Coteaux du Loir

The Coteaux du Loir Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is a wine region in the Loire Valley whose production area spans 16 communes in the department of Sarthe and 6 in Indre-et-Loire. It was the Cistercian monks who began producing Coteaux du Loir wines in the Middle Ages. Recognized as an AOC in 1948, Coteaux du Loir production is, along with that of Jasnières, the northernmost in the Loire Valley.

The Coteaux du Loir vineyards cover an area of approximately 80 hectares, with an annual production of 2,700 hectoliters (50% red, 30% white, 20% rosé). The vineyard sits on a terroir of soft Turonian chalk, also known as tuffeau, which has broken down into flinty clay, creating sloping, very stony soils that are difficult to work but provide an ideal environment for the vines to thrive. Protected by the Bercé Forest to the north and benefiting from adjacent valleys and south-facing slopes, theCoteaux du Loir vineyards inthe region enjoy the temperate climate of the Touraine region, which manifests in numerous microclimates.

The Coteaux du Loir appellation produces red and rosé wines from the Pineau d'Aunis, Cabernet, Côt, and Gamay grape varieties, as well as white wines made from Chenin Blanc. The reds and rosés are often light and aromatic. They reach their peak within two years. Coteaux du Loir whites typically feature a crystalline golden-yellow color, with floral and fruity aromas accented by a mineral note. They generally age well for over 15 years. Enthusiasts of the appellation will be particularly interested in the wines offered by Domaine de Bellivière.