Traveling Abroad

[Thraz]

The area most convenient to Paris is probably the Loire region. Mostly whites, but if you go to Chinon for example, you will find many red wine producers. They use cabernet franc and make light to medium bodied wines - many of them very good. Chinon is about two and a half hours from Paris, and is a very beautiful town with a lot of well-preserved medieval architecture. It's easier to stay the night if coming from Paris though (a lot of charming hotels right in town). If you think you might be interested, buy a few bottles of Chinon to try ahead of your trip, then call the producers of the ones you like, most are likely to be family operations and usually very friendly in that area. Then you can catch a chateau or two.