The very welcome return of VitiLoire

After two years of enforced absence due to Covid, Viti Loire Tours’ big consumer wine fair is back this coming weekend – 21st-22nd May. This marks a very welcome return for this very popular wine fair.

Viti Loire takes place by Tours magnificent mainline railway station, along the Boulevard Heurteloup and in the Jardin de la Préfecture – all right in the centre. It costs 5€ to get in which includes a special Viti Loire tasting glass and you can buy directly from the 150 Loire producers. The organisers are expecting 35,000 visitors over the two days, so by the afternoon it is likely to be pretty crowded. There will be 150 vignerons from the Pays Nantais to the Central Vineyards to welcome them plus 10 chefs giving demonstrations as well as themed tastings. The Italian city of Parma is the invited city of honour for 2022.

Unsurprisingly the majority of the producers come from Anjou-Saumur and Touraine but there are a reasonable sprinkling from the Central Vineyards. You can buy directly from the producers and there are grooms who will transport your purchases to your car within a radius of 300 metres. There are also plenty of food stalls so you can enjoy a snack with a glass or so of Loire wine outside – hopefully in the sunshine. To date the forecast for the weekend is good – 26 ˚C on Saturday and Sunday with sunny intervals, so pleasantly warm and not too hot unlike earlier in the week as Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to be 31˚C.

The TER SNCF are offering special Viti Loire train tickets. We will be travelling from Chenonceaux to Tours and back for just 4€ each.