Vouvray

 Vouvray’s 2,000 hectares of vineyards yield an annual production of 120,000 hectoliters, of which 65% are sparkling wines and 35% are still Vouvray wines. The vineyards cover stony slopes on a tuffeau substrate (white Turonian chalk) interspersed with converging valleys and covered with “perruche” (flint-rich clay that imparts a mineral character) and “aubuis” (clay-limestone that gives the sweet wines their power). Along the edges of these converging valleys, the soils warm quickly under the influence of the ocean, which extends deep into the heart of the vineyard. Sunny autumns promote overripening and even noble rot. The production of soft (semi-dry), sweet, or very sweet wines depends on climatic variability: the vintage effect is decisive. In addition, great dry Vouvray wines are produced every year. The art of working the terroir is perfectly mastered at Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Domaine Huet, Domaine François Chidaine, Clos Naudin, and Domaine Vincent Carême. 

Whether they are dry, off-dry, sweet, or sparkling—depending on their residual sugar content and level of effervescence—the white Vouvray wines are exceptionally diverse. Produced exclusively from the Chenin Blanc (Pineau de Loire) grape variety, they are always pleasing when young, with notes of acacia, rose, citrus, and brioche in the fine-bubbled wines, evolving into candied and compote-like notes of apricots, quinces, and, above all, floral honey. Depending on their sweetness level, the wines are full-bodied or opulent, yet always remarkably fresh. The dry whites are rich and distinctive. The considerable aging potential of the Vouvray wines (10 to 40 years) is made possible by the ideal storage conditions (temperature and humidity) in the deep cellars carved into the chalk of the hillsides.

Vouvray, an excellent wine from the Loire Valley

Between western Nantes and eastern Sancerre lies the Loire Valley and the third-largest wine-growing region, known as Vouvray. 70,000 hectares of vineyards in the Centre, Touraine, Anjou, and Nantes regions produce white wine, red wine, rosé wine, sparkling wine, and still wine. The Vouvray wine region spans 8 municipalities and 3,000 hectares, of which 2,200 are planted with vines. These vineyards can be seen on plateaus and hillsides overlooking the Brenne and Loire valleys. The cellars are nestled in the Tuffeau limestone.

The 100% Chenin Vouvray

The 100% Chenin is an extremely prized grape variety that produces the Vouvray white wine. The vines grow in a temperate climate until the grapes are ripe and their sugar content and acidity give this Vouvray its perfect balance. This Vouvray wine is vinified using the fine-bubble method once noble rot (Botrytis) has allowed the aroma-rich grapes to be harvested. When the winemaking process is complete, this Sweet Vouvray It is then enjoyed with a variety of delicious dishes and pairs perfectly with desserts or foie gras.

Winemaking Method for Vouvray Wine Made from Chenin Grapes

This fruity Vouvray Chenin Blanc wine features fine bubbles. This effervescence is achieved using a traditional method better known as the “Méthode Champenoise.” The wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, known as the “prise de mousse.” Natural gas produced during fermentation mixes with the wine to create the fine bubbles. The wine ages for twelve months on slats in Tuffeau cellars. This Vouvray Sparkling Wine is different from other sparkling wines because it has a lighter effervescence. It is classified as A.O.P. and is available in bottles of Vouvray Brut, semi-dry, dry, or sweet.

Quiet Vouvray

This still Vouvray is so named in contrast to sparkling Vouvray. It is produced through the natural primary fermentation of grape juice. Still Vouvray is made from Chenin Blanc grapes grown in clay-limestone soil under a temperate climate. The grapes are harvested when the weather is dry and sunny to minimize the risk of disease and rot. Still Vouvray can be dry, off-dry, or sweet; it is classified as a “Vouvray moelleux” when its sugar content reaches or exceeds 60 grams per liter, and can go as high as over 100 grams per liter. 

A visit to the Vouvray cellars carved into the tuffeau stone is not to be missed. Tasting these wines is also an experience rich in aromas and flavors. And why not take home a few bottles of sweet Vouvray to pair with a festive meal or a dessert worthy of the name, or a dry or semi-dry white Vouvray to pair with a fish dish?