La Treille is a wine bar and regional restaurant on the Place du Général de Gaulle in the lower town of Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, France, positioned beneath the rocky ridge on which the Château de Chinon stands. The restaurant combines a serious Chinon wine programme with a concise menu of regional dishes that pair naturally with the area's celebrated Cabernet Franc production — one of the Loire Valley's most important red wine appellations.
The kitchen serves a menu rooted in Chinon and wider Touraine food culture. Rillons au Chinon, slow-braised and caramelised pork belly cubes finished in a Chinon wine reduction, is the signature dish and illustrates the restaurant's philosophy: local meat, local wine, classical Touraine technique. Tartare de sandre, the raw preparation of the Loire's freshwater pike-perch, demonstrates the kitchen's confidence with the river's fish. Tarte fine aux pommes, made with local apples and a buttery frangipane base, provides a characterful ending to the meal.
The wine list is the restaurant's chief distinction. La Treille concentrates on small-production Chinon domaines — Philippe Alliet, Baudry-Dutour, Charles Joguet, and a rotation of younger vigneron-bottled wines not often found in restaurant lists — covering both lighter gravel-terrace Chinon and the longer-structured plateau and côteaux vineyards. The sommelier's knowledge of the appellation is exceptional, and ordering a flight of different Chinon producers alongside the rillons is one of the most educational wine experiences in the Loire Valley.
The dining room is warm and relaxed, with wooden surfaces, low lighting, and a zinc bar along one side. Dinner service is the most animated; weekend lunch draws visitors from the château. Budget €28–€45 for a full dinner with two glasses of wine.
Signature dishes
- Rillons au Chinon
- Tartare de sandre
- Tarte fine aux pommes
Good to know
- Known for
- Exceptional Chinon wine list in the town beneath the castle — try the Clos de l'Écho Chinon Rouge with rillons
- Hours
- Wed–Sun 12:00–14:30, 19:00–22:00; closed Mon–Tue
- Reservations
- Recommended weekend dinner; +33 2 47 93 07 40
Location
4 Place du Général de Gaulle, 37500 Chinon, France
47.1670, 0.2375 View on map
Highlights
- Exceptional Chinon wine list covering small-production domaines — Alliet, Joguet, Baudry-Dutour
- Rillons au Chinon — pork belly braised in Chinon red wine, the definitive local combination
- Tartare de sandre — fresh Loire pike-perch in a confident raw preparation
- Set directly beneath the Château de Chinon in the lower town — perfect post-visit dinner location
- The best wine-focused restaurant in Chinon for exploring the Cabernet Franc appellation in depth
Tips for visiting
- Ask the sommelier to pour a flight of 2–3 different Chinon producers alongside the rillons — terroir variation across the appellation is revealing
- Order the Clos de l'Écho Chinon Rouge if available — it is one of the appellation's most celebrated single-vineyard wines
- The dinner format suits a slower, more educational wine experience than lunch; evenings are more animated
- Reserve weekend dinner 1 week ahead; the dining room is intimate and fills quickly
Accessibility
La Treille occupies a ground-floor space on the main square of Chinon with street-level access. The entrance is from the pedestrianised part of Place du Général de Gaulle. Wheelchair access to the dining room should be confirmed with the restaurant in advance given the historic building layout.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Chinon wine special?
Chinon Cabernet Franc is the Loire's great red wine appellation. Grown on tuffeau limestone, gravel terraces, and côteaux slopes, it produces reds ranging from light and perfumed to structured and age-worthy — all with a distinctive violet and red fruit character.
What is the best dish to order?
The rillons au Chinon is the signature preparation — pork belly cubes caramelised and finished in Chinon red wine. Paired with a glass of the same or a different Chinon producer, it defines the restaurant's philosophy.
Is La Treille suitable for wine-naive visitors?
Yes. The sommelier is knowledgeable and approachable, able to recommend wines at any budget and explain the differences between Chinon's various terroirs without assuming prior wine knowledge.
How close is it to the château?
La Treille is on Place du Général de Gaulle in the lower town, at the base of the castle rock. The château entrance is approximately 5–10 minutes' walk uphill from the restaurant.
Does the restaurant serve Loire Valley whites?
Yes. Vouvray, Montlouis, and Saumur Blanc are available alongside the Chinon-focused red selection for those who prefer white wine with their meal.