Cheverny and Touraine wine route from the Sologne

Which vineyards can you visit from Romorantin?

Three, in three directions. None is more than a 45 min drive from the cottage.

• Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny, to the north-west (29 min): two neighbouring appellations around the château.
• Valençay, to the south (36 min): a wine appellation and a goat's cheese appellation that share one name.
• Touraine in the Cher valley, to the west (39 to 42 min): cellars cut into the tuffeau stone between Bourré and Montrichard.

Why is a grape called Romorantin?

Romorantin is a white grape named after the town. Tradition credits François I with introducing it, having it planted near Romorantin in 1519. Today the Cour-Cheverny appellation is reserved for it: this is the wine to taste first when you stay here.

Where to taste in Cheverny?

At the Maison des vins de Cheverny (29 min, 29 km), at the château entrance. It brings together wines from growers of both appellations, so you can compare several estates without driving from cellar to cellar. Growers who welcome visitors are listed on the Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny wines website.

Ten minutes away, the Max Vauché chocolate factory in Bracieux (32 min from the cottage) opens its workshop: something for those who do not drink.

Which cellars to see in the Cher valley?

Between Bourré and Montrichard, the tuffeau stone quarried to build the châteaux left kilometres of galleries. Three places show them to visitors.

• Troglo Degusto (39 min): a guided tour of the cave galleries, then a tasting of AOC wines from Domaine des Tabourelles.
• Monmousseau cellars (42 min), in Montrichard: a sparkling wine house whose cellars are visited before the tasting.
• Cave des Roches mushroom caves (39 min): no wine here, but mushrooms grown underground and sold at the exit.

The Touraine appellations and cellars open to the public are presented by the Vins de Loire wine board. For the rest of the valley, the Sud Val de Loire tourist office is the reference.

Which cheeses to take home?

Two protected-origin goat's cheeses are made less than 40 min from the cottage. Selles-sur-Cher, a small ash-coated disc, comes from the town of the same name (26 min), whose Château de Selles-sur-Cher is also worth a visit. Valençay, shaped like a flat-topped pyramid, is found around the Château de Valençay (36 min). Both are sold by cheesemongers and at markets across the area.

What does a 2 day route look like?

• Day 1, north: Maison des vins de Cheverny in the morning, the chocolate factory in Bracieux, then Château de Cheverny (31 min from the cottage) in the afternoon.
• Day 2, the Cher valley: Troglo Degusto or Monmousseau in the morning, lunch in Montrichard, then back via Selles-sur-Cher for the cheese.

Choose a driver who does not drink, or spit: Sologne roads are straight but lined with forest, and game crosses at dusk. The house has private parking and a terrace for opening the bottles you bring back. Details are on the cottage page, prices (allow €130 a night for 4 guests, taxes and fees included) on rates and booking.