4 spaces left
Located just south of Paris, the Loire Valley is often referred to as The Garden of France—a region of grand châteaux, centuries-old vineyards, and timeless riverside towns. It’s one of France’s most historic and diverse wine regions, where many of the same families who have farmed these estates for generations continue to produce wines of exceptional quality and character from some of the country’s most celebrated terroirs.
Imagine a week defined by gentle mornings along the Loire River, leisurely lunches at historic wine estates, and evenings in elegant dining rooms where hospitality is an art form. In May, the region is at its most beautiful—spring flowers in bloom, vineyards showing their first leaves, and growers preparing for the new season.
This journey traces the Loire’s most celebrated stretches—from the limestone villages of Anjou & Saumur, through Touraine and Vouvray, to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, where the regions’ distinctive microclimates and soils shape wines of remarkable purity and finesse.
Each day unfolds at a thoughtful pace: private tastings with estate owners, time to wander through châteaux gardens and riverside towns, and dinners that reveal why this region has long been called the soul of French cuisine and wine. Between experiences, there’s time simply to savor being there—walking to a café, visiting a local market, or relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of the day.
🍷🇫🇷 Loire Valley — May 10 – 17, 2026
7 nights
Inclusions
7 nights accommodations (1 Paris + 6 Loire Valley)
All hotel taxes
All ground transportation during the trip
Welcome wine reception and group dinner in Paris
Daily breakfast
Four wine lunches
Four wine dinners
Meal taxes and gratuities
All wine tastings
Erica Archer as your professional wine guide
All admissions and sightseeing per the itinerary
Exclusions
Airfare or travel to and from Paris (CDG)
Transport from Paris (CDG) to our starting hotel location in Paris
Some meals are on your own. These are arranged around free time to explore nearby cafés, markets, and restaurants.
Pricing
€8,679 per person (double occupancy)
€2,500 single suppliment
Optional Extension
🥂🇫🇷 Champagne & Paris — May 17 – 20, 2026
3 nights / 4 days
North of the Loire Valley lies Champagne, one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions and styles of wine. The vineyards surrounding Épernay and Reims are a patchwork of grand maisons and small grower estates, where generations of families continue to perfect the craft of méthode champenoise. May is a beautiful time to visit—fresh green vines stretch across the chalky hillsides, cellar doors open for the season, and the region hums with quiet anticipation.
Your days in Champagne include visits and tastings at some of its most respected houses and grower-producers, thoughtfully paired lunches, and dinners that highlight the extraordinary range of Champagne styles at the table. The experience balances depth and leisure, with time to explore nearby villages or simply relax into the pace of French country life.
The journey concludes in Paris, with a final evening before departures the following morning.
Inclusions
3 nights accommodations (2 in Champagne, 1 in Paris)
All hotel taxes
All ground transportation during the trip
Daily breakfast
Two wine lunches
Two wine dinners
Meal taxes and gratuities
All wine tastings
Erica Archer as your professional wine guide
All admissions and sightseeing per itinerary
Exclusions
Airfare or travel to and from Paris after the trip
Some meals are on your own. These are arranged around free time to explore cafés, bistros, and shops.
Pricing
€3,650 per person (double occupancy)
€1,500 single supplement
Reservations:
A deposit of $3,000 per person for the Paris/Loire Valley and $1,000 per person for the optional Champagne extension is required to secure your reservation. The remaining balance is due by January 1, 2026. Please note our cancellation policy and consider obtaining travel insurance in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Spaces are limited, and our trips fill up quickly. To reserve your spot or for more information, please contact Erica Archer at erica.archer@winewiseevents.com or call 207-619-4630.
Your Sommelier
Archer is a true oenophile, having obtained high levels of certification in her field. In 2010, she was awarded the Wine Spirit and Education Trust Level Three Advanced Certification in Wines and Spirits (with merit), became a Sommelier in the American Court of Master Sommeliers, and received her Certified Wine Professional award from the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. Erica is the principal of Wine Wise, a wine education and events service, and is skilled at creating truly creative and memorable wine experiences that take guests beyond a typical tasting with her intimate understanding of what makes each wine unique. And she’ll do it with her trademark down-to-earth style.
CONDITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
This trip is guaranteed departure based on eight attendees.
Cancellations:
If you must cancel your trip reservation with us before 1/1/2026 there will be a $500.00 per person cancellation fee. There are no refunds after 1/1/2026 if we cannot fill your spots. We strongly urge you to consider taking travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. For insurance information, please visit InsureMyTrip.
Rresponsibilities:
Wine Wise and Erica Archer accept no responsibility for any delayed departures or arrivals, missed connections, loss, damage, or injury to persons or property. We are not responsible for any extra costs incurred for required COVID testing and accommodations if you test positive and cannot leave the country until you are able to test negative. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and substitute arrangements of any equal value if circumstances warrant a change.
