Wine from the Loire Valley (229)

The Wine Region Val de Loire

The Val de Loire wine region is famous for being the second largest in France, after Bordeaux, with its approximately 70,000 hectares of vineyard area. Most importantly, it is more diverse than any other French wine region, producing a wide variety of red and white wines, rosés, sparkling wines, and dessert wines (French: vins liquoreux).

Four Major Wine Areas in the Val de Loire

For better geographical oversight, the Val de Loire is divided into four wine regions, which are further subdivided into numerous appellations:

- Anjou-Saumur

- Pays Nantais

- Touraine

- Coeur-de-France (also known as Centre Val de Loire)

Anjou-Saumur

The Anjou-Saumur area is the gateway to the "Garden of France" and the original region of Chenin Blanc, which is vinified here into complex and dense white wines with great aging potential. As early as the 13th century, the region was known far beyond its borders for its exceptional white and red wines. Today, the total vineyard area along the Loire measures about 20,000 hectares.

Pays Nantais

Pays Nantais, with the city of Nantes at its center, is located at the mouth of the Loire by the Atlantic Ocean. Its 16,000 hectares of vineyards mainly grow the Muscadet and Gros Plant varieties.

Touraine

The Touraine region has about 10,000 hectares available for viticulture between Bourgueil and Blois. Along the banks of the Loire and Cher, numerous white and red grape varieties are cultivated on tuff soil, producing an average of around 500,000 hectoliters of wine annually. Touraine is considered the home of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Coeur-de-France

The Coeur-de-France or Centre begins in the north of the Massif Central near the town of Gien. This is home to the white grape variety Sauvignon Blanc. Particularly, the wines from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are known for their excellent quality. There are several reasons for this.

In the AOC Sancerre, it is strictly monitored that the yield of Sauvignon Blanc per hectare is a maximum of 60 hectoliters, a general quality characteristic for good wine. Additionally, the terroir around the town of Sancerre, with its various rock and soil types, ensures diverse character traits for the white wines produced there. Chalky soils west of Sancerre yield substantial drops with excellent aging potential. To the east, flint predominates in the soil, imparting very mineral and spicy notes to the wine. Other parts of the area are characterized by marl and gravel soils, which produce especially fruity and balanced wines from the Sauvignon Blanc grape - all, of course, under the hands of winemakers who draw on their long traditions and have turned their backs on mass production. The freshness and vitality of the Sancerre wines are also aided by the fact that they are largely made without the use of oak barrels.

Crémant de Loire

In addition to the rosés and well-known white wines like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the Val de Loire is especially famous for its Crémant. This sparkling wine is made using traditional bottle fermentation. The designation Crémant de Loire is only permitted for sparkling wines produced in the appellations Anjou, Touraine, Saumur, and Cheverny. They primarily consist of the grape varieties Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Grolleau. The widely used Sauvignon Blanc in the region is not allowed to be processed for Crémant.

2000 Years of Viticulture in the Val de Loire

As in many wine regions of Europe, the most significant impulses for targeted cultivation in the Val de Loire and its optimization came from the Romans, who, after conquering what was then Gaul, contributed to the expansion of vineyard areas in the Val de Loire to satisfy their own demand. However, the indigenous Gauls quickly assimilated the knowledge of the Romans and ensured a continuous development. Thanks to the relatively easy and secure transport on the existing waterways, markets beyond the region could soon be supplied.

Castles and Wine in the Val de Loire

The Loire is the longest river in France, measuring about 1,000 kilometers. The river stretches from the Massif Central in the east to Nantes in the west, flowing through numerous French provinces. Due to its many twists and turns, the distance from the source to the mouth in the Atlantic is only 350 kilometers in a straight line. The many castles that line the banks make the Loire one of the most picturesque rivers in the country.

Geology and Climate in the Val de Loire Wine Region

With such a large vineyard area, as represented by the valleys of the Loire and its tributaries, it is not surprising that the soil and climate conditions are highly varied. The roots of the vines penetrate chalky, clayey, and sandy subsoils, as well as light gravel and heavy slate and flint soils, from which they absorb minerals and various nutrients that give the wines their different characters. Fruity-smooth red and rosé wines from the grape varieties Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Malbec can be found in the Loire, as well as dry to sweet white wines from the main varieties Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc, which showcase fresh acidity, delicate aromas, and fruitiness, making them particularly suitable for seafood and fish.

There are also considerable differences in the climate, as predominantly Atlantic influences alternate with continental conditions in a west-east direction, making a Muscadet from Pays Nantais hardly comparable to a Sancerre from Centre Val de Loire.

To get to know the diversity of Loire wines, several tastings are necessary, as a general definition of the drops from this wine region cannot be made.

Order Val de Loire Wine Online at VINELLO

VINELLO offers you a representative selection of Val de Loire and Centre Val de Loire wines, which you can easily and conveniently order online and have delivered to your home. You benefit from short shipping times, insured transport, and various payment options.

If you require more detailed information, it is best to contact our sommeliers by phone, who would be happy to provide comprehensive advice. We look forward to introducing you to the diversity of Val de Loire wines!