Due to family commitments we were only able to stay for the morning and lunch yesterday but everything was impressively well organised by Bourgueil – the tasting and lunch. For lunch you just picked up a paper bag per person, so avoiding long queues to be served. Chapeau !
Next week I will highlight some of my favourite wines that I tasted during the morning.
L’Usine à Gaz
Under its previous incarnation Café de la Promenade had a very important place in the history of Les 5 du Vin as the group (circa 12) spent the weekend of mid-June based here. This proved to be the last time that Les 5 was able to get together. It was also the weekend of the amazingly memorable tasting at Lamé Delisle Boucard that went back to a Bourgueil 1893.
L’Usine à Gaz is now run by Sophie Ragot, who with her husband Ludo ran the brilliant original, mythical version of Café de la Promenade. Sadly Ludo died a few years ago and the couple who took over Café de la Promenade went bust, so Sophie is starting from zero. Before being converted to a a café this was originally a Usine à Gaz.
L’Usine à Gaz
1 av du Général de Gaulle, 37140 Bourgueil
Tel: 00 33 (0)6 49.16.82
@usine.a.gaz
Les 5 du Vin 
L’usine à gaz, not necessarily a name that would appeal in a first instance from a Marketing angle, since in France, it frequently refers to the nightmare dealing with THE Administration.
But maybe it can relate here more to the good sparling wines/Crémants that they will serve!
Anyway, I have good memories of this place from a few years back (simple and friendly / convivial as we say). So best of luck for this new start!
J’aimeJ’aime
Christophe the choice of name may well be down to the fact that the last version of Café de la Promenade went bust and Sophie Regot is wanting a fresh start. As I say this building was originally a usine de gaz. Jim
J’aimeJ’aime