Our destination
Vignes & Loire ©Office de tourisme de GienA destination for wine lovers but not only…
Immerse yourself in the heart of France, where the vineyards of the Wine Controlled Designation of Origins (A.O.C.) Sancerre, Pouilly sur Loire, Pouilly Fumé and Coteaux du Giennois flourish in an exceptional natural setting.
This wine-growing territory, nestled on both banks of the Loire Valley, offers wines of incomparable quality and finesse, recognized worldwide, while offering you unusual experiences. Come explore and taste these treasures of the Loire Valley, where each bottle tells the story of a unique terroir and ancestral know-how.
A picturesque landscape where the wild Loire crosses a wooded hilly landscape, dotted with meadows, crops and vineyards, you are on the Destination Sancerre Pouilly Giennois.
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- Tour du Pouilly Fumé_dégustation ©Energie Vagabonde
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- Vigneron dans les vignes ©Ad2t du Cher
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- Château de Buranlure ©Philippe ARMANET
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- Pont-canal de Briare ©Sandrine Bercier
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- Balade dans les vignes ⒸThomas HENNEQUIN Photographe
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- Belvedere de Saint Andelain ⒸOffice de tourisme Bourgogne Coeur de Loire
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- Vignes & Loire ©Office de tourisme de Gien
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- Montgolfière sur la Loire © Domaine Raimbault Pineau
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- Vélo & Cosne-sur-Loire ©Energie Vagabonde
Experience the destination
For those curious about history, villages and small towns offer a rich historical heritage consisting of castles, churches, picturesque alleys, gardens… The most remarkable are Sancerre perched on its picturesque hills, Briare city of enamels and canals, Pouilly-sur-Loire the charming, Gien creative and historical city, and Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire the ligérienne.
For active and nature lovers, many activities allow you to discover breathtaking landscapes: hiking trails, bike routes, including the EuroVéloroutes La Loire à Vélo (EV6) and La Scandibérique (EV3), canoeing, ballooning, educational farm, It’s Wine Time tasting experiences…
For gourmets, the delicatessens, restaurateurs and local producers offer a glimpse of the local gastronomy and its local products, including the famous Crottin de Chavignol cheese.
And without forgetting, for wine lovers (or no), the multitude of wineries and cellars throughout the destination open their doors and offer meetings with passionate winemakers, ready to reveal the secrets of their nuggets in bottle. Delicious tastings await you, allowing you to appreciate the richness and diversity of the Destination’s wines. Here, the world-famous wines and wines to discover rub shoulders with each other.
Whether you are a wine lover, nature lover or simply looking for an escape, the Destination Sancerre Pouilly Giennois will seduce you with its authenticity, its terroir, its history and its lifestyle.
Consult here the list of the destination’s partners (vineyards and touristic business) and also activities and events to experience throughout your stay here !
One destination with 4 protected vineyards (AOC)
Sancerre
Pouilly Fumé
Pouilly sur Loire
Coteaux du Giennois
The destination map
Explore the destination and our approved partners
Pouilly
In Pouilly, the wine is the reflection of a soil, a place, an orientation, of a blend of different terroirs. So much that the Pouilly Fumé are a collection of wines, of faces, of approaches, of winemakers’ views.
THE MUST-SEE PLACE
🍇La Tour du Pouilly Fumé – Explore the soul of a great wine
In the heart of Pouilly-sur-Loire, the Tour du Pouilly Fumé invites you on a sensory journey through the vineyards, soils, and the craftsmanship of passionate winemakers who create this exceptional wine.
Experience an immersive trail featuring the Cave aux Arômes©, films, and interactive displays… Discover how Sauvignon Blanc fully expresses the richness of flint, marl, and limestone terroirs.
The visit ends with a guided tasting, perfect for appreciating the subtleties of local cuvées and gaining a deeper understanding of the connection between terroir and wine.
A must-see for wine lovers, curious visitors, epicureans and ideal for families with children.
👉 30 Rue Waldeck-Rousseau – POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE
+33 3 86 24 04 70 – www.pouilly-fume.com
Find a wide selection of local wines in the on-site shop.
LOCALISATION
The Wine Controlled Designation of Origins (A.O.C.) Pouilly Fumé and Pouilly sur Loire vineyards are situated on the right bank of the Loire, around Pouilly-sur-Loire village (Nièvre county).
7 towns and villages : Garchy, Mesves-sur-Loire, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Andelain, Saint-Laurent l’Abbaye, Saint-Martin-sur-Nohain et Tracy-sur-Loire.
View the map of the Pouilly Fumé and Pouilly sur Loire A.O.C. vineyards
FOCUS ON THE WINES
GRAPE VARIETIES & AROMAS
• White wine of Pouilly Fumé A.O.C. : Sauvignon variety
fruity and mineral aromas; citrus, white-fleshed fruits, exotic fruits mixed with floral and vegetal (white flowers, blackcurrant bud)
• White wine of Pouilly sur Loire A.O.C. : Chasselas variety
floral and fruity aromas that remind of fresh almond, hazelnut and white flowers
MAJOR TERROIRS
Limestone soils, clay with flint, marls to small oysters, clay-siliceous soils and sandy soils.
INFORMATIONS
• since 1937
• 1 430 ha for both A.O.C.
• 130 winemakers
Giennois
Led by young winemakers who are committed and passionate, the appellation of Coteaux du Giennois is rising and is worth going out of your way to see. Be it white, red or rosé, the wines are charming by their astonishing price-quality ratio.
LOCALISATION
The Wine Controlled Designation of Origins (A.O.C.) Coteaux du Giennois vineyard covers almost 50km on the right bank of the Loire, between Gien and Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, and on the left bank of the Loire near Beaulieu-sur-Loire (Loiret and Nièvre counties).
14 towns and villages : Beaulieu-sur-Loire, Bonny-sur-Loire, Gien, Briare, Ousson-sur-Loire, Neuvy-sur-Loire, Saint-Loup, Thou, Alligny, La Celle-sur-Loire, Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, Myennes, Pougny, Saint-Père.
View the map of the Coteaux du Giennois A.O.C. vineyard
FOCUS ON THE WINES
GRAPE VARIETIES & AROMAS
• White wine : Sauvignon variety
fruity aromas of quince and white flowers, minerality, freshness
• Red & rosé wines : Pinot noir and Gamay varieties
red fruits aromas and freshness, slightly spicy notes come to emphasize the whole.
MAJOR TERROIRS
Limestone soils, clay-silica soils and sandy soils.
INFORMATIONS
• since 1998
• 200 ha
• 40 winemakers
Sancerre
One small vineyard for one giant wine,all in freshness, minerality and elegance!
Sancerre’s winemakers, ambassadors of their terroirs and artisan winemakers, perpetuate with demanding nature and conviviality, the tradition of an ancient vineyard.
THE MUST-SEE PLACE
🍇 La Maison des Sancerre – A journey into the heart of the vines
Located in the heart of the village of Sancerre, the Maison des Sancerre invites you to discover the world of this iconic wine through a fun, interactive, and immersive experience.
Explore the vineyards in 3D, awaken your senses in the aromatic garden, and dive into the history of the terroirs and winemakers. It’s a lively and engaging way to understand what makes Sancerre wines so unique.
End your visit with a guided tasting and enjoy the elegance of the local cuvées.
A must-visit for wine lovers, curious travelers alike and families with children.
👉 3 Rue du Méridien – SANCERRE
+33 2 48 54 11 35 – www.sancerreaop.fr
Find a wide selection of local wines in the on-site shop.
LOCALISATION
The Wine Controlled Designation of Origins (A.O.C.) Sancerre vineyard is a hilly region bordered by the left bank of the Loire (Cher county).
14 towns and villages : Bannay, Bué, Crézancy-en-Sancerre, Menetou-Râtel, Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre, Montigny, Saint-Satur, Sainte-Gemme-en-Sancerrois, Sancerre, Sury-en-Vaux, Thauvenay, Veaugues, Verdigny, Vinon.
3 hamelts : Amigny, Chavignol and Maimbray.
View the map of the Sancerre A.O.C. vineyard
FOCUS ON THE WINES
GRAPE VARIETIES & AROMAS
• White wine : Sauvignon variety
aromas of white fruits (vine peach, pear…), exotic fruits (pineapple), citrus (grapefruit, lemon…)
• Red & rosé wines : Pinot noir variety
aromas of red and black fruits (cherry, sour cherry)
MAJOR TERROIRS
“terres blanches” (clay-limestone), “caillottes” (chalk), clay-silica soils
INFORMATIONS
• since 1936 for the A.O.C. white wine
• since 1959 A.O.C. for the red and rosé wines
• 3 053 ha
• 300 winemakers
What is the Vignobles & Découvertes quality label?
The Vignobles & Découvertes quality label is awarded to a wine tourism destination by Atout France (the French Tourism Development Agency) for a period of 3 years. This label aims to develop networking, promote the emergence and promotion of qualified products in line with the new expectations of tourism customers sensitive to wine tourism. The label allows the end customer to facilitate the organization of his stay and to guide him on qualified services.
In the heart of the Centre-Loire, the Destination Vignobles & Découvertes Sancerre Pouilly Giennois works in collaboration with tourism and wine stakeholders to offer you a qualitative offer, attractive and complete around the discovery of the appellations and vineyards of the destination.
More informations about the quality label and all the french wines on vignobles-decouvertes.com