Something else for the weekend

CELEBRATE THE WINES AND GASTRONOMY OF 

THE LOIRE VALLEY

VITILOIRE 2016 ,TOURS 28th & 29th MAY

http://vitiloire.tours.fr/

Saturday from 10h to 19h - Sunday from 10h to 18h 

place de la Gare - Boulevard Heurteloup - Garden Prefecture

Nearly 150 winemakers descend on Tours, in the heart of one of France's greatest wine regions, for the weekend.

On Boulevard Heurteloup , Station Square and in the garden of the Prefecture, you are invited to discover the diversity and richness of the Loire wines represented by 70 AOC. 

There is also a market and gourmet village  dedicated to the gastronomy of Touraine .

Whether you are experts or amateurs, come and relax, share, discuss, enjoy our wines - 

Check out our blog-post on last year's event here

Awash with wine...

Went up to Tours yesterday to visit 'VitiLoire' where over 150 local producers were allowing you to sample their wares. Their tasting booths were set up right in the city centre, on the Boulevard Heurteloup , Station Square and in the garden of the Prefecture.

You paid €5.00 for your tasting glass and off you went...

we tried to be discriminate about choosing which wines we tasted, going for some Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé  as we have another road-trip planned for there later this month.

We also selected some nearer home so as we might pop in as we drive around the region.

We had 'lunch' from one of the stands within the 'gourmet village' dedicated to the gastronomy of Touraine. 

As we made our way through the booths we noticed that there was a great variety of 'tasters'. The guy above being part of a ' stag' weekend no doubt...either that or his partner had sampled one too many!

There were also the lucky people who had obviously just arrived at Tours' station (luggage gave them away) to be met by the sight of  hundreds of opportunities to get an early introduction to the diversity of the great wines of our region. We wondered also if you bought the glass on the Saturday did it cover you for the two days...or maybe they changed the colour of the writing...on talking to a charming local who actually lived on Boulevard Heurteloup he dispelled any thoughts of any 'control' showing us the glass he was using from two years ago! Said he pops down for his aperitif to the largest cellar in the region when it rolls into town...I liked him!

For ease of access we headed up to the end of the tramline (Vaucanson) at the airport from where we were taken straight into the heart of the city  and back for €2.70 return.

Something for the weekend here in the Loire Valley...

Spoilt for choice this weekend...

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 31^st May

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Brocante  **

BEAULIEU LES LOCHES  Brocante **

BLERE  Brocante  **

CIVRAY DE TOURAINE  Brocante vide-greniers **

CORMERY   Exchange toys, clothing and childcare articles

DESCARTES  Brocante, vide grenier **

LUYNES  Vide-greniers **

MONTBAZON  Brocante vide grenier ****

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

POUZAY  Vide greniers *

RIGNY USSE  Vide-greniers ?

RILLY SUR VIENNE  Vide-greniers ?

SACHE  Vide grenier fete de la moto **

SAINT CHRISTOPHE SUR LE NAIS  Vide grenier **

SAUNAY  Vide-greniers**

SAVIGNY EN VERON  Bourse d'échanges et vide grteniers **

TOURS  Vide-greniers Place Beaujardin

TOURS  Vide-greniers de Tours nord - Rue des Douets **

VILLANDRY  Vide-greniers **

There is also the popular 'Festival of Roses' at Chédigny...more here

Plus the wine fair in Tours...more here