Terrific! Exceeded all expectations!

I came to the Loire Valley with little appreciation of Loire wines. I left with a great deal, due in large part to Gérald Beaumont. Gérald is a storehouse of knowledge because he has lived with these wines all his life. He grew up in a family of vignerons, the lure of wine-making deep within him. It has very much shaped the person he is today.

It is one thing to hold knowledge, another to be able to impart it. Fluent in both French and English, Gérald is the specialist one always hopes to encounter – affable, good-humoured, full of knowledge grounded in experience. He is more than willing to answer any and all questions (no matter how basic or esoteric), willing to go out of his way to help connect you with vignerons and their wines.

With the help of Gérald I was able to taste more distinct versions of chenin and cabernet franc (the two main grapes of Loire wines) than I ever thought existed. But, beyond that, he led me to other varietals in several other regions of France with which he had personal connection through his years operating a wine bar. It was wine tasting flavoured with the stories of French rural life as well as the realities of winemaking in modern France.

If you are looking for an authentic wine experience, one you will long remember and value, Gérald Beaumont is your man.

Kevin Major, wine blogger, One Brilliant Bottle, TripAdvisor

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An unforgettable experience with an enthusiastic wine master

We would recommend this activity to anyone who is even slightly interested in wine, a great way to spend a couple of hours. Although we wish it could have been longer as we enjoyed it so much!

On arrival we were welcomed by a very friendly Gérald, a wine expert and manager of the Domaine. Our adventure started with guided around the premises and shown how the 18 different varieties of wine on the Domaine were produced. - We hadn't appreciated before just how much work goes into producing a bottle of good wine, especially good organic wine as all the bottle Gerald produced were.

Géralds family have been in the wine making industry for generations and his knowledge and enthusiasm for wine was very impressive. Despite all this knowledge and tradition he was quick to dispel any myths around the 'etiquette' of wine tasting and focussed more on the tangible features of the wines that can be identified and appreciated by non wine experts such as us. As a result I feel more confident about choosing the right wine for meals or to drink on their own in the future - beforehand it was a case of choosing whatever was in deal at the local supermarket!

It was a privilege to have Géralds attention for a few hours and we will definitely be planning a longer trip next time - Gérald also organises a wine tour taking in three different Domaines. If this trip was anything to go by i'm sure this will be excellent!

Nathalie & Ross, Cambridge, TripAdvisor

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The perfect wine tasting experience!

We arranged a Wine Tour as a corporate event for our clients and it could not have been better organised.

Both Sarah and Gérald were there to greet our 32 guests and provide a warm welcome upon arrival. The tour was relaxed, but well conducted and very informative. Gérald is extremely knowledgable and his passion for his subject most apparent. After an enjoyable tour of the vines and the caves, our group began the serious business of the day, la degustation!

We were all amazed by the quality and selection of different wines available, with a wide variety to suit all palates. It was certainly the most comprehensive wine tasting we have experienced, having sipped our way through a sample of reds, whites, sparkling and dessert wines.

We would highly recommend the wine tour, whether it be to individuals, or to a large group such as ours. Sarah-Jayne and Gérald were perfect hosts and we were able to leave everything in their capable hands and relax and enjoy the experience along with our guests.

A most enoyable and memorable day. Thank you!

Sally Dawson, France, TripAdvisor

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1st Class all the way

Having never been to France before, I was not sure what to expect when wine tasting, but was put at ease immediately when Gerald picked us up from the train station. He was very social, asking questions, wanting to get to know us (this was a private wine tour with my husband).

When we arrived to the winery, he was very thorough in his description and we were amazed at the access we had to the "behind the scenes view" of the winery. The tasting was very well paced, not rushed and I felt he really enjoyed spending time with us as much as we enjoyed the experience!

Lunch at his restaurant was magical. I can honestly say it was one of my top three experiences EVER. Fresh food, wonderful wine pairing and oh the foie gras (house made)! I still dream of it...

We will make a return visit and we will hire Loire Valley Uncorked once again!

Thanks also to his wife for taking care of our arrangements! Very friendly, and wished she had been on the tour with us!

Heather & Alex, California, TripAdvisor

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A great day!

We spent a wonderful day with Gerald learning about and tasting wines from the Loire valley. Gerald managed to accommodate for both a mix of languages (French and English) and a mix of knowledge within our party. Gerald was good fun, didn't mind our endless questions and we finished up with a much better understanding of the wines.

When we didn't think the morning could be beaten, we were taken for lunch at Gerald's Bistrot in Saumur where Romain had made a very special lunch complemented by wonderful wine. Thanks Romain for the great food and thanks Gerald for a fantastic day.

A bientot!

The Hacketts (and Alexis!), France, TripAdvisor

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Fantastic experience!

My husband and I had the pleasure of a morning and lunch with Gerald. From the moment he rescued us from the location our GPS had mistakenly deposited us, through a very thorough and enlightening description of the vineyards and wine-making process in the Loire Valley, to the generous tastings of all the Domaine de la Paleine wines--it was a perfect wine tour and tasting. This was clearly a high point of an already marvelous visit to the Loire Valley, and it was capped off with lunch at Gerald's delightful bistro in Saumur.

We definitely recommend this to both novices and "practiced" consumers of wine. You will come away with a deep appreciation of the craft of wine-making and the passion and knowledge that must go into producing perfect wines.

J Burgoon, USA, TripAdvisor

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One of the most enjoyable days I have had...

I had the opportunity to travel from the USA (near San Francisco) to Tours with a Colleague for a business meeting recently. Never having been to the Loire region, we wanted to spend a day (of non-business) getting to know the area. Using Tripadvisor, we came across Gerald and his tour. What a find indeed! From the moment that we were met at the Saumur train station to the time we were dropped off, we felt like we were spending the day with an old friend!!! His knowledge of wine and the region, english, humor, and good nature was superb. I started the tour being a bit of a California wine 'snob' and left, telling my Colleague, that I would never buy another bottle of California wine! Gerald completley change all of my notions on wines as well as provided an introduction to the beauty of the region that will only ensure my return with my family to, hopefully, stay at his B&B. I would be remiss if I did not mention the INCREDIBLE lunch at Bistro les TonTons!!! Everything was SUPERB!! From the homemade pickles and the charcuterie plate to the SPECTACULAR Steak Tartare (with some of the tastiest 'chips' ever!), bread, local cheeses and poached fruit to a sensational assortment of wines that paired perfectly as well as the fabulous hospitality and good conversation with our host, none other than Gerald himself! All of this capped off with a stroll up to the Chateau de Saumur for a picture perfect ending to an already great day! I can recommend without any hesitation, ANY opportunity to spend time with Gerald! May I also add that the arrangements were an absolute breeze thanks to his wife and partner, Sarah-Jane who took care of all the details in advance! Merci Beacoup Gerald et Sarah-Jane!!! I can't wait to return to continue where we left off!

Jordan B, California, USA, TripAdvisor

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Would like to visit again and again...

We could not have asked for a better experience for being immersed in the French wine culture in the Loire Valley, or even in France as a whole. Gerald is local to the area and he and his wife, Sarah-Jane, are such lovely people, open, charming, fun and knowledgeable.

Gerald is a true connoisseur in the most positive way and takes you to visit not only vineyards but to meet the winemakers with whom you can discuss their wines and what is special and particular about each one. We covered a number of areas in the Loire including Savennieres, Saumur, Anjou, and Bourgueil including many others.<:p>

Gerald also took us to his wonderful restaurant Bistrot Les Tontons in Saumur where we had a delicious, hearty lunch of Boeuf Bourguignon. This was the trip of a lifetime and we only hope that we are like cats and have eight more lives to be able to visit again and again.

Le Grand Wine Tour, FYI: This is an all day very intensive tour.

RKnutsen, Atlanta, USA, TripAdvisor

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The perfect wine tasting experience!

We arranged a Wine Tour as a corporate event for our clients and it could not have been better organised.

Both Sarah and Gérald were there to greet our 32 guests and provide a warm welcome upon arrival. The tour was relaxed, but well conducted and very informative. Gérald is extremely knowledgable and his passion for his subject most apparent. After an enjoyable tour of the vines and the caves, our group began the serious business of the day, la degustation!

We were all amazed by the quality and selection of different wines available, with a wide variety to suit all palates. It was certainly the most comprehensive wine tasting we have experienced, having sipped our way through a sample of reds, whites, sparkling and dessert wines.

We would highly recommend the wine tour, whether it be to individuals, or to a large group such as ours. Sarah-Jayne and Gérald were perfect hosts and we were able to leave everything in their capable hands and relax and enjoy the experience along with our guests.

A most enoyable and memorable day. Thank you!

WWoftheW, Niort, France, TripAdvisor

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Relaxed, informative and a thoroughly enjoyable day

While holidaying for a week in the Loire we decided to visit some wineries and this was without doubt the best we tried.

On arrival the bi-lingual Gérald greeted us warmly and took us around the vines, taking great care to have us understand the different varieties, growing conditions and farming methods unique to this part of the Loire Valley, before talking us through the machinery involved and on into the modern, clean and airy vat and barrel sheds where he continued to explain the processes involved. It was clear very quickly that Gérald knew his stuff and was passionate about his vocation. His family have been involved in wine making for many generations, something which struck me more and more as we made our way into about two kilometres of cool, limestone caves beneath the vineyard to see the original (now put to rest) wine press and the traditional wooden wine turning equipment still employed today.

After this we went up top into a cosy modern ‘wine bar’ where Gérald continued to impart his knowledge, dispelling any pretentiousness around wine tasting, while encouraging us to savour and enjoy each wine for its purpose and type and answering all our questions. I was driving so I had to throw a lot of fantastic wine into the bucket but I did take my time to savour the very best wines the vineyard had to offer, and they were very, very good. I only wished I could have squeezed more into the car at the end.

I had a thoroughly enjoyable day with the enthusiastic and good-humoured Gérald who never once rushed us and who generously gave us 3 hours of his time. If you only have one day for wine tasting, or are just in the area and enjoy wine I would encourage you to visit. However, I believe they also offer longer days and extended tours if preferred. Anyway, enjoy!

James Buckingham, Oxfordshire, TripAdvisor

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A very personal and fascinating wine tour

My friend Tony booked the tour with Gérald who met us at his bistrot, Les Tontons, from where we drove to the village of Le Puy Notre Dame for the tour of Domaine de la Paleine.

Gérald was friendly, and extremely knowledgeable as he explained some of the history of the area and the property. We toured part of the vineyards — which are 37 ha in all — the winemaking areas, and the cellars, which where limestone (I think) caves. The highlight was then the wine-tasting. The domain makes many different wines: red, white, rosé, sparkling and even red sparkling.

We must have tasted 15/16 different wines. I'm not sure how many (Tony kept notes) but not because we drank everything — there was plenty of spitting, but I couldn't manage the elegant stream of liquid that Gérald produced (from his mouth). We started with reds, and moved through sparkling (alas not the sparkling red), rosés, whites and dessert whites. The reason, Gérald explained, was that our taste buds would have "remembered" the sweeter wines more easily than the reds, and thus adversely affected the tasting of the reds.

We purchased a mixed dozen bottles to take with us to our next destination. After the tour, Gérald dropped us back at our hotel. After a short break and gentle stroll around the centre of Saumur we rejoined Gérald for an apéritif and some local meat specialities, and enjoyed a delicious meal and more wine at Bistrot Les Tontons.

Roger C, UK, TripAdvisor

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Loire Valley Uncorked - FANTASTIC!

An extraordinary wine-focused day!!!! Special thanks to Gerald and Sarah-Jane for a really great day. Living near Napa and Sonoma, I have had lots of really great days which focused on enjoying wine and learning about wine. I think the day with Gerald and my colleague at the Domaine was my favorite of all these experiences. What made it great? 1. Effort-free: Picked up at the train station by Gerald, driven out to Le Puy de Notre Dame, then driven back to Saumur for an awesome lunch. 2. Lots of great wine: Reds, whites, sparklings….all were fantastic with distinct character and variety. 3. Wine caves: Amazing, preserved history in the limestone caves that went on forever under the Domaine. 4. Educational: I am a smarter wine drinker and Gerald changed the way I evaluate and appreciate wine. 5. Charcuterie: Memorable.

How good was it? If we had two days, we would have gone back to do the same thing the next day…And we will both go back for another day with Gerald on any return trip to France!

This is a special and authentic (not touristy!) experience. Don’t miss it!!!

Cole ND, USA, TripAdvisor

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A great value!

Recently had the good fortune to participate in a group winery tour with Loire Valley Uncorked. I can highly recommend this company to anyone seeking a true insiders look into French winemaking. Sarah Jane and Gerald did a great job in managing the details so that we could really focus on the experience. Mr. Beamont is both knowledgeable and opinionated. This makes for a very informative tour. He did an excellent job of describing the vineyards and the wine making process. Moreover his sense of humor and flexibility were much appreciated. As but one example, when we arrived a bit early, Gerald stopped his other preparations and gladly gave three of us a special tasting.

Loire Valley Uncorked is truly a great value. This is the real Loire Valley Wine tour!!

Thomas, Seattle, USA, TripAdvisor

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2 day Loire Valley wine & food fest!

My wife,daughter and I recently completely a 2 day wine and food extravaganza with Loire Valley Uncorked. Host Gerald is a local vigneron, bistrot owner, his family roots in the area for generations and has extensive knowledge of all things wine and food related in Saumur/Loire Valley.

We visited 4 different vineyards each with unique host personalities and amazing geographic features. There were 6 to 10 tastings at each vineyard (so spitting was a must). The predominant local grape varieties are the chenin blanc and cabernet franc. Tastings also included sparkling wines, dry and sweet whites, reds and rosé.

Both days between morning and afternoon tastings there was a feast at Bistrot Les Tontons owned by Gerald. The meals were as impressive as the tastings, two of the best meals we had in France, local fresh products expertly prepared - overkill to say the least! But,more appealing than the wine and food were the personalities, educational experience, and amazingly warm and friendly people who welcomed us like family.

This can only be accomplished by taking the tour with an ‘insider’ like Gerald. We hope to return.

Robert M, Florida, USA, TripAdvisor

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