Vineyard et Vélo, Chinon (2024)

17/11/2023

We’ve had a lot of rain!

23/09/2023

Come with us and explore… I’m just doing my son’s early Saturday football run, and had to stop to take this photo. Not many people know that this 1874 bridge was designed by the office of Gustav Eiffel, creator of the lattice-steel Eiffel Tower in Paris!

29/01/2021

Now this right here is Valentines... Breathtakingly Stunning- with love from Chinon!

18/12/2020

“Cycling Tour Company of the Year”!! On the back of what has clearly been a rubbish year, this has provided a welcome bit of good news and something positive to focus on for 2021! My little business is just me, on a bike, doing something that I really enjoy- And I mean REALLY enjoy... drinking wine, eating great food, visiting amazing winemakers and meeting new people! To have a little bit of recognition for what I do is amazing, so a big thank you to and for this recognition. Roll on 2021... 🚲 ☀️ 🧺 🍷 If you’re interested in joining me in 2021, why not check out www.vineyard-et-velo.com - You could even buy a voucher for the last minute gift idea!! See you in 2021.

24/11/2020

The first few packages of our ‘magic wine bottle holders’ are heading back to the U.K. today for Christmas gifts! More and more people were asking if we could send them back so the boys and I have made some more up and they’re heading back to the 🇬🇧 today! Before Christmas, is there anyone else out there who would like a magic bottle holder, or 3, sent back to the U.K. for a secret Santa gift but little stocking filler- probably not suitable for kids!! These were designed during lockdown #1 by my boys, and they’re continuing to churn them out 😂 They’re made from recycled Chinon wine barrels, and the oak carries the beautiful staining from the Cabernet Franc wine that’s steeped into the oak over the years. By balancing wine bottles you are actively encouraging them to buy more scooter, skateboard and football ‘stuff’ because all money is going back to them... 1 is £7.50 but 3 are only £20 and it’s the same postage if you buy 1 or 3... postage for 1, 2 or 3 is £10.00.

19/11/2020

It’s stunning out there AGAIN today! Just back from my allowed hour of exercise, and stumbled across this stunning autumnal vineyard- how pretty is this?!? Happy Thursday everyone 🍂 🍷

18/11/2020

A beautiful Autumn day in Chinon, and whilst we’re only allowed 1 kilometre from home currently, there are so many beautiful spots to take in those views and enjoy the sunshine. Take care all 🍷 ☀️ 😷

19/09/2020

Harvest time... my body isn’t the biggest fan but you can’t help but love this time of year- harvest, collection, pressing and sampling the very first juice of the vintage is such a treat 🍇 And harvest supper is always the real highlight... 🥂 🍷 🍽

02/09/2020

I was sent this photo by a recent guest- Me in my happy place... meeting new people, riding my bike and drinking wine- simple, right? Santé

20/08/2020

Sometimes... unexpected but special things happen on one of my wine tours! Today, one of our amazing local vignerons, decided to finish off our tasting (tiny producer- 6ha, fully organic) by pulling out a 1979 Chinon red wine, made by his Father... One of our guests was BORN in 1979! It’s not everyday you get to taste and fully enjoy a 41 year old bottle of wine 🍷 What a treat, and what a lovely day- great guests (French, Chilean, Georgian and British), great wine, great picnic and great weather makes for a really lovely day out. Check out www.vineyard-et-velo.com to plan your next trip- I can’t promise that we’ll be enjoying 40 year old plus wine, but I can promise you’ll be tasting something very special. Thanks to Patrick Lambert (Cravant les Côteaux) for this particular treat 🍷 🚲 ☀️ 🧺

13/08/2020

With every wine tour I offer, we ALWAYS include a picnic in a beautiful location 🧺 This is supplied by a friend of mine who is a boulanger in town, and the truth is, no matter how many KMs we ride, there’s no chance we’ll be able to cover the calories gained in the dessert alone!! Remember though- when on holiday, calories don’t count... it’s the experience that matters more! Right? 🤷🏼‍♂️ 🥖 🧀 🥗 🍮

10/08/2020

This photo was taken by one of my returning guests- Not only do I love the review (photo 2), but I think this photo is just beautiful. . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

09/08/2020

Happy Sunday folks... it’s far too hot in the Loire currently to do anything other, than enjoy the slower pace of life. Have a good one whatever you’re doing. . . . 🇫🇷

01/06/2020

I’ve just been out on a quick ride, through the vineyards and back through town- I had to smile coming back through Chinon as it was deadly quiet, with no one around- I have a feeling tomorrow night may be a little different! As of tomorrow, we can travel farther than 100km (not that I have any need to!), campsites will be open, gyms are opening tomorrow morning, more shops are opening, and this time tomorrow tonight, I’m going to be having a drink, FROM A BAR!!!!! 🥳 🎉 🎈 We haven’t beat the virus yet, but our children are back to school tomorrow as well, so it certainly feels like we’re turning a corner in France. Fingers crossed now that people are sensible and that cases of Covid continue to fall 🤞🏻. . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

27/05/2020

He may only be 11, but she is 82 years old! I love this little bike- made in the Loire back in 1938. Single speed, but puts a smile on your face every time. The sound of the bell, the leather saddle, the peddles which shred your shins if they slip! 🚲 ☀️ 🥀 . . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

18/05/2020

Just poppies, blue sky, a Château producing wine and truffle trees. No filter so I think that’s enough and I’ll just let you enjoy the picture! ☀️ 🏰 🍷. . . .

16/05/2020

France has slowly been opening up the shutters this week following a strict lockdown. I’ve managed to get out on 2 rides since Monday when restrictions were relaxed, and it feels FANTASTIC! It’s gonna take a little while to find my legs again, but after such a long time off the bike, it’s like meeting up with an old friend! Who knows whether it will be possible to do any vineyard tours this season 🤷🏼‍♂️ We’re hopeful and like many, we’re awaiting further announcements regarding tourism and borders, but this beautiful scenery will still be here when you’re able to visit. 🚲 ☀️ 🍇 🍷 Stay safe . . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

07/05/2020

When you’re allowed to visit again, please do... it really is very beautiful here!! I snapped this photo today and just had to stand back and think about how many times we said to each other, “we could live in France, couldn’t we?” This is now ridiculously, a ‘normal view’ which we take for granted, so whether you’re looking to stay in a luxury Château, a beautiful Glamping pod, or a friendly B&B, just ask and we’ll point you in the right direction. And when you want to know something about the local wine... just ask! I may not stop talking, but seriously, start planning your next trip because we’re feeling positive... 🍷 🚲 ☀️ 🧺. . . .

03/05/2020

I’d be lying if I said that this was the bumper season that anyone in the tourism industry was expecting! Whether you’re a rental, a tour guide, a restaurant, a pop up Summer bar... well, let’s be honest- it’s fairly pants- But... there is hope! Next week we should start to see a very gradual return to some sort of new normality in France 🤞🏻What this truly means at the moment, no one knows, but like so many I know in this tourism world, we’re known for being positive- we have to- in a good year we don’t see any real income for 6 months of the year, so this industry I believe attracts a positive person who believes that’s a good business model in the first place 😉😂This year is going to be harder, but we’ll get through it. The days are now longer, much warmer, and for those of us lucky ones, we still have our health and our loved ones. So, I’m going to remain positive and as such, between now and the end of May, for any tour voucher purchased, I’m not only giving 10% off all direct bookings, but I’m also going to give you a gift of one of these bottle of wines- it seems fairly apt for who I am and what I offer. This voucher is valid for a tour until the end of 2021, and I’ll provide you with your little gift when we meet as well, as a thank you for doing your bit to and So checkout www.vineyard-et-velo.com now. Purchase a tour, pay through PayPal between now and the end of May, and the voucher can be used in 2020 or 2021. I guess I should say something like- subject to availability, Ts and Cs apply and all that jazz, but I’ll be as flexible as possible in how you’re helping a small business get through this crisis. Thanks☀️ 🚲 🍇 🧺 🍷 . . . .

25/04/2020

Hi All, I’ve just returned from a little stroll and I wanted to show you how rapidly the vineyards are now changing. Less than 3 weeks ago, the first buds were appearing, and now the vineyards almost need taming again! This photo shows how the first early shoots and leaf growth is now underway. It’s a delicate time for the vines and whilst we’ve been blessed here with fantastic weather thus far (a tad too dry if anything), the forecast is changing for wetter weather this coming week with the threat of storms. A serious hailstorm at this time year could wipe out an entire vintage for a wine grower so 🤞🏻 we don’t see anything too dramatic. L'ébourgeonnage is the next job required, which if you’ve ever grown tomatoes, is the job of removing all the little shoots which aren’t needed making sure that the energy of the plant goes to where it’s needed 🌱Enjoy the rest of your weekend and whatever you’re drinking this evening, hopefully this little virtual tour, helps you to realise just what’s happened to make that glass taste soooo good 🥂 🍷 . . . .

22/04/2020

I LOVE spring, more than any other time of the year- the flowers, the greenery, life bursting into action again- the promise of longer and warmer days ahead, oh... and the chance to taste the new vintage (And lets be honest- the hope of beating this virus and being let out to play at some point again!). I get truly excited by tasting those first bottles of the new vintage- If you love wine, you’ll get this- if you don’t, ok, it’s probably a bit weird, but yesterday I managed to get my hands on a couple boxes of the new 2019 vintage from I just love the excitement and anticipation of sampling a new year and comparing it to the previous vintage. So, tucked away safely in the cave, I will try my best to leave the red a little while, and I’ll do my best to drink anything but Rosé from now until the end of September. For info, this 2019 Rosé is 13.5%, 100% Cabernet franc and organic/ bio. The grapes were harvested by hand, and it’s too early for me to be pouring a glass to provide a few tasting notes, but the anticipation now builds for my first taste of 2019 later this afternoon 🤗 . . . .

12/04/2020

Happy Easter everyone- I’ve just been out for my daily stroll and snapped a few pictures for you to show how the vineyards locally are rapidly changing in this lovely Spring sunshine. I also found this pile of old vines! Did you know a vine takes on a similar lifecycle to that of a human? For the first few years, you protect them from the cold and make sure they don’t get too much heat, and then after a few years of growing upwards they start to produce the first grapes. Like humans, we’re young, and vibrant in the early years, producing lots of fruit and goodness, and then as we age, we change and we become more mature (in theory!)- we might not be quite as fresh and fruity, we may take a little longer to get started but what we do produce is aged and complex, with more history to back up our stories! Vines in this part of the world often make 80-100 years old, and sometimes even more. At this age, the grapes become fewer and farther between, but like with humans, what we lack in vitality and youth, is made up for in complexity and richness. You can even see in the photos that the younger vines in the vineyard have produced more leaves, earlier than the older vines. For now, this pile of old vines awaits the next chapter- earth to earth, ashes to ashes . . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

08/04/2020

I’m pleased so many of you are enjoying my 1km radius virtual stroll! It’s all I can offer currently but remember, you can still check out my website at www.vineyard-et-velo.com where you can plan your future tours. Anyhow, day 3 of my virtual tour, so here goes... So the Château de Vaugaudry is our nearest ‘big’ vineyard. It’s actually about 20 metres from us so this is well within my restricted exercise zone! This is an interesting Château in itself as it’s completely walled in it’s own garden- a garden of 58 hectares! Within the walls there is a truffle tree plantation, a farm, 2 gites, a manoir plus the vineyard which accounts for about 12 hectares, and the walled garden actually creates a microclimate for the vines and produce! So, within the second photo, you can see a grey machine- this is a mobile fan for moving the air around. If you remember back to tour 1, I spoke about the damage frost can do at this important time of ‘budburst’. At the end of March, from about 4am each morning for around a week, we were woken by what sounds like a fleet of helicopters arriving! This is when the winemakers switch them on to provide an extra level of protection for the buds, by moving the air around within the walls. They also light small fires amongst the vines to create a low lying smog! Fortunately, the weather for the foreseeable is looking ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ so fingers crossed, no more fear of a frost for the winemakers and no more early helicopter arrivals for us 😉 The vineyard produces 4 wines all of which are excellent varieties- all very different and I’m really enjoying their 100% Chenin offering at the moment. . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

07/04/2020

Walking tour of a maximum 1km from home continued... I love this tiny strip of vines- I don’t know who they belong to other than to say it’s a more mature gentleman who owns a white van, but he tends this strip of 4 vines by hand as if his winters supply of wine depends on it... 🤔 I love the way this little strip is surrounded by farmland completely, apart from this little parcel- steadfastly refusing to give up to the tractor and plough! And actually, if you look at the second photo, this is the earliest vine I can find where the bud has truly burst, showing the first leaves. Over the next couple days with truly lovely weather forecast (up to 25 degrees 🤗) these vines should really start to change quite quickly. This is a tiny tiny production of wine, but tomorrow I’ll provide some info on the biggest vineyard in my 1km confinement zone. Until then Santé, stay home, restez chez vous, stay safe 🚶‍♂️ 🍇 🍷 ☀️ . . . . @ Chinon, Centre, France

04/04/2020

We have a feeling that for many of you, your wine consumption may be going up in the current period of confinement/ lockdown! When you take that first sip, do you ever think about how the product you’re now drinking, made it into your glass? Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to complete our first planned tours of the new season last week, however all is not lost, and I’m going to use this time to help you understand where your wine comes from, the process of the vines and some of the challenges faced. This is the deal in France currently- I’m allowed out in a 1km radius from home, for 1 hour maximum of exercise a day with my completed paperwork and ID. So, I’m going to take you on a virtual walking tour within these confines to show you what’s going on in the vineyards at the moment on our doorstep. For us, the sun is shining and with the warmer weather, the vines that have been dormant over the winter now start to wake up and this first sign of life is called ‘Budburst’. Budburst signals the start of what might be for the year. The problem with budburst is that’s when the ‘frost watch’ also has to start, but I’ll tell you a bit more about this over the coming days... 🚶‍♂️🍇🍷 For now though, we hope the warm weather continues so that I can continue to wear shorts, and also so that these early signs of life in the vineyard can go on to produce a fantastic 2020 vintage🤞🏻If you think you may know someone who 1; Likes Wine, 2; Likes pictures of vineyards in France (come on- who doesn’t! 🤷🏼‍♂️), 3; Is interested in any aspect of wine or France or 4; You just want to help out a little business get its name out there, please tag, share, like and follow this page (either FB or Instagram- or both!) and I’ll do my best to keep you updated, and take you on my virtual walking tours! Take care, stay home, Restez chez vous @ Chinon, Centre, France

30/03/2020

It really is a little paradise! 🍷 ☀️ 🚲 🏰

Vineyard et Vélo