Châteaux and Natural Wine in the Loire Valley

Getting There

From Paris, it’s a 2½-hour drive to Tours, in the heart of the Loire Valley, and two more hours to Sancerre.

Stay

Relais de Chambord The facade of this elegant 55-room hotel echoes the slate-roofed towers of the Château de Chambord, just a short walk away. A guided tour of the château is a highlight, but the Relais also offers a spa with sauna, hammam, and outdoor whirlpool as well as guided tours of the surrounding nature reserve. Doubles from

`15,690; relaisde chambord.com

Hôtel Château du Grand-Lucé

Though this gorgeous Neoclassical château, built between 1760 and 1764, occupies more than 4,180 square metres, there are only 17 (extremely luxurious) guest rooms. Each features original oak floors, archival-fabric wall coverings, and bathroom amenities from cult French beauty brand Buly 1803. Doubles from `52,675; chateau grandluce.com

Château du Rivau

Built during the 15th century, Rivau has undergone years of renovation, starting in the late 1990s. Walk through the fragrant rose gardens, and spot the white peacocks that live in the inner courtyard (kids may prefer the property’s many fairy-tale-themed gardens). Doubles from `20,260; chateaudurivau.com

Eat

Momento

Chef Mariana Mateos’s menu makes the best of Sancerre’s abundant products— cheese, wild herbs, lamb from local farms— while drawing in a few influences from Italy as well. Thomas Jacquet’s wine list is impressively extensive. Entrées `2,060–`4,570; fb.com/ momento.sancerre

Wineries

La Grange Tiphaine Damien and Coralie Delecheneau, the charming owners of La Grange Tiphaine, keep to a lowintervention philosophy for their Montlouis and Touraine wines. Book a visit in advance to taste their Côt Vieilles Vignes, a stunning Malbec made with grapes from centuryold vines.

Domaine Delaporte Delaporte, which makes some of Sancerre’s best wines, has a small tasting room in the tiny village of Chavignol.

Domaine Huet

Book ahead to visit this legendary Vouvray property. Tastings cover the range of Huet wines, sparkling and still, dry to sweet, along with an older vintage. In-depth cellar tours can also be arranged.