WineGeese Society: Loire Valley Trip June 16 – June 20, 2023
In June of 2023, The Ireland Funds WineGeese Society travelled to the beautiful Loire Valley in France. The itinerary was packed with many memorable excursions, meals and wine tastings and a lot of fun.
For four nights the group stayed at Le Manor des Minimes Hotel in the town of Amboise, just three hours outside of Paris. On the first day, lunch was served at Chateau de Miniere where there was a wine tasting, then off to tour Chateau de Villandry. One of the highlights of the Chateau de Villandry was the ornamental Renaissance-style gardens. The following day included a trip to Chateau of Chambord, the largest of the Loire Valley castles, followed by a wine tasting at the Cheverny wine regions for Domaine de Montcy. On day three, after a cruise on the Cher River where the group glided under the famous Chateau de Chenonceau, the small entourage toured the interior to learn more about the castle. The day included a wine tasting of exquisite wines of the Touraine Chenonceaux appellation. Day four included a private-guided walking tour of Amboise including a visit to Clos Luce, residence of Leonardo da Vinci, followed by a private tour of the Marc Bredif and Vouvray wine appellation, and a cooking demonstration with a Michelin chef and another wine tasting at the owner’s private troglodyte.
On the return to Paris, The Ireland Funds WineGeese Society celebrated their last night with Irish Ambassador Niall Burgess and his wife, Marie, who welcomed the group to the Irish Embassy in Paris. The evening included a reception, followed by a tour of the embassy led by Ambassador Burgess and concluded with an elegant Irish dinner paired with wines.
“It was great to once again visit France, the ancestral home of the WineGeese, and its beautiful Loire Valley. Friendship is a hallmark of the Society, and it was fantastic to spend time with friends, especially Ken and Kerry Gorman who have traveled on all 18 WineGeese trips. A special thanks to Ambassador Niall Burgess and his wife Marie, for hosting the WineGeese at the historic Irish Embassy in Paris,” said Kevin Curley, Board Director of The Ireland Funds America and Chair of the WineGeese Society.
For the complete itinerary, please see The WineGeese Society – Loire Valley, France 2023
The Ireland Funds WineGeese Society celebrates wine, food, and art of Irish provenance from around the world. All activities are funded by The WineGeese Society members.
