Bourgueil, Chinon, St. Nicolas de Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny have already been noted, but throughout the Touraine excellent reds are produced, often a blend of varieties as in Touraine-Chenonceaux where malbec/cabernet franc blends dominate. Native to: The Loire Valley. Clients who claim not to enjoy sweet wines are often converted by these exquisite examples. Chenin is a late ripener, adapting well to the various microclimates of Anjou and Touraine to produce a stunning range of wines, including the famous Loire Valley sweet wines. World class white wines are produced throughout the length of the Loire Valley but differ according to grape variety, soil type and region. Tourainehas proved to be an ideal growing area for Côt, especially the Cher Valley as far as Montlouis, where it has become a serious competitor to Grolleau. Chenin Blanc is the grape mostly used, but Sauvignon Blanc can also produce interesting sweet wines in warm years. These appellations border the Loire river and, in the case of Chinon, the Vienne, and are protected from cold north and east winds by large areas of forest. Rosé wine can be produced in one of two ways: by maceration using the Saignée (Bled) Method, or by pressing lightly to produce coloured juice. It is one of the more aromatic varietals with many different nuances, all strongly influenced by the terroirs in which it grows. Very little Cabernet Sauvignon is grown as it struggles to ripen in this northerly climate. Did you know? Principal AOCs: Anjou-Blanc, Bonnezeaux, Quarts-de-Chaume-Grand-Cru, Coteaux-du-Layon, Coteaux-Du-Layon-Premier-Cru-Chaume, Savennières, Savennières-Roche-Aux-Moines, Coteaux-de-l’Aubance, Anjou-Coteaux-de-La-Loire, Coteaux-de-Saumur, Crémant-de-Loire, Saumur-Blanc, Saumur-Brut, Touraine, Touraine-Amboise, Touraine-Mesland, Chinon, Jasnières, Coteaux-du-Loir, Vouvray, coteaux-du-vendômois, Loire Valley PGI. Around the 10th century, this variety was known as “Plant d’Anjou.” The current name was popularised by Rabelais in the 15th century. Chenin is the Loire Valley’s iconic grape variety. Other Loire Valley white varietals worth noting: Malvoisie, Chasselas and Romorantin. It is the archetypal summer drink. When they conquered Gaul in the 1st Century AD, they recognized the climate and soil were perfect for vines and that the river made a convenient “roadway” to move goods throughout the empire. Wines will be aged âsur liesâ stacked on their sides in limestone caves throughout the region. Discover the friendly, diversity, fresh and fruity wines of France and explore the region they come from. Principal AOCs: Anjou-Gamay, Rosé-de-Loire, Rosé-d’Anjou, Touraine, Touraine-Azay-Le-Rideau, Touraine-Mesland, Coteaux-du-Loir, Loire Valley PGI. Vouvray and Montlouise sur Loire, often considered the home of Chenin Blanc, also produce world class sweet wines which couple low alcohol with naturally high acidity levels. It is the Loire region’s chief red varietal, introduced in the 11th century. The rapport between varietal and terroir, where diversity goes hand in hand with unity, is all the more unusual when one considers that some of the region’s great varietals are native to the Loire Valley - while others come from the east or south west of France. Anjou, the name of the region around the city of Angers, is associated with the often grimly sweet commercial Rosé d'Anjou as well as the extraordinarily long-lived, fine pink Cabernet d'Anjou. Chenin Blanc continues down the Loire, through Savennières towards Angers. Native to: the Nantes region, but thought to come from the Basque Country in Spain. Towards Burgundy in the east, Pinot Noir is the major red variety and those of Sancerre, aged with or without oak, can be very fine indeed. Sweet wines are the result of the concentration of natural sugars in the grapes during a good, sunny summer and autumn. As enthusiasts ourselves, we make a point of seeking out the best. Loire Valley wines are unusual in that they are, for the most part, produced from a single varietal: Melon de Bourgogne for Nantes area; Chenin, Cabernet and Gamay in Anjou, Saumur and Touraine; Sauvignon in Touraine and the Centre; and also Grolleau, Pinot Meunier, Pineau d’Aunis, Romorantin etc. After Cabernet Franc and Gamay, it is the most widely grown red varietal in the Loire Valley and is a vigorous, resistant grape, accounting for one sixth of the region’s total production. These moelleux and liquoreux wines can last in the bottle for decades. Native to: The Centre-East region of France. The white-juiced black Gamay grape is particularly widespread in Touraine, where it often makes a single-varietal wine. The Loire's most famous reds, Chinon, Bourgueil and St-Nicolas de Bourgueil, are made to the same recipe as Saumur-Champigny, indeed Chinon is virtually an eastern extension of it. Malbec is a black grape known as Côt in the Loire Valley, primarily used for blended red wines. Native to: Burgundy (Bourgogne). By the 12th century, it had already become a major winetrading centre. Sparkling wines are made in the Loire Valley in much the same way as in Champagne, involving a secondary fermentation in the bottle and the removal of yeast by Disgorgement, (or dégorgement). Gamay Noir is an ancient red grape from Burgundy that ripens early, a useful trait in the cool climates of the Loire. Did you know? It is often used to complement Cabernet Franc. This rustic variety was first planted here in the Middle Ages, and adapts well to a wide range of soils and climates. Arguably the best Loire reds are produced from Cabernet Franc grapes in the famous appellations of Bourgueil, Chinon, St. Nicolas de Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. All these things combined give warmer average temperatures than in the rest of the Touraine, greatly helping ripening. It is the region’s third most widely grown varietal, and expresses the richness of its Loire terroirs to the full. Rosé wines regularly go in and out of fashion but can be excellent with light foods or drunk on its own. Principal AOCs: Anjou-Rouge, Anjou-Villages, Anjou-Villages-Brissac, Cabernet-d’Anjou, Cabernet-de-Saumur, Rosé-d’Anjou, Rosé-de-Loire, Crémant-de-Loire, Saumur-Rouge, Saumur-Champigny, Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame, Saumur-Brut, Touraine, Touraine-Amboise, Touraine-Chenonceaux, Touraine-Azay-le-Rideau, Touraine-Mesland, Coteaux-du-Loir, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Chinon, haut-poitou, Loire Valley PGI, Did you know? Muscadets are the only wines in the world made from Melon de Bourgogne. Principal AOCs: Gros-Plant du Pays Nantais, Loire Valley PGI. It is most important in Anjou and Touraine. Commonly made into a single-varietal wine, Cabernet Franc finds its true expression in the Loire Valley. The same variety is used in Reuilly, Quincy, Menetou-Salon and several Touraine appellations, regularly winning awards for their fresh, dry whites. Did you know? Like most of the vineyards of France, we can thank the Romans for getting things started. Needless to say, the Loire produces excellent rosé wines and rosé sales are now outstripping those of white wine. In the Loire Valley the principle grape used for sparkling wine is the Chenin Blanc, with its decidedly un-champagne-like flavours and fantastically low prices. A unique journey and a tasty experience. Developing earthier flavours over time, including forest floor, leather etc. Like Grolleau, Pineau d'Aunis (or Chenin Noir) was originally grown for its high yields. Other grapes used in some appellations include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc while red grape varieties such as Pinot Noir … Did you know? It is the region’s third most widely grown varietal, and expresses the richness of its Loire terroirs to the full. Did you know? The bleeding off of some of the juice not only produces a lovely rosé, but it also concentrates the red winesâ intensity. ALCOHOL ABUSE IS DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HEALTH , DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Did you know? Other white grapes include Chardonnay, typically zesty and unoaked and most often used in blends, Pinot Gris and the rare Romorantin, which is indigenous to the Loire and found only in AOC Cour-Cheverny. Principal AOCs: Anjou-Rouge, Rosé-d’Anjou, Rosé-de-Loire, Crémant-de-Loire, Saumur-Brut , Coteaux-du-Vendômois, Loire Valley PGI. Loire Valley produces a great deal of excellent white wine but this is not to say that you cannot find great red wine in the Loire; you just have to know where to look. Principal AOCs: Rosé-de-Loire, Touraine, Touraine-Amboise, Touraine-Azay-Le-Rideau, Touraine-Chenonceaux, Touraine-Mesland, Coteaux-du-Loir, Loire Valley PGI. Small villages, packed with wineries, are linked by roads packed with tractors. It can also be found in the east of Touraine. Most regions of the Loire Valley produce white wine but some stand out as being amongst the best in the world. By the Middle Ages, the Loire was at the heart of France. Our tours give you a unique opportunity to taste these wines, look at the production facilities and often meet the owners. The red wines of the Loire are arguably in the shadow of their more celebrated white relatives, though they have long been popular in the restaurant trade thanks to their freshness and excellent value for money.
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