Loire Valley /Centre Wines

The gothic cathedral of St Etienne at Bourges (18 Cher, Centre) is one of the most impressive in France, surrounded by the medieval streets of the old town. Imagine the sight of this magnificent and imposing edifice compared to the modest premises of the local populace, it would inspire awe and wonder. Today it remains impressive, with immense flying buttresses and sheer bulk and beauty enough to justify its designation as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites:-

The Cathedral of St Etienne of Bourges, built between the late 12th and late 13th centuries, is one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art and is admired for its proportions and the unity of its design. The tympanum, sculptures and stained-glass windows are particularly striking. Apart from the beauty of the architecture, it attests to the power of Christianity in medieval France.

As an extra bonus, the Cathedral is illuminated as night as part of Les Nuits Lumière de Bourges

ievery Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in July, August and September 2009 from dusk.

Additionally on Fridays 3  July 2009, 29 August 2009 and 18 September 2009 locals will be in costume, and on Fridays 17,24 and 31 July 2009, 7 and 14 August 2009 there will also be the opportunity to taste the wines of the region (Vins du Centre, which includes Sancerre, Quincy, Reuilly, Menetou-Salon, Poully-Fumé, Coteaux du Giennois and Chateaumeillant AC)

More info on Bourges

More info on the wines of Centre

Sunday 26 July 2009 sees the annual Fete des Vins at Bonny-sur-Loire.(45 Loiret, Centre), Although close to both Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire, the wines here are from the Coteaux Giennois (from near the town of Gien on the Loire) - whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin, reds from Pinot Noir and Gamay. Chenin Blanc is the typical white grape variety in the Loire Valley wines - especially in the main section of the river - Bonny is on the cusp between the dominance of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon from up-river vineyards such as Sancerre.
Although they lack the finesse of their more famous neighbours, they are good little wines and represent good value.
See map

For more info see www.vins-centre-loire.com

On  July 04, 2009 there is music in the cellars of Sancerre in the Centre region - high up the Loire Valley and the source of some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in France, made from the chalky soils of the region. A small amount of red wine is made from Pinot Noir.

On 15 August 2009 the village of Pouilly-sur-Loire (58 Nievre, Bourgogne), best known for its crisp Sauvignon Blanc Pouilly-Fumé wines, celebrates its wine festival on the banks of the Loire river.

When gathered, the grape is covered by a grey dusty bloom like smokey ashes from the fire. When the grape picker throws the grape into the basket, a cloud of microscopic spores is released, looking like smoke. It is also true that the grape is covered with tiny black dots, making it look “smokey”

It is important not to confuse Pouilly-Fumé (Loire Sauvignon) with Pouilly-Fuissé which is made from Chardonnay in southern Burgundy - or the local Poully-sur-Loire which is made from the Chasselas grape.

For more info see www.ot-pouillysurloire.fr

Now that does sound like fun - although maybe a little scary until you are confident on the machine - hire a Segway for a tour of the parts of the Loire Valley

“The Segway PT (Personal Transporter) is unique! Each machine is a self-balancing electric transportation device. Teamed up with two computers, gyroscopes automatically respond to your body’s movements, «sensing» when it should speed up and slow down in order to keep you in balance while moving up to 12mph!
Only 5 minutes to master - Learning to use a segway is a magical experience and comes naturaly. It is the first time we get carried by a machine which seems to move by itself.

Currently on offer in the towns of Loches  (the royal housing, trave around the Bachelet park at the bottom of the majestic donjon and meander around the paved alleyways of the citadel. ), Amboise (from Amboise castle to the famous Clos Luce manor house, where Leonardo Da Vinci once lived …the heights of the city to the panoramic view of the Loire) and Tours ( the majestic cathedral, the royal castle and the old Wilson bridge.)-

For more info Tel: 02 47 30 95 35 (in France) see  www.freemove.fr

There are also Segway Tours in Paris - see  http://citysegwaytours.com

Fete des Plantes

A timely reminder from Colin Elliott, who runs a French Garden design company at Chabris (36 Indre, Centre) who will be exhibiting at the Garden Festival (Fete des Plantes) at the Chateau de la Ferte St Aubin from 1-3 May 2009.

For more info see www.chateau-ferte-st-aubin.com

la Ferte St Aubin is situated south of Orleans on the N20, just west of the Sologne (an area of wild natural beauty, and a few kilometre north of Lamotte Beuvron, birthplace of the Tarte Tatin!

To the west you will find the wine appellations of Touraine where Isabelle and Noe Roubillaud runs Domaine Octavie iand Cour- Cheverny AC where Michel Gendrier runs Domaine des Huards.