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Loire Valley wines

The Loire region saw its first vineyards planted by the Romans in the Nantes area, but it wasn't until the 5th century that viticulture really began to develop throughout the region. The Loire Valley wine route is the longest in France, starting in Nantes and ending in the Sancerre region, stretching between these two cities on either side of the Loire. The Loire Valley now has more than 7,000 vineyards.

The Loire wine vineyards reflect the diversity inherent in the mosaic of soils, reliefs, and orientations. The differences in terroirs are thus fully expressed in the wide variety of wines, even when they are made from the same grape variety. Overall temperate, the climate of the Loire Valley is oceanic in the Nantes region and Anjou, while a continental influence appears from Saumur to Touraine, with ocean currents gradually being stopped by the hills. The Loire and its many tributaries play a significant moderating role. By promoting the existence of a multitude of microclimates conducive to vine cultivation, it contributes to the great diversity of wines. Their buffering effect is decisive in the production of the Loire's sweet and syrupy wines.

The great originality of Loire wines stems from the fact that most of them are made from a single grape variety: Chenin, Cabernet Franc, and Gamay in Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine; Sauvignon and Pinot Noir in Touraine and the Centre region; and also Grolleau, Pinot Meunier, Pineau d'Aunis, and Romorantin.

With 63 appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOCs), as varied and renowned as Saumur-Champigny, Vouvray, Anjou, Sancerre, Bourgueil and Chinon, the Loire Valley is France's third largest wine-producing region, much of which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Loire Valley is also France's leading producer of white wines.