Wine tasting Saumur: Vineyard visit with the winemaker

Taste six wines straight from the winemaker who made them

A wine tasting activity at Domaine Beaumont in Distré (Saumur region) where you walk the vineyard, tour the troglodyte cellar, and taste six organic wines guided by winemaker Gérald, who speaks both English and French. The experience lasts around two hours and includes bottled water. Minimum age is 18.

The experience

What does a wine taste like when the person who made it is standing beside you explaining it? At Domaine Beaumont, that is the whole point. Gérald, a bilingual winemaker, leads you through the vines first: a walk that sets the stage for everything that follows. Then you descend into the troglodyte cave and the cathedral-like cellar carved into the stone, where the wines age and wait. The space itself is part of the story: these are not industrial tanks but a working cellar built into the earth, the kind that has held wine for generations.

The tasting happens in the caveau de dégustation, an immersive session where Gérald guides you through six wines, each one made without added sulfites under the Saumur appellation. He talks about terroir (what the soil and the climate give to the grapes), and the choices he made in the cellar. You are not passively sipping. You are learning the art of vinification from someone who practices it every day. Whether you arrive as a seasoned wine lover or someone new to wine, the experience is built around his passion and the story behind each bottle, not around a script.

The activity runs about two hours from arrival at 2 rue de l'Église in Distré. Bottled water is included. Bring an appetite for detail and a willingness to sit with flavors long enough to understand them.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• six wines to taste.
• access to the vineyard and troglodyte cellar.
• guidance from winemaker Gérald in English or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 36

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Not recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Loire Valley Uncorked - Wine Tastings & Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Domaine Beaumont sits in Distré, a small village outside Saumur, so you'll need your own transport or a taxi to reach it. Book this if you have a car or are comfortable arranging a ride, and want the intimacy of learning directly from the winemaker rather than joining a larger group tour.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is a troglodyte cellar and why does Domaine Beaumont have one?

A troglodyte cellar is a wine storage space carved directly into the stone bedrock, a traditional method in the Loire Valley. Domaine Beaumont's cellar is described as cathedral-like and serves as the working space where the wines age. You tour it as part of the experience before the tasting.

Do I need to know about wine before I book this tasting?

No. Gérald designed the experience for both seasoned wine lovers and people new to wine. He guides you through each of the six wines and explains the vinification process and terroir, so the learning happens as you taste.

Is this activity accessible if I don't have a car?

Domaine Beaumont is located in Distré, a small village in the Saumur region. You will need to arrange your own transport to 2 rue de l'Église, Distré, 49400. Consider a taxi, rental car or local transport options from Saumur town.

What does "organic wines made without added sulfites" mean?

Organic wines are made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Sulfites are a preservative commonly added to wine. Domaine Beaumont's wines are made without this addition, which affects how they age and taste.

How long does the whole experience take?

The activity runs approximately two hours from your arrival at the domaine. This includes the vineyard walk, cellar tour and the guided tasting of six wines.