Château du Petit Thouars wine tasting in Chinon

Vineyard walk, cave cellar, wine tasting with rilettes and artisanal cheese

A two-hour wine and food experience at Château du Petit Thouars in Chinon combines a guided vineyard tour, a visit to a historic troglodyte cave where the wines age, a view of the château's ground floor rooms, and a full tasting of Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines paired with French deli meats and artisanal cheeses in the dining room. The château has been in the same family since 1636. A live guide leads the experience in English, Spanish or French, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free accommodations are available.

The experience

The experience starts in the vineyard, where you learn how Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc grow in the Chinon terroir and what makes the region's winemaking practices distinct. From there you descend into a historic troglodyte cave (a natural limestone cellar carved into the hillside), where the château's wines age and where the winemaking techniques come into focus. After a walk through the ground floor rooms of the château itself, you move to the dining room for the tasting.

The wine tasting pairs the full range of the château's production with a selection of local specialties: French deli meats like rilettes and terrine, and a choice of two artisanal cheeses. Water is included throughout. The whole experience runs about two hours, and dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or other restrictions) are accommodated when you book.

What’s included

• Full tasting of Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines.
• French deli meats (rilettes and terrine).
• two artisanal cheeses.
• water.
• guided tour of the vineyard, troglodyte cave and ground floor rooms of the château.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Château du Petit Thouars - Loire Valley Wines

Is this one for you?This works best for small groups or couples who want to move at a relaxed pace through the vineyard and cellar, since the experience is built around conversation with the guide and time to linger over the wines and food in the dining room. A moderate level of fitness is needed for the vineyard and cave walks.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What wines do I taste at Château du Petit Thouars?

The tasting covers the château's full range of Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines, the two main varieties grown in the Chinon vineyard.

Can I visit the château itself, or just the vineyard?

You see the ground floor rooms of the château as part of the experience, after the vineyard and cave tour and before the tasting in the dining room.

What is the troglodyte cave?

A historic limestone cellar carved into the hillside where the château's wines age. You visit it during the tour to learn about the winemaking techniques used there.

Are vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, accommodations for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary restrictions are made when you book.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes, the minimum age is 16.