The Grapevine’s next winetasting is Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 7pm at the Berkeley City Club. Since July 14 is Bastille Day, it seems appropriate to do wines from somewhere in France. After considering all the choices, any white wine from the Loire Valley will be the wines to be tasted.

The Loire Valley is a beautiful place famous for the many Chateaux that line the river. It is also home to one of the most varied selection of wines in all of France. There are red wines from the Loire, but there are many different white wines to explore. Let’s stick to the whites to begin with!

Familiar names such as Muscadet and Sancerre can be found on practically any local wine list. Less familiar names such as Savenniers and Vouvray also produce excellent white wines. The grapes tend to be Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, but almost any white grape is represented somewhere in the Loire. These wines also span the spectrum with respect to price. A bottle of Sancerre can be had for $20 for example. They can also be expensive, so check around and find a wine you like and bring it to the tasting.

As a reminder, these tastings follow a familiar format. Each person (not each couple) will bring a bottle of the wine featured to the tastings. Wine glasses, tableware, bread, cheese, and wine tasting sheets will be provided by the Club in exchange for a fee of $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Attendees will be seated at tables of five to six people. You are welcome to specify if you wish to sit with friends. Often those requests can be accommodated.

Purchase your ticket here!