A Visit to Chateau Fontenay
A visit to an art exhibition at Château Fontenay near Bléré ended with a wine tasting. Zut Alors! One we agreed on! What a relief. Jack Sprat* likes dry, his wife likes moelleux and never the twain shall meet. No more spending hours wandering up and down supermarket wine shelves saying ‘what about this one?’ Now, all we have to do is pop along to the friendly, family owned Château and pick up a box of Les Rangs de Pierre, a wonderful demi-sec. What a find. Not surprised it won a medal for the owners, independent winegrowers, who make wine the traditional way. Chenin grapes are picked and sorted by hand which is no mean feat when your vines cover fifteen hectares (thirty-seven acres).
The first Chateau, built in 1680, was destroyed by Prussians in 1871. It was rebuilt in 1890. As it ‘s the family home, the only way you can see inside is by reserving one of its stunning guest rooms overlooking the Cher. Even though we live just minutes away, we are sorely tempted to book in for a spot of gracious living.
Don’t go if your self-esteem is a bit low. How this family manages the Château, vineyard, park, forest, swimming pool, four chambres d’hotes, three gites, wine tasting, the café and its kitchen beggars belief.
*English Nursery Rhyme 1600s.
Post by Pamela (BA History of Art), Photography by Mark.
