The longest river in France is the Loire. In central France towards the mouth of the river in the Atlantic ocean lies the Loire Valley which contains a succession of wine regions: Pouilly sur Loire, Sancerre, Touraine, Vouvray, Anjou and Saumur.

Since the areas are a bit further apart, the soil composition and the climate are different. The wines therefore also have their own character per region.

Some of the best known and best Loire wines come from producers such as Dagueneau, Clos Rougeard and Baron de Ladoucette.

The Loire also has many grape varieties: Auvernat Blanc (Chardonnay), Auvernat noir (pinot noir), Breton (Cabernet Franc), Chasselas, Malbec, Gamay, Malvoisie, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Chenin blanc
Like the riesling, the chenin blanc is also a versatile grape that can produce dry to very sweet wines. The grape variety is rapidly gaining popularity and is also often used in blends with other grape varieties.
Taste
When the grape is grown in cool climates, the chenin blanc wines taste fresh. They have a high acidity. The flavour elements that dominate are citrus fruit and fl oral (flowers). The chenin blanc grape is also made from sweet wine with aromas of peach, honey and toasted bread.
Other
In South Africa this grape is very much grown; there he is called 'stone'. The value for money of chenin blanc wines is good. There are very good wines to obtain at very acceptable prices.

Gamay
The gamay grape stands for the Beaujolais. From simple beaujolais first wines to beautiful cru wines. The best beaujolais cru wines can ripen for a long time. In addition to the Loire, the gamay grape is not cultivated in the rest of the world.
Taste
In gamay wines, red fruit (strawberry, raspberry) with some fl oral tones emerges and by special fermentation methods often also banana. Especially the freshness and fruitiness is characteristic of gamay wines.
Other
The more simple gamay wines are often drunk lightly chilled (14 to 16 degrees Celsius).