Loire Valley Wines:
Taste Your Way Through Five Appellations
by
Sarah Moreau
The Loire Valley, also known as “the Garden of France,” is famous for its magnificent chateaux and excellent wine. (Photo on left by Loire Valley Wines.)
The third largest French winemaking region and the first for whites, the Loire Valley counts more than 4,000 wineries, 140,000 acres of vineyards, and 51 appellations of origin. It produces more than 325 million bottles annually.
Loire vineyards are spread among five wine regions – Pays Nantais, Anjou, Saumur, Touraine, and Centre-Loire – each with its own characteristics of grapes, appellations, and styles. Here are some of my favorite appellations:
AOC Samur, Saumur: Fine Bulles Paradise
The city of Saumur is dominated by one of Fance’s most famous castles, the Chateau de Saumur. It is Loire’s wine hub – most of the region’s wine merchants have offices in the area.
AOC Saumur is known for the light sparkle of its Fines Bulles, the famed Chenin-based Loire sparkling wines that are both affordable and high-quality. The relatively cold climate of Saumur happens to be ideal for bubbles, similar to Champagne’s.
Fun fact, Saumur possesses a vibrant network of underground wine cellars due to the quarry of soft limestone carried out centuries ago. The system presents an ideal situation to age wines.
AOC Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Pays Nantais: Home of Muscadet
Scenic Pays Nantais borders the Atlantic Ocean in Brittany and enjoys temperate oceanic climates year-long. It has been producing wine since the Roman era. (Photo on right by Emeline Boileau Clisson.)
If you are in the mood for crisp, dry seaside wine, Muscadet is for you. Incredible for happy hour, it pairs beautifully with grilled fish or chicken. It also delicious with cheese, especially goat cheeses.
In general, AOC Muscadet Sèvre et Maine offers full-bodied wines with good aging potential.
AOC Rosé d’Anjou, Anjou: Summer Wines
Overlapping with the AOC Anjou area, Rose d’Anjou rosé wines are clear and bright with aromas of strawberries and red currants. On the palate, rosés are supple and well-balanced with a delicate softness to offset the fresh tang of acidity.
AOC Rosé d’Anjous are excellent summer wines and pair beautifully with BBQ foods such as spicy lamb burgers and colorful salads.
AOP Pouilly-Fumé, Centre-Loire: Sancerre Territory
While Centre-Loire is known worldwide for its Sancerre appellation, AOC Pouilly-Fumé, on the right bank of the Loire River, is also a force to be reckoned with. There, Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in vineyards that have been cultivated by the Benedict monks since the Middle Age.(Photo on left by Loire Valley Wines.)
Pouilly-Fumé wines present grapefruit aromas with notes of gunflint when coming from limestone and flint soils. Wines are mostly meant to be enjoyed young, but can go up to ten years for some vintages.
AOC Chinon, Touraine: Tourist Haven
One of France’s most visited region is Touraine. It is where kings and noble families built some of the world’s most magnificent castles and residences. King Charles VII even hosted Joan of Arc in the Royal Fortress in 1429.
It is also home to many well-known and exported appellations, including Vouvray, Touraine, and of course, Chinon. AOC Chinon is ideal for growing Cabernet Franc. Making up most of the region’s production, reds and rosés are almost made exclusively from the varietal. Cabernet Sauvignon is authorized to no more than 10% of the varietal mix.
Article written June 2021.
About the Author
An award-winning wine PR expert, Sarah Moreau helps the world’s top vineyards achieve visibility and awareness in the US. She writes articles and blog entries for Wine Trail Traveler with a focus on French wines. A WSET graduate, Sarah also speaks at various industry conferences across the country.
