Romantic weekends in the Loire Valley
When the vines rest, the château comes alive by candlelight.
This winter, Château Challain opens its doors for something new: a handful of intimate weekends for two, built around the wines of the Loire. A wine specialist from our region has joined our house chefs to curate a menu and a pairing for each weekend — so every visit tastes a little different from the last.
Arrive, unpack, and let the estate's 72 acres slow the pace. We'll take care of the rest.
In the kitchen
Meet our house chefs
The two chefs who turn each weekend's pairing into a menu — and who change it a little every time.
James Sheridan
House chef
Irish-born and classically trained, James began in professional kitchens at fifteen, washing pots in a local hotel. He went on to some of the most demanding kitchens in Ireland and the UK — Thornton's in Dublin, Sheen Falls Lodge — and was sous chef to Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park in Devon. In Ireland he opened his own much-praised restaurant, Canteen, before cooking alongside Derry Clarke in 2023.
At the château he cooks with what the garden gives that morning: technique over decoration, flavour over fuss.
Maxime
House chef
Passionate about gastronomy and wine, Maxime turned his love of good food and fine wine into his profession. After several years in fine-dining restaurants and event catering, he became chef at Château Challain.
His cooking is honest, generous and seasonal, built on quality ingredients — with a special love of the pleasure of sharing and the art of pairing food and wine.
At the Table
Curated by
Laurence Gensac
www.vinolore.com
Passionate, curious, and an epicurean, I have been working in the world of wine for over fifteen years, both in France and internationally. A trained sommelier and polyglot, I hold a dual Master’s degree in International Wine Business, as well as a vocational diploma (Bac Pro) in Viticulture and Oenology.
My career has taken me to several countries—from the United States to Italy, and eventually to Norway, where I served as a Purchasing Manager for a wine importer.
These experiences have allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of wine—encompassing technical, commercial, human, and gastronomic aspects—and, above all, to grasp the realities faced by those who produce, select, and market it.
Two evenings, two characters
The Wine Dinners
Friday
The Whites
Crisp, mineral and generous — the white wines the Loire is famous for.
Saturday
The Reds
Supple, fragrant reds, poured alongside a richer winter menu.
Prefer red on Friday, or white on Saturday? Both are always available on request — and local sparkling wines are never far away.
Unwind, or try something new
Your free afternoon
Settle in by the firepits with a good book — or, on selected weekends, add an activity.
Minimum 4 couples per option.
Archery — €250 per couple
On the château grounds
Clay pigeon shooting — €250 per couple
With an instructor
Cooking class — €250 pp
Alongside our house chefs
Painting class — €150 pp
Array of subjects and levels
Activities vary by weekend and carry a supplement. Ask us what's on for your dates.
November – April
The weekends
Twelve weekends, two each month. Suites are limited.
Each will come with surprises.
Arrive Friday or Saturday
Stay Friday to Sunday, or Saturday to Monday — whichever suits you. Dates above show the Saturday of each weekend.
Choose your suite
Château Suites
Sleep within the Neo-Gothic walls, with views across the park.
From €2,150 per couple
Coach House Suites
The same service and dinners, steps from the château.
From €1,850 per couple
Both include 2 nights, 2 paired dinners, 2 breakfasts and 1 afternoon tea.
Reserve your weekend for two
Each weekend welcomes only a few couples. Choose your date and suite, and we'll take it from there.
Book Wine & Rosesor write to us at Cynthia@chateauchallain.com · +1-908-489-5005
The rest of the year
From spring through autumn, Château Challain hosts weddings and private celebrations on our 72-acre estate.