Barbecuing sausages with Château de l'Aulée in the background
Les Vignerons Indépendants are holding a giant picnic across the French wine regions this weekend. Yesterday we went across to Château de l'Aulée just to the east of Azay-le-Rideau. Marielle and Arnaud Henrion are hosting picnics over the weekend, so there is still a chance to go today or tomorrow. l'Aulée specialises in sparkling wine, particularly Crémant – the quality is good and the prices are very reasonable (credit cards accepted).
Their Crémant de Loire Brut was offered as the apéritif, then for the picnic there was the 2011 Azay-le-Rideau white (100% Chenin Blanc) and the easy drinking 2011 Chinon, which comes from the Henrion's six hectares of vines in Savigny, from a bag-in-box.
The idea is simple you take your picnic and the vignerons provide the wine with usually the possibility of a visit and tasting. This is the second of these picnics that I have been at as I went last year to Frédéric Mabileau's picnic in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. On both occasions we have all sat together and everyone soon gets chatting and even sharing food. Great fun!
Here is a list of Loire vignerons holding pique-niques this weekend plus details elsewhere in France.
Marielle Henrion and two of the picnickers
It's a man's job!
The château and tables in the shade
Santé!
All ages with the vines in the background
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