Day two of the Loire adventure saw us get ready to head to the Loire by spending a day in Paris. Nicole, Lexi, Krysta and I caught the Eurostar and two hours and some sparkling wine later, we were in Paris. We then took the metro to our Airbnb in the 11th. It was an amazing space, with an indoor garden and lots of space, including several bedrooms.

We dumped our stuff and headed over to La Buvette, a lovely caviste and wine bar with a great selection of bottles, largely of the natural persuasion. After quite a bit of browsing, we bought four wines, picked up some cheeses and snacks, and then headed to the Canal St Martin, where we joined the crowds on a sunny Sunday afternoon, sitting on its banks, drinking wine and talking.

This place is a real gem, and it was a beautiful afternoon: one I will cherish for a long time. The wines, even out of plastic glasses, tasted fantastic.

Interestingly, the canal’s construction was begun in 1802, and it was funded by a tax on wine. The canal was designed as a way to bring fresh water to the growing city, and also as a way of supplying various goods on canal boats. In the 1960s it was almost paved over, but luckily survived, for days like these.

Then, after drinking wine, we went back to the apartment to be joined Theran, a friend of Krysta’s, and we drank more wine.

This is an Alsace Pinot Gris with some skin contact, from Domaine Reitsch, with no added sulphites. It was delicious.

This is a biodynamic Gamay from Touraine, and it’s also delicious. As evening approached we headed out to the Clown Bar. This is an amazing place. A restaurant/wine bar with an epic list. As walk-ins we were lucky to be seated by Mees, who was running things. She managed to squeeze us in, and we had a brilliant evening with a succession of delicious small plates and lovely wines, most of which were selected and served blind to us by Mees.

These were some really interesting wines. The funniest thing was that Mees and our group hit it off – and when we told her what we were doing the following day – heading to the Loire and staying in a castle, visiting great producers, and suggesting that she should join us, she agreed. We thought nothing much of it until the following morning, true to her word, Mees showed up at our door by 8 am, ready to join us on the next stage of our adventure.

Loire Valley Road Trip

• Beginning in London
• Preparing in Paris
• Joseph Mellot, Sancerre
• Clos de Tue Boeuf, Puzelat brothers, Cheverny
• Taille Aux Loups, Jacky Blot, Montlouis
• Vincent Carême, Vouvray
• Clau De Nell, Anjou
• Bernard Baudry, Chinon
• Mélaric, Saumur
• François Saint-Lô, Saumur
• Coulée de Serrant, Nicolas and Virginie Joly, Savennières
• Vincent Caillé, Muscadet
• The film