schiller-wine: Dinner at Iconic Brasserie La Cigale in Nantes - 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.

The tour started in the afternoon of October 5, 2025.

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

we had our first group dinner at the iconic brasserie La Cigale, just opposite to out hotel and the Nantes Opera House.

See also: Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

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.

La Cigalle

This brasserie across from the opera house of Nantes, displaces all the images of the classic, voluptuous style of the late 19th century: an intoxication of ornamental decoration and on top of it a superb meal is served. On 1 April 1895, the brasserie was opened for business by its first owner, Mrs. Calado.

This brasserie was once the headquarters for the Surrealists. The Surrealists Jacques Prévert and André Breton were regular patrons. Scenes from several films have been shot here, including Jacques Demy's 1961 film Lola.

Dinner

We had a 4-course menu with 4 wines - one sparkling, one white and two red wine(s).