Wine tourism

We’re often asked the same question: “We are spending a weekend in Sancerre—where do we start?”

It’s important to first understand the region from above, then feel the soil beneath your feet, and finally—with these two perspectives in mind—taste the wines so that everything falls into place. The tasting at Domaine Henri Bourgeois then becomes a revelation, not just a simple discovery.

Here’s the itinerary we recommend for those who truly want to understand the Sancerre region—not just pass through it.

Start at the highest points. From the ramparts of Sancerre or the Tour des Fiefs, the view opens up onto the Loire below: the south-facing slopes, the clay-rich terraces, and the flint soils that shimmer differently in the morning light. This landscape isn’t just a backdrop—it’s the geological map of what you’ll be tasting in a few hours.

As you wander through the village’s narrow streets, take a moment to feel the limestone and experience the cool, mineral-rich atmosphere of the covered passageways. Sancerre is unique in that it can be experienced as much with your senses as with your mind.

Before heading down to the vineyards, a stop at the Maison des Sancerre—a roughly 45-minute tour—is well worth your time. It offers an interactive presentation of the appellation’s three main soil types—calcareous clay, Kimmeridgian marl, and flint—their geological origins, and their influence on the wines’ style.

Late morning / early afternoon: in the vineyards

Before the tasting at the estate, treat yourself to a stroll through the vineyards. Walk between the rows. Pick up a bit of soil; observe its color and texture.

The flint soil—those small, almost sharp pebbles—is immediately recognizable. Kimmeridgian marl is finer-grained and lighter in color, with small, comma-shaped oyster fossils (Ostrea virgula) found in places along the Côte des Monts Damnés. Calcareous clay has a heavier texture and a darker color. These aren’t just trivial details: these are the soils you’ll find in your glass an hour from now.

From the hillsides, the vineyard suddenly takes on a different character. The exposures, the slopes, the areas that warm up or retain moisture—all of this takes on a meaning that wasn’t there this morning.

Lunch: Keep Your Palate Open

The first lunch should be simple. A well-aged Crottin de Chavignol, a plate of charcuterie, a thin-crust tart with seasonal vegetables. A glass of white Sancerre, of course—but save some for later so you don’t arrive at the cellar with an overloaded palate.

Afternoon: the tasting at Domaine Henri Bourgeois—the highlight

This is where the weekend really comes into its own.

The guided tastings at Domaine Henri Bourgeois are designed to take you through the terroirs of Sancerre in a logical order—the same one you’ve just explored on foot.

We start with the calcareous clays, the profile of our “Grande Réserve”: full-bodied, crisp, with aromas of grapefruit and white flowers, and a generous finish. Then the intensity builds as we move toward the Kimmeridgian marls—“Jadis,” “La Côte des Monts Damnés”—deeper, more enveloping, with those exotic notes and that salty length that the Terres Blanches terroir produces in a uniquely distinctive way. And finally, the Silex wines—“ES-56,” “d’Antan”—with that almost electric tension, that smoky, flint-like minerality unlike anything else.

In an hour and a half, you come to truly understand why two Sancerre wines made from the same grape variety and the same vintage can be so different. You taste the soils you saw and touched this morning.

It’s that moment—that transition from the soil beneath your feet to the wine in your glass—that ensures visitors leave with something different from what they had when they arrived.

Head back down to the square in Chavignol for dinner. This small village, 4 km from Sancerre, tucked into a valley among the vines, is where gastronomy and terroir come together most naturally in the whole appellation.

Restaurant "La Côte des Monts Damnés" is an address we recommend without hesitation. The cuisine is built around Berry specialties and traditions — every food and wine pairing speaks to the terroir. You might find yourself dining with a "Jadis" or a "Côte des Monts Damnés" you tasted that same afternoon. The circle closes elegantly.

For the night, Hotel Famille Bourgeois in Chavignol means you never really "leave" the vineyard. Waking up the next morning with the vines outside your window changes the way you approach the second day.

The second morning belongs to your curiosity. Yesterday laid the groundwork — today, you can go further in whichever direction spoke to you most.

First option: a second session at the estate, this time focused on single-parcel cuvées. "Le Cotelin" from the Kimmeridgian marl of Maimbray, "Les Ruchons" from the flint of Fontenay, "Les Côtes aux Valets" from the limestone-clay of Bannon — wines few visitors discover, and often the most revealing of the appellation's potential. Every parcel has its own voice that a blend like the "Grande Réserve" simply cannot express on its own.

Second option: a longer walk through the vineyard. Now that you can read the soils, you can walk toward the plots you saw in your glass the day before. "La Côte des Monts Damnés" is visible from Chavignol — climbing it, even partway, gives you a physical sense of the work behind every bottle.

→ Discover La Côte des Monts Damnés and the "Les Veillants" installation

Third option: explore the neighboring appellations. Pouilly-Fumé is 15 km away, on the other side of the Loire. Having already tasted our "En Travertin" (limestone-clay from Saint-Andelain) and our "JS-150" (Kimmeridgian marl from Saint-Laurent-l'Abbaye), you now have the reference points to understand how the same soil families, on the opposite bank, produce different wines.

Lunch and Afternoon: The Loire, Cycling, and Fresh Air

On the second afternoon, set the wine aside — not the region.

Sancerre sits above the Loire, and it's often this river that gets overlooked when you're absorbed by the vineyard. Head down to the riverbanks. The wild Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the last great rivers in Europe to flow freely — no dams, sandbars that shift from one season to the next, wildlife and plant life that few French rivers have preserved.

There are several ways to discover it from Sancerre:

By bike, following the banks on the La Loire à Vélo paths — the route passes nearby and lets you see the vineyard from the plain, a radically different angle from the hillsides. Just a few kilometers is enough to completely shift your perspective.

By canoe, season permitting (May to September) — local clubs run outings on the Loire from around Sancerre, with views from the water onto the hillsides, the perched village, and the wild riverbanks.

Or simply sitting on the sand, with a bottle chosen that morning at the estate. That, too, is Sancerre.

Every season changes the experience — not just the landscape, but also the teams' availability, the mood at the estate, and what you can experience during the tasting.

The estate is located in Chavignol, 3 km from Sancerre (Cher, 18). It is less than 2 hours from Paris via the A77, or 30 minutes from Bourges. The Cosne-sur-Loire train station is 20 km away.

• Reservations: 2 to 3 weeks ahead in high season (May–Sept.) for estate visits and the restaurant — we're often fully booked.
• Pace: no more than 2 estates per day — beyond that, sensory fatigue sets in and comparisons stop making sense.
• Getting around: Sancerre and Chavignol are 4 km apart — easily reachable by bike.
• Indicative budget: €150–250 per person for 2 days, including one night's accommodation. Restaurant: €45–60 per person excluding wine. Estate tastings are included in our packages or offered at a token price.
• What to bring: shoes that don't mind the dirt, a light jacket (the cellars are cool), and a notebook — aromas fade quickly from memory.