Montlouis-sur-Loire

For centuries, the white wine produced on both sides of the Loire—in Montlouis-sur-Loire and Vouvray—was known as “Vouvray wine.” It was only with the creation of the appellations d’origine contrôlée that Montlouis, aware of its distinctiveness, gained its independence and became a communal appellation by decree on December 6, 1938. The Montlouis-sur-Loire appellation d’origine contrôlée extends its appellation area upstream from Tours, in the interfluve of the Loire and Cher rivers, at the meeting point of the two valleys, on a promontory sloping southeast. It spans three communes

At the summit of the promontory, the soil of Montlouis-sur-Loire consists of clay overlaid with sand blown in from the Loire and Cher rivers and coarse elements of flint and chalk. Tuffeau (Turonian chalk) remains within reach of the roots. Bordered by natural geographical boundaries (the Loire to the north, the Cher to the south, and the Amboise forest massif to the east), Montlouis-sur-Loire enjoys particularly mild climatic conditions: oceanic influences penetrate through the two wide-open valleys, which promotes the overripening of the grapes and produces highly mature dry white wines. The production of sweet (semi-dry) or dessert wines depends on climatic variability: the vintage effect is decisive.

Planted across approximately 370 hectares, the vineyards of Montlouis-sur-Loire yield an annual production of about 15,000 hectoliters, of which 45% are still wines and 55% are sparkling wines. Montlouis-sur-Loire wines are made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety (Pineau de la Loire). They feature a deep, luminous straw-yellow color for the sparkling and semi-sparkling wines, which tends toward a golden hue with amber highlights for the sweet wines when fully mature. Always appealing in their youth (white flowers, verbena, citrus, and brioche for the fine-bubbled wines), Montlouis wines develop notes of almonds, quince, honey, and wax, with a pronounced minerality. Depending on their sweetness, Montlouis-sur-Loire wines are tender, full-bodied, or opulent, yet always exceptionally fresh. The dry whites are rich and elegant. Montlouis-sur-Loire wines have great aging potential, with very delicate evolution during the first decade and a gradual blossoming. These qualities are fully reflected in the wines offered by Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Domaine François Chidaine, and Domaine du Rocher des Violettes.