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Loire wines

The Loire saw its first vines planted by the Romans in the Nantes area, but it wasn't until the 5th century that viticulture really took off throughout the region. The Val de Loire vineyard route is the longest in France, starting in Nantes and ending in the Sancerre region, stretching between these two towns on either side of the Loire. Today, the Loire Valley boasts over 7,000 vineyards.

The vineyards of Loire wines reflect the diversity inherent in the mosaic of soils, landforms and orientations. Differences in terroir are thus fully expressed in the great variety of wines, even when they are made from the same grape variety. Generally temperate, the climate of the Loire Valley is oceanic in the Nantes and Anjou regions, while a continental influence is apparent from the Saumurois to Touraine, with oceanic flows progressively blocked by the relief of the hills. The Loire and its many tributaries play an appreciable moderating role. By fostering a multitude of microclimates conducive to vine-growing, they contribute to the great diversity of our wines. Their buffering effect is decisive in the production of the Loire's sweet and syrupy wines.

The great originality of Loire wines lies in 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 Centre, but also Grolleau, Pinot Meunier, Pineau d'Aunis and Romorantin.

With 63 appellations d'origine contrôlée, as varied and renowned as Saumur-Champigny, Vouvray, Anjou, Sancerre, Bourgueil and Chinon, the Loire Valley is France's 3rd largest wine-growing region, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Loire Valley is also France's leading producer of white wines.