When you're not used to the French times for lunch, walking around Chinon after French lunchtime…read morecan be frustrating as it's hard to find anything to eat. However, this little gem on a corner in the center of the old town didn't disappoint us. They serve beautiful wines and beers from the region, mostly organic. If desired accompanied by what I would almost call tapas. A nice cheese plate or a vegan chickpea veggie dish in a jar among a few other choices. A generous serving of delicious dark bread was served with those. 5 stars for the wine and beer selection, for the food I would give 4 stars but all in all it adds up to 5. We will be back here.

Wine + charcuterie + cheese + fresh bread = what else to ask for?…read more The shop is in the middle of Chinon old town and you can't miss it if you are wandering around. Pick a place to sit outside and enjoy the peaceful street and view of the fort. You may also run into a black and white cat sleeping on either one of the chairs or on the speaker - wherever the cushion is! Everything is so fresh here and the owner explains everything. He is also knowledgeable about wines and gave us great recommendations. The owner was also super friendly which I appreciated a lot. Btw this place was recommended by a worker at a wine shop in Paris saying his best friend who lives here loves this shop. Never go wrong with getting tips from the locals!

From the owner: Une crêpe près de la place Sainte Croix Situé au coeur de la ville d'Angers, la crêperie Saint…read moreAubin vous propose ses spécialités de galettes et de crêpes, notamment la galette Saint Aubin (gratin de pommes de terre, crème et lardons), ou encore ses crêpes griottes... Trois salles vous accueillent.

Gratien & Meyer is France's premier sparkling wine specialist! Located on the high hills above the…read moretown of Saumur, the Chateau is a friendly place to spend an afternoon. All staff are knowledgable about their sparkling wines, and the vast majority are thoroughly fruent in English. The chateau produce a wide selection of wines - sparkling and still (tranquille!), from the oaky Flamme D'or (Golden Flame) to the sweet fizzyness of Cardinale - a highly recommended sparkling red wine, especially enjoyed in a glass with strawberries on a hot summer day. The Chateau Gratien & Meyer invite people for wine tasting all year round, any time of the day (they do not close for lunch). The wine caves are currently being renovated, but when they re-open in June they will be available to tour. The chateau hosts a famous Jazz festival every June which is worth checking out - jazz and wine on the hill looking down at the river and town of Saumur is a perfect way to spend a summer Saturday! All in all, I highly recommend Gratien & Meyer, especially to those visitors to the region who are not fluent French speakers, or those who know very little about wine. The chateau is friendly and accessable, in gorgeous surroundings and the prices are very reasonable (6 euros for an award winning bottle of Cardinale or Saumur Dry, prices from 3 euros to 15 euros). Do note: the chateau is on a steep hill - there is parking both at the top and the bottom, but if you have difficulty walking make sure you park at the top, it's quite a climb!

I've visited several times and each time it has been a treat. I've found many labels of Scotch,…read moreRum, Armagnac and Cognac to sample. They are always very friendly and helpful. I'm looking forward to my next visit!