Sancerre & Pouilly Wine Tour: Goat Cheese Tasting

Market, Vineyard, Cellar: A Day Tasting Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

This eight-hour guided tour of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire combines wine tastings at multiple estates with a visit to a local goat farm, a walk through the medieval town of Sancerre, and a stop at the weekly street market (Wednesdays and Sundays). Transport in a minivan, a guide in English or French, and entry to the wineries are included; lunch is at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tasting and countryside exploration

• Stroll through local street market
• Visit historic Benedictine Priory
• Walk medieval Sancerre back streets
• Taste wines at several wineries
• Visit family-run winery in Sancerre
• Enjoy tasting of Henri Bourgeois wines
• Visit local goat farm and taste cheese
• Taste top Pouilly-Fumé wines
• Visit estate for Pouilly-Fumé wine tasting

The Experience

The day starts with a visit to a local goat farm where you taste Crotin de Chavignol—the region's famous cheese—paired with a glass of Sancerre wine. From there, the minivan takes you to la Charité-sur-Loire, a riverside town built around a 12th-century Benedictine priory, before heading into the vineyards themselves. The route passes through Pouilly-sur-Loire, where you'll taste Pouilly-Fumé at two separate estates, learning how the same Sauvignon Blanc grapes produce wines with distinct character depending on soil and winemaking.

In Sancerre itself, you walk the medieval back streets and stop at several winery boutiques for tastings, with a panoramic viewpoint over the Loire and the surrounding vineyards. The tour includes a commented tasting at Henri Bourgeois, a family-run estate in the heart of the Sancerre vineyards. If your tour falls on a Wednesday or Sunday, you'll also stroll through the local street market. Red wine drinkers will find Pinot Noir from the Sancerre region included in the tastings—the area produces strong examples alongside its famous whites.

All transport happens in a luxury air-conditioned minivan. Pickup and drop-off are at your local train station or accommodation within a 30-kilometer radius of Sancerre. The guide speaks English or French depending on the option you choose. Lunch at a local bistro or restaurant is not included and costs roughly €25–30 per person.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at your train station or accommodation within 30 kilometers of Sancerre.
• transport in a luxury air-conditioned minivan.
• a visit to a local goat farm with Crotin de Chavignol and Sancerre wine tasting.
• a minimum of three tastings and visits to different wine estates.
• a guided walk through medieval Sancerre with stops at winery boutiques and a panoramic viewpoint.
• a commented tasting at Henri Bourgeois.
• entry to the wineries.
• a stroll through the local street market on Wednesdays and Sundays.
• a guide in English or French.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Grapes and Corks

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to taste multiple producers and styles in one day without driving yourself—the minivan and guide handle the route, the timing and the introductions at each stop, so you focus on the wine and the landscape instead of navigation.

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Top questions

What exactly is Crotin de Chavignol and why is it paired with Sancerre wine?

Crotin de Chavignol is the region's signature goat cheese, small and dense with a tangy flavor that complements the crisp acidity of Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc. You taste both together at a local goat farm early in the tour, and you can buy cheese to take with you.

How many wine tastings are included in this tour?

A minimum of three tastings at different wine estates are included. The tour visits two Pouilly-Fumé producers, Henri Bourgeois in Sancerre, and a family-run winery in the Sancerre vineyards, plus tastings at winery boutiques during the walk through the medieval town.

Is lunch included in the price?

Lunch is not included and is at your own cost. You'll have time to eat at a local bistro or restaurant during the day; budget roughly €25–30 per person.

What is the difference between Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé if they're both Sauvignon Blancs?

Both regions produce Sauvignon Blanc, but the terroir—soil, climate and winemaking tradition—creates distinct styles. Sancerre wines tend to be crisp and mineral; Pouilly-Fumé often carries a smokier character (Fumé means smoked). Tasting both side by side during the tour shows how the same grape expresses differently across the Loire Valley.

Does the tour run every day, or only on certain days?

The tour runs regularly. The street market visit happens only on Wednesdays and Sundays, so if those days matter to your experience, choose a departure on one of those dates.

What if I prefer red wine—is there anything for me on this tour?

Yes. The region produces Pinot Noir alongside its famous whites, and red wine lovers will find tastings included. The guide can highlight the reds during the estate visits and the walk through Sancerre's winery boutiques.