Perched at the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire, Candes-Saint-Martin evokes the quiet nobility of a river town sculpted by history and limestone—the kind of place where time drapes gently over slate roofs and Romanesque stone. It was here, in 397 AD, that Saint Martin, one of Gaul’s most venerated figures, is said to have drawn his final breath, at the edge of what was then a powerful monastic community. The name alone folds centuries of devotion into its cadence. Yet far from the postcard nostalgia of “France profonde,” Candes resists over-simplification: between stained glass and vineyard rows, one senses a deeper intricacy. On the surrounding slopes of the Loire, the vineyards mirror that complexity. Chenin Blanc reins here, yielding whites both crystalline and richly textured, shaped by limestone-rich soils and tempered maritime breezes. The tradition of hand-harvesting—still practiced—is a subtle testament to the village’s respect for legacy and finesse. At dusk, seek the view atop the steep path behind the collegiate church: the rivers merge like whispered stories, best savored in the golden hush of September. Continue the journey with our curated features on neighboring gems, undiscovered cellars, and the threads that tie terroir to tradition.
The wines of Chinon are closely associated with Rabelais, who extensively praised them, sometimes with ribaldry, often with greediness, always with camaraderie. And while the…
Bourgueil, a name that evokes images of an idyllic wine-tasting escape in the heart of France’s Loire Valley region. With a high-speed train connection from…