Vouvray

 The 2,000 hectares of vineyards in Vouvray produce 120,000 hectoliters annually, 65% of which are sparkling wines and 35% are still Vouvray wines. The vineyards cover stony hillsides on a substrate of tuffeau (white Turonian chalk) interspersed with converging valleys and covered with "perruche" (flinty clay that gives the wines their mineral character) and "aubuis" (clay-limestone that gives the sweet wines their power). At the edge of the converging valleys, the soils warm up quickly under the influence of the ocean, which penetrates to the heart of the vineyard. Sunny autumns promote over-ripeness and even noble rot. The production of soft (semi-dry), mellow or sweet wines depends on climatic variability: the vintage effect is decisive. In addition, great dry Vouvray wines are produced every year. The terroir is perfectly mastered at Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Domaine Huet, Domaine François Chidaine, Clos Naudin and Domaine Vincent Carême. 

Whether dry, sweet, mellow, or sparkling, depending on their residual sugar content and effervescence, white Vouvray wines are exceptionally diverse. Produced exclusively from the Chenin Blanc grape variety (Pineau de Loire), they are always flattering in their youth, with notes of acacia, rose, citrus, and brioche for the fine bubbles, evolving towards candied and stewed notes of apricot, quince, and above all floral honey. Depending on their sweetness, the wines are full-bodied or opulent, but always very fresh. The dry whites are rich and distinctive. The considerable longevity of Vouvray wines (10 to 40 years) is supported by the perfect storage conditions (temperature and humidity) of the deep cellars dug 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. Vouvray wine covers eight communes and 3,000 hectares, 2,200 of which are planted with vines. This vineyard can be seen on plateaus and hillsides overlooking the Brenne and Loire valleys. The cellars are nestled in the Tuffeau.

Vouvray 100% Chenin

100% Chenin is an extremely popular grape variety that produces Vouvray white wineThe vines grow in a temperate climate until the grapes are ripe and their sugar content and acidity give this Vouvray a perfect balance. This Vouvray wine is vinified into fine bubbles once noble rot or botrytis has allowed the aroma-rich grapes to be harvested. When the vinification period is over, this Sweet Vouvray is then consumed with many delicious dishes and goes perfectly with desserts or foie gras.

Method of vinification of Vouvray Chenin wine

The fruity Vouvray Chenin Blanc wine contains 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" (bottle fermentation). A natural gas is produced during fermentation and mixes with the wine to create the fine bubbles. The wine is aged for twelve months on slats in the Tuffeau cellars. This Sparkling Vouvray is different from other sparkling wines because its effervescence is lighter. It is classified as A.O.P. and is available in bottles of Vouvray brut, semi-dry, dry, or sweet.

Still Vouvray

This still Vouvray is named in contrast to the sparkling Vouvray. It is produced from the first natural fermentation of grape juice. Still Vouvray comes from Chenin Blanc grapes grown in clay-limestone soil in a temperate climate. The grapes are harvested when the weather is dry and sunny to limit the risk of disease and rot. Still Vouvray wine can be dry, semi-dry, sweet, or even a sweet Vouvray when its sugar content reaches or exceeds 60 g of sugar, which can go up to more than 100 g per liter. 

Visiting the Vouvray cellars in the Tuffeau is an experience not to be missed. Tasting these nectars is also an experience rich in aromas and flavors. And why not take home a few bottles of sweet Vouvray to accompany a festive dish or a dessert worthy of the name, or even a dry or semi-dry Vouvray white wine to go with a fish dish?