©Clos des Quarterons Le jardin des arômes à Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil|ADT Touraine - Skostrzewa

The garden of aromas du Clos des Quarterons

Situated between Tours and Angers, the vineyards of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil enjoy a prime location, between the Loire to the south and a forest massif to the north. In the same family for almost 2 centuries, it was in 2011 that the Clos des Quarterons made the switch to organic farming. This was the first step, before Xavier and Agnès Amirault switched to biodynamic viticulture.

A sensory paradise in Touraine

Take a deep breath of the scents wafting through the biodynamic garden. The medicinal plants flourish here in perfect harmony with the surroundingvines, creating an ecosystem unique to Touraine. Watch the ballet of bees foraging for lemon balm and verbena, while butterflies flutter around the lavender beds.

At the heart of this unspoilt area, the gardeners at Clos des Quarterons cultivate more than 150 different species. This exceptional botanical collection bears witness to their commitment to biodiversity and the transmission of ancestral knowledge. Let yourself be carried away by this natural symphony, where each aromatic note tells a story of the land.

Test your knowledge with the flavour and biodynamics app-game

Of course, biodynamics is a complex approach, respecting local natural resources and living organisms. In particular, it requires a thorough knowledge of the terroir (400 core samples were taken with INRA for this purpose), agronomic practices, cosmic rhythms, and also the virtues of the plants on which the winegrower can rely to protect his vines.

It is on this point that le Clos des Quarterons has worked to educate, bringing together a botanical collection of 150 species in a garden, and then developing the app Merci Gabin. Based on fun challenges designed to awaken the 5 senses, this one leads you to make the link with the aromatic palette of the wines, while helping you discover the use of certain plants in biodynamics.

Count on around 1h30 of play (€15), followed by a tasting of the estate’s wines.

Other options for discovering the estate

As a couple or with the family, opt for a visit to the “chai d’œuvres” in the colours of street art, or for the “local nibbles”perfect accompaniment to the tasting.

For groups of 6 or more, other options include a visit to a troglodytic cave, a ride through the vineyard on a scooter, and even yoga in the vineyards

Discover the formulas

Highlights

A sensory garden

Discover 150 species of aromatic plants in a protected ecosystem

Learn about biodynamics by playing

Test your senses with the Merci Gabin app and its fun challenges.

Original vineyard experiences

Explore the chai, do some yoga or go for a scooter ride

The secrets of a fragrant garden

In this plant sanctuary, age-old skills are passed down from generation to generation. Discover the precise gestures for pruning herbs, the ideal time to harvest seeds, or the subtle art of drying plants to preserve their virtues.

The gardeners at Le Clos willingly share their tricks: a pinch of coffee grounds to enrich the soil, judicious associations between species for optimal growth, natural techniques to keep pests at bay. These little secrets make the difference between a simple patch of herbs and a real living garden, where every plant finds its place in perfect balance.

The art of cultivating flavours

Meet the passionate gardeners at Clos des Quarterons, who will pass on theirunique know-how. Masters in the art of biodynamic cultivation, they will guide you as you learn the age-old techniques of harvesting and drying aromatic plants.

Explore their method of terrace cultivation, perfectly suited to the limestone soil of the region. Here, the herbs develop intense flavours, sublimated by the south-facing aspect and the natural protection afforded by the surrounding forest.

In the vicinity

As well as visiting other tourist wineries in Touraine, several events should delight wine lovers:

The Gourmandises en Loire: wine tasting on the Loire of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil wines, every Thursday morning aboard a traditional boat.
Wine Thursdays: winegrowers present every Thursday throughout the summer at Chinon’s Royal Fortress.
Winegrowers come to the table in July, and The Fascinating Weekend this autumn, driven by the destination Vignobles et Découvertes Chinon-Bourgueil-Azay.
And let’s not forget the many open days, which are duly reported on our page devoted to weekend outings.

Forteresse royale de Chinon

©Vendanges dans le vignoble de Chinon|ADT Touraine - JC Coutand

Chinon Bourgueil Azay, a destination with the Vignobles & Découvertes label