This city’s part of the Loire Valley has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since the year of 2000.
Winalist’s collection of winemakers, vineyards, cellars, and other wine-related activities in Chinon are both expansive and diverse.
If you’re visiting Chinon and want to plan the best wine experience possible, WInalist can help. We have curated a list of the absolute best Chinon wine tours, tastings, and wine-related experiences for you to choose from. Whether you desire a full-day, half-day, or hour-long wine tour in Chinon, Winalist can help you.
Chinon wine highlights
- Small town with vineyards, caves, and historic buildings.
- Great town to start your Loire Valley wine tour in.
- Accessible from Paris and other major cities in France.
What to do in Chinon, France & Chinon Attractions
The town of Chinon, a historic town classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, knows how to welcome wine lovers and professionals. This town is renowned for its quality red, rosé and white wines. Chinon is the ideal place for cellar visits, wine tastings, walks in the vineyard, oenological workshop. You can book your experience now on Winalist with one of our partnered hosts.
Chinon is known and recognized, both by wine amateurs and connoisseurs, for its eponymous beverage, the renowned AOC. Wine production in the Chinon vineyard is divided into three: 85% is devoted to red wine, 13% to rosé wine and 2% to white wine.
We find three different grape varieties: Cabernet Franc (minimum 90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (maximum 10%) for red and rosé wines. As for the whites, the grape variety is 100% Chenin.
During your visit or weekend in the city, don’t miss the Royal Fortress of Chinon, which is an 11th century royal castle that also serves as a museum. Pass in front of the Sainte-Radegonde Chapel which is a semi-troglodyte building on the Sainte-Radegonde hillside, to the east of the historic town center of Chinon.
The cultivation of vines dates back to Roman times in Chinon, but it was around the abbey of Bourgueil, founded in 990, that its first vineyard really developed. The Breton grape variety (Cabernet Franc) appeared in the area of Chinon in 1152, thanks to the political union of Anjou and Aquitaine.
It’s also a good idea to take a walk in this city, which has been recognized as a "City of Art and History" since 2000. Indeed, its narrow streets, its tufa mansions, and its half-timbered houses bear witness to its history.
The activities offered by our partner winegrowers in Chinon are ideal for discovering the region's wines. Find a visit followed by a tasting in Chinon with a few clicks. There are visit and tasting activities at all prices and for all tastes in the Loire Valley. Also consult the opinions of wine tourists who trust us every day to help you choose your activities.
Chinon is around three hours from Paris and accessible by car, train, and shuttle.