| The Loire Valley region is recognised for the | | | | The charming medieval towns of Sancerre and Pouilly |
| production of some of the most famous vintages of | | | | Fume are themselves wonderful to wander around |
| French wine. And with over 185,000 acres of vines | | | | and explore the tiny, winding cobbled lanes. There are |
| there is an incredible diversity within the range. As far | | | | over 300 wine houses around Sancerre alone and |
| back as the first century, wines from the Loire were | | | | you can choose from a huge range of tours - be |
| even more revered than those from the famed | | | | warned though, any souvenir wine you buy on your |
| Bordeaux region. The area is also a place of great | | | | French camping holiday might prove too delicious to |
| natural beauty, with lush rolling hills and quaint villages. | | | | make it home! |
| For an adventure loving wine buff, one of the most | | | | Vouvray and Touraine |
| rewarding breaks you can have is to go camping in | | | | Known as the Middle Loire, the regions of Vouvray |
| France, as part of a wine-tasting tour of the Loire | | | | and Touraine are home to a diverse planting of |
| Valley. | | | | grapes and between them produce a good mixture |
| There are many beautiful churches and monasteries | | | | of reds, whites and rosés. Utilising the famous |
| to visit as well on your tour, but some people come | | | | Chenin Blanc variety of grape, the wines from here |
| to the Loire with the specific aim of sampling the | | | | are known for their delicate fruitiness. For many |
| delicious array of wine on offer - and there's nothing | | | | years Vouvray and Touraine were part of the |
| wrong with that! The Loire Valley wine route can | | | | famous race to produce an early bottling to rival the |
| take you on a wonderful journey along the river, as | | | | Beaujolais Nouveau, although now the competition |
| you experience the many and varied vineyards which | | | | seems to have cooled somewhat. These picturesque |
| make up the landscape. Styles and vintages change | | | | towns are a wonderful place to take a French |
| markedly on the route, and the stunning locations for | | | | camping holiday as they are situated in close |
| camping in France allow you to enjoy your beautiful | | | | proximity to many of the most stunning chateaux in |
| surrounds to the fullest. To the French, camping | | | | the Loire. |
| holidays are an important part of life, and you will find | | | | Chinon |
| many well situated campsites throughout the valley. | | | | Also in the Middle Loire, Chinon can round out your |
| Sancerre and Pouilly Fume | | | | wine tasting holiday camping in France. It produces |
| The towns of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume sit on | | | | the majority of the region's red wines, almost |
| opposite sides of the Loire River about 10 miles | | | | exclusively using the Cabernet Franc grapes. The |
| apart. This region is commonly known as the Upper | | | | wines here are reputed as being elegant, fresh and a |
| Loire and is a major source of wine production, | | | | little lighter than other reds of the Loire. The |
| growing and bottling the vintages of the famous | | | | charming town centre, in the heart of the Loire |
| Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Pouilly Fume | | | | Valley, is a delight to visit for an afternoon stroll and |
| only produces white wines, but Sancerre makes | | | | there is also an impressive fortress to visit if you |
| whites, reds and rose varieties. | | | | wish to add a little culture to your wine tour. |