3-course Dinner (with a Tablet) at Restaurant L’Écluse (Michelin-listed) in Amboise - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

The Loire Tour 2025 by ombiasy WineTours took place from Sunday, October 5 to Thursday, October 16, 2025. The tour started in Nantes and ended in Sancerre, with a bus transfer and lunch in Paris. There were 9 of us including Annette and myself.

Following: 

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Bernard Baudry in Cravant-Les-Coteaux, Touraine - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Couly-Dutheil in Chinon - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Bar-Restaurant Le Bistrot du Marché of Hotel Le Lion d'Or in the Center of Chinon - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting in the Cellar at Cave M. Plouzeau in Chinon, Touraine, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Plouzeau - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

we arrived in Amboise, were we would stay the following 4 nights. On the first evening, we went for dinner to Restaurant L’Écluse, a Michelin-listed restaurant a step away from the royal castle of Amboise and the Clos Lucé. Interestingly, both the food menu and the wine list were available only digital form.  

Loire 2025 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller 

Annette Schiller in her announcement: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

Restaurant L’Écluse – Michelin-listed

A step away from the royal castle of Amboise and the Clos Lucé, chef Mélanie Popineau can be relied upon for joyful bistronomique cuisine, rich in flavour, in the form of brief seasonal menus. Diners are warmly welcomed by her partner. In fine weather, the leafy terrace shaded by willows is heaven-sent.

An Amazing Gastronomic Treat in Amboise (Trip Advisor) Oct 2025 

 

L’Ecluse was recommended to us by a local couple that do wine tours. They were spot on! We made a reservation for the following night using their easy-to-use website. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly and shown to our table. Allergies were discussed and taken into consideration for both our chosen dishes and the several amuse-bouche that were brought to us. They offer a couple of different menus, and several options to combine a starter, main and dessert, plus a final cheese plate, if we were still hungry. We were not! Starters included sweetbreads, figs, scallops. Mains were quail stuffed with foil gras, and sirloin steak with beef tartare. The desserts were amazing, with so many flavor combinations, including plums, crème brûlée, ice creams, various mousses, grapes - but not in any form we had ever seen before. We also shared a bottle of local sparking wine and a local Gamay. Overall, the service was attentive but not hovering. The dishes were served with reasonable speed and timing, including the various amuse-bouches. The totals bill for four dinners and wine was a little over 300 Euros, less than 80 euros per person, which was incredible considering the amount of wonderful food, the two wines and the quality of the dishes and the service.

Arriving

Choosing

Wines

Restaurant

 

3 Courses

 

Bye-bye

 

schiller-wine: Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours - Already Published Postings   

Invitation: Summer 2025 and Outlook on Wine Travel Fall 2025: Loire Valley Wine Tour (October 5 -16, 2025, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours)  

Summary: Loire 2024 - Châteaux and Wine - by ombiasy WineTours, led by Annette Schiller

Summary of the Loire Valley Tour 2025 by ombiasy WineTours: The Facebook Postings of David Miller

Where in the World are Norm and Susan? On the 2025 Loire Valley Tour by ombiasy WineTours, led by Annette Schiller

Saturday Morning at the Talensac Market, a True Nantes Institution - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Oysters and Muscadet at Taverne Royale in Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Riding the Grand Elephant of Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided Tour of Old Town Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Iconic Brasserie La Cigale in Nantes - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and tasting at Maison Chéreau Carré, AOP Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, with Bernard Chéreau - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

"Formule du Midi" at Chez Pipette, Auberge Bistronomique, in La Haie-Fouassiere - Loire Valley 2025 bu ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Gadais Père et Fils, in Saint Fiacre-sur-Maine, Muscadet Sévre et Maine, Pays Nantais, with Christoph Gadais - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Les Petits Prés in Angers with "Top Chef France" Samuel Albert - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Introduction in the Courtyard, Cellar Tour, Tasting and Bottling at Domaine Loïc Mahé, with Loïc Mahé - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Salon Tasting at Château des Vaults, Domaine du Closel in Savennières, Anjou - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Brasserie de la Maine in Bouchemaine - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Visit of Château Angers and the Apocalypse Tapestry (UNESCO) - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

For a Bottle of Natural Wine from the Loire at Wine Bar L’ Angevigne in Angers - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Extensive Vinyard Walk, Short Visit of the Wine Cellar and High-end Tasting in the Wine Cellar at Domaine Belargus in Saint-Lambert du Lattey, Anjou - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Charcuterie and Cheese Lunch with Wine Tasting plus Cellar Tour and Vineyard Tour at Domaine de la Soucherie in Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Anjou - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Touring the Cave, the Winemaking Facilities and the “Clos d’Entre Les Murs” Vineyard, a Special Monument, and Tasting at Château de Parnay in Saumur-Champigny - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Dinner at Restaurant L’ Alchimiste in Saumur (Michelin Guide Listed), a 2-Person Operation of Chef François Deplange and his Wife - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of L’ Abbey Royale de Fontevraud in Fontevraud - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Saumur's Fairy-tale Castle Château de Saumur - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting, Tour of the Old Cellar and Vineyard Tour at Clotilde Legrand – Domaine Legrand in Varrains, Anjou, with Clotilde Legrand and her Father René-Noël Legrand - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Tasting at Maison Bouvet-Ladubay, a Leading Crémant de Loire Producer in Saumur - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

A Bottle of Claire et Florent Bejon Vin de France Rouge "Pain Perdu" at La Tonnelle Wine Bar in Saumur - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Bernard Baudry in Cravant-Les-Coteaux, Touraine - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Couly-Dutheil in Chinon - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Bar-Restaurant Le Bistrot du Marché of Hotel Le Lion d'Or in the Center of Chinon - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting in the Cellar at Cave M. Plouzeau in Chinon, Touraine, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Plouzeau - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours