Here under Loire valley region, you will find information about the wines you can find in the Loire Valley.
The river Loire, the longest river in France, flows north through the heart of France, then west where it empties into the Atlantic.
In the Loire Valley, plenty of wines are created, mostly white, but with a good deal of red too. Styles change as you follow the course of the river, according to the grape varieties planted and wine-making techniques practiced. But the one thing all of these wines share is that they are made to display freshness and relatively high acidity, and rarely is oak used to ferment or age the wines.
The climate and the soils are different according to the different places along the Loire. We can split the Loire into 3 separate sections. The Western Loire, around Nantes, is an area of low, sandy hills and the climate is cool and cloudy. In the middle Loire, the climate is mild with moderate rainfall. To finish, the upper Loire has a continental climate, summers are hot but short. The soil is a mixture of limestone, sand and chalk, known as "Tufa".
The western Loire is the home of Muscadet. This wine is neutral in flavor, very dry, yet high in acid. The one with the most character is Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine.
In the middle Loire, you will discover such well known wine regions as Vouvray or Touraine. The Vouvray wines must be entirely made from the Chenin Blanc grape, and they are often wonderful, with a honeyed, nutty character. Vouvray is made in an assortment of styles, including demi-sec, moelleux and sparkling. The Touraine is made from Cabernet Franc, including Bourgeil and Chinon. In addition, wines are made from Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lastly, the upper Loire is known thanks to the Sancerre. This world famous wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. At its best, Sancerre is an incredibly vivid, pungent wine, with grassy, gooseberry aromas and plenty of acidity.
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The river Loire, the longest river in France, flows north through the heart of France, then west where it empties into the Atlantic.
The climate and the soils are different according to the different places along the Loire. We can split the Loire into 3 separate sections. The Western Loire, around Nantes, is an area of low, sandy hills and the climate is cool and cloudy. In the middle Loire, the climate is mild with moderate rainfall. To finish, the upper Loire has a continental climate, summers are hot but short. The soil is a mixture of limestone, sand and chalk, known as "Tufa".
In the middle Loire, you will discover such well known wine regions as Vouvray or Touraine. The Vouvray wines must be entirely made from the Chenin Blanc grape, and they are often wonderful, with a honeyed, nutty character. Vouvray is made in an assortment of styles, including demi-sec, moelleux and sparkling. The Touraine is made from Cabernet Franc, including Bourgeil and Chinon. In addition, wines are made from Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.