Loire
Loire wines are elegant wines with character. Appellations such as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé have made the French Loire Valley world-famous as a wine-growing region. The white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc are in demand all over the world. The same applies to the Crémant de Loire, in which the Chenin Blanc grape shines.
The best wines from Loire
Vineyards and winemaking are deeply ingrained in the culture and legacy in third largest wine area, the so called Loire Valley, which is situatued in central France towards the mouth of the Loire river in the Atlantic Ocean. It 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.
Key grapes like Melon de Bourgogne, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc stand out. The Loire also has many other grape varieties: Auvernat Blanc (Chardonnay), Auvernat Noir (Pinot Noir), Breton (Cabernet Franc), Chasselas, Malbec, Gamay, Malvoisie, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Some of the best known and best Loire wines come from producers such as Dagueneau, Clos Rougeard and Baron de Ladoucette.
The history of wines in Loire
The Loire, France's longest river, has been an essential element in the viticulture of this region for centuries. Since ancient Roman times, winemaking in the Loire Valley has prospered, leveraging the river's logistical advantages to its advantage. Monks nurtured vineyards, making sought-after wines for France and England.
Grand chateaux in the 15th-17th centuries elevated its status, but railways and competition with southern and Bordeaux wines posed challenges. The phylloxera outbreak further delayed the region's recovery, making it one of France's slowest to bounce back.
Where exactly is the Loire wine region?
From a tourist's point of view, it is mainly the beautiful and often romantic castles that have made the Loire Valley so famous and given it the nickname ‘Garden of France’. But wine lovers all over the world are only too happy to ignore the enchanting castles when it comes to the wines of the Loire. Of course, this does not include the entire Loire. After all, the complete river is 1,000 kilometres long. However, viticulture exists ‘only’ for a good 300 kilometres along the river. And that is from the Centre-Loire sub-region in the east to the estuary in the Atlantic near Nantes.
The 70,000 hectares of vineyards are located on both banks of the Loire and its tributaries. In addition, the growing area is divided into four sub-areas, which in turn are home to the different appellations. The best known is undoubtedly the Upper Loire, also known as Centre-Loire. Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, with their Sauvignon Blanc varieties, are the two most famous appellations in Centre-Loire. The sub-region of Touraine, on the other hand, is home to Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Appellations such as Vouvray and Chinon are the source of the region's fame. Chenin Blanc is also the big star in Anjou-Saumur. This sub-region is best known for Crémant de Loire. The Pays Nantais sub-region, on the other hand, is located directly on the Atlantic coast. Here, the focus is on Muscadet, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape variety.
Which grapes are grown in the Loire Valley?
When talking about Loire wines, one colour in particular comes to mind: white. And there are good reasons for this. For one thing, white grapes account for the largest share, at 37 per cent. Now, one might assume that Sauvignon Blanc is the most frequently cultivated grape variety, simply because appellations like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are so well known. But that's not true. In fact, Cabernet Franc dominates the vineyards with a good 25 per cent. So, of all things, a red grape. Surprise! Sauvignon Blanc comes in second with just under 16 per cent, followed by Chenin Blanc with exactly 15 per cent.
Wait a minute! That's just 56 per cent! That's right. Because in the Loire Valley there is actually a great variety of grape varieties. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, Melons de Bourgogne and Chardonnay play an important role in the production of white wines. On the red grape side, Cabernet Franc is complemented by Gamay, Pinot Noir and Malbec. Incidentally, the latter grape is known here as Côt.
Climate and soils in the Loire Valley
Okay, this is where it gets a little tricky. The Loire Valley is so long that there are significant differences in climate and soils within the growing area. In the far east, for example, the French Massif Central still has a significant influence on the climate, which is much more continental here. In the west, however, the Atlantic Ocean and its mild, humid air shape the climate. And let's not forget that the Loire itself and its tributaries also have a moderating effect and, thanks to the warmth they store, extend the ripening period of the grapes. This is very important, by the way. Otherwise, it would actually be a bit too cool on the Loire and the grapes would not reliably ripen. And the risk of late frosts would also be greater. Unfortunately, these still occur regularly until May. But without the rivers, it would be even worse.
What applies to the climate can be directly applied to the soils: they are very different. The famous Silex soils, for example, are found exclusively in the Centre-Loire area. This is precisely why Sauvignon Blanc is mainly grown here. This is because the grape variety is the one that best conveys the flint note. In Touraine, however, tuff rock made of yellow and white chalk dominates, with an overlay of gravel, clay or sand. In some places, however, granite or slate can be found. Here, instead of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc thrives, for example, because the red grape responds better to this terroir. Limestone soils rich in minerals can be found around Saumur, while Nantais soils are characterised by slate, gneiss and granite.
What does a Loire wine taste like?
And here we have the crux again: there is no such thing as THE Loire wine! Grape varieties, climate, soils – everything is different! Fortunately, however, the wines can be categorised at least to some extent within their sub-regions. For example, there is Sauvignon Blanc from Centre-Loire. These wines are famous all over the world for their distinctive flinty note, as well as for their spiciness and fruitiness. A Chenin Blanc from Touraine or Anjou-Saumur usually has a pronounced acidity, which makes it a fantastic food companion. The same applies to the Muscadet wines from Nantes, which impress with their light fruitiness.
Red wines from Cabernet Franc, Gamay or Pinot Noir tend to show their uncomplicated and fruity side on the Loire. But that is exactly what makes them so charming. And then there is the Crémant de Loire! Most of the vineyards authorised for this sparkling wine are located in Anjou-Saumur. The Crémants from here are extremely diverse. They can be tangy and fresh, or ripe, or particularly yeasty and complex.
Wine producers
What food goes with Loire wines?
Why not start with a Crémant de Loire as an aperitif! This sparkling charmer will not only open your palate, but also whet your appetite for even more delights. If you have a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire in your glass, then it's best to grill a Dorade with it – or prepare some seafood. The mineral notes in the wine go perfectly with anything that comes from salt water. The same applies to a Muscadet. But we also have a Sauvignon tip. Because it is a perfect match with goat's cheese. Especially if you treat yourself to a Crottin de Chavignol. A Loire Chenin, on the other hand, goes well with poultry dishes of all kinds or asparagus. If the wine has a little residual sweetness, then it's time for a tarte tatin. So, with the wines from the Loire, you can perfectly accompany a full meal.
The classifications of wines in Loire
Loire can be divided into five wine growing areas: the Auvergne region, the Orléanais region (Centre-Loire), the Touraine region, the Anjou-Saumur region, the region of Pays Nantais, and the Vendée Fiefs. In the Loire Valley, there are over 50 protected designations known as Appellations d’Origine Protégées (AOPs) and several Geographical Protected Indications (IGPs). The name 'IGP Val de Loire' replaced Vins de Pays in 2009, and classifies the wine production. Having an IGP denomination does not instantly imply a lower level of quality than other areas without an Appellations d’Origine Controlee. It could suggest a wine prodicers decision to deviate from appellation restrictions, such as using more Cabernet Sauvignon than is permitted in Chinon.
Some significant AOCs in the Loire Valley are:
- Sancerre is renowned for Sauvignon Blanc whites, delivering crisp, aromatic expressions, alongside red and rosé Pinot Noir wines.
- Pouilly-Fumé is esteemed for its smoky Sauvignon Blancs, influenced by limestone and flint soils, offering unique mineral qualities.
- Vouvray is celebrated for Chenin Blanc wines, spanning dry to sweet styles, showcasing diverse flavors from crisp acidity to honeyed richness.
- Chinon is famed for Cabernet Franc reds, from herbaceous to structured styles with fruity nuances. Muscadet is known for its zesty, dry Melon de Bourgogne whites, perfect for seafood pairings with their lively acidity.