Fascinating Weekend Vineyards and Discoveries
Oenotourism and wine discoveries in Chinonais
About Fascinating Weekend
Fascinating Weekend Vineyards and Discoveries in Chinonais
The Fascinating Weekend Vineyards and Discoveries is a national oenotourism event that takes place every third weekend of October in territories labeled Vignobles & Découvertes. In Indre-et-Loire, it is deployed in the Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination, offering visitors a unique immersion in the Loire Valley wine world.
A National Event, A Local Deployment
Supported nationally by the Vignobles & Découvertes label, the Fascinating Weekend brings together over 70 wine destinations in France. The Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination, labeled for many years, actively participates in this event by offering a rich and varied program. The goal is to discover wine terroirs through original and accessible experiences for everyone.
Various Oenological Activities
The Fascinating Weekend program in Chinonais offers a multitude of activities: oenological activities in historic monuments, hiking and cycling tours in the vineyards, tastings and visits at winegrowers', sidecar rides through the wine landscapes, and visits to troglodytic caves dug into the tuffeau stone. These activities allow for the discovery of the Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, and Azay-le-Rideau appellations.
The Chinonais Terroir
The Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay territory is one of the major centers of Loire Valley viticulture. The AOC Chinon produces remarkable red wines based on Cabernet Franc, while the AOC Bourgueil and AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil complete this palette with wines of character. The vineyard landscapes, dotted with castles and troglodytic caves, offer an exceptional setting for oenotourism.
Vignobles en Scène: The New Name
From 2025, the Fascinating Weekend is evolving and taking the name Vignobles en Scène. The format remains the same — the third weekend of October — but this new name marks a desire for renewal and modernization of the event. The program continues to highlight the players in the Vignobles & Découvertes labeled territory.
Fascinating Weekend — edition 2026
2026 edition of Vignobles en Scène (formerly Fascinant Week-end Vignobles & Découvertes) in the Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination, from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026. Three days of wine tourism in the Loire vineyards, including tastings, walks, and unusual experiences with winemakers.
Vignobles en Scène 2026 — Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination
From October 16 to 18, 2026, the Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination participates in the second edition of Vignobles en Scène, the national wine tourism event that succeeded the Fascinant Week-end. Every third weekend of October, the Vignobles & Découvertes certified territories open their doors to (re)discover the diversity of French wine regions, blending culture, heritage, and sensory pleasures.
In Touraine, the event highlights the appellations Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Touraine Azay-le-Rideau, and Touraine Noble-Joué, organized by the Azay Chinon Val de Loire and Touraine Nature tourist offices.
Three Collections of Experiences
The program is divided into three families of activities: tasting experiences (tastings, food and wine pairings, winemaker meals), immersive experiences (guided walks in the vineyards, visits to troglodyte cellars, sensory workshops), and creative experiences (intimate concerts in cellars, exhibitions, artistic events).
Among the experiences offered in the Chinon region during previous editions: a day in the life of a winemaker at Domaine Charles Pain, a sidecar ride through the vineyards followed by a guided tasting at Domaine Grosbois, thematic visits to the Royal Fortress of Chinon centered around wine, or an oenological lunch bringing together wines from the five AOCs of the destination.
Some activities are free, while others are paid experiences requiring reservation and with limited capacity. The detailed 2026 program and reservations will be published on the destination's website closer to the event.
Highlights Fascinating Weekend 2026
- Vignobles en Scène 2026 (formerly Fascinant Week-end), October 16 to 18
- Wine tourism in the certified Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination
- Tastings, walks in the vineyards, and unusual experiences with winemakers
- AOC Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Azay-le-Rideau, and Noble-Joué
Prices Fascinating Weekend 2026
Practical information — Fascinating Weekend
Practical Information
Location
Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay Destination (multiple sites in Indre-et-Loire).
Dates
Third weekend of October (Thursday to Sunday).
Prices
Many free activities. Some paid activities depending on the providers.
Access
Several sites across the Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay destination. Refer to the program for specific locations.
Contact
Azay-Chinon Val de Loire Tourisme. Website: www.azay-chinon-valdeloire.com
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Where does it take place — Fascinating Weekend
Destination Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay (multi-sites)
Chinon, 37500 Chinon