Happy holidays

HAVING SPENT MANY happy weeks touring around this region, I would like to make a bid for the Loire as the best location for british wine lovers who want to take a holiday based around wine tasting. In addition to the wonderful range of wines, from gutsy reds to sparkling whites and everything in between, tasters can enjoy beautiful scenery, rich history and French culture – and it’s all within half a day’s drive of the Channel coast.

Travelling along the Loire river and into Touraine, you can sample wines from bigger producers like gratien & Meyer (try Cuvée Flamme sparkling), or visit small, family-run estates such as domaine des Champs Fleuris (try its sweet Coteaux de saumur). More adventurous tasters could also try the fairly new appellation saumur puy-notre-dame.

seek out the tarte aux vignerons from local patisseries, made from grapes in honour of winemakers. and stop off on the way back through normandy for cheese and Calvados. Tim Beech, Suffolk, UK