The Valley of the Loire is one of the most fascinating field of discovery for the wine drinker. In fact its selection is complete. Primarly it is a great white wine district, with a variety ranging from the light, dry wines of Muscadet to the rich, liquoreux wines of the Couteaux du Layon. Even though almost the 75% of the total production of the region is white wine, Loire Valley has a great production of Red and Rosé wines. White graps are grown mainly on both banks of the river and red grapes are grown on the hills. The geographical position of Loire Valley is in the Middle-West of France. The different wine areas follow the Loire river from its origin in the Massif Central until it reachs its first major vineyards around Sancerre. The Loire then reaches Orleans and Touraine, Anjou and Muscadet which is not a geographical area but the local name for the grape used, the Melon of Burgundy. Each area is then full of sub-divisions and different appelations which sometimes derive from the river or from its tributaries: Anjou Coteaux de la Loire or Muscadet de Sevre. The region ends after Nantes in the Atlantic coast. The most important variety of white grape is Chenin Blanc, known locally as the Pinot of the Loire. The other white grapes used are Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet, or Melon of Burgundy. For reds and rose’ wines the most popular grapes are Cabernet Franc and Gamay. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir complete the selection in the Loire Valley. The most popular wines of the Loire Valley starting from the east side of the region are: Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, Touraine, Vouvray, Bourgueil, Chinon, Anjou, Saumur, Coteaux du Layon and Muscadet.
Several appelations are present in the Loire Valley,but the most popular are:
Appellation Sancerre Controlée
Appellation Pouilly Fumé Controlée
Appellation Touraine Mesland Controlée
Appellation Touraine Azay le Rideau Controlée
Appellation Touraine Noble Joué Controlée
Appellation Touraine Amboise Controlée
Appellation Vouvray Controlée
Appellation Bourgueil Controlée
Appellation Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil Controlée
Appellation Saumur Champigny Controlée
Appellation Saumur Controlée
Appellation Cabernet de Saumur Controlée
Appellation Coteaux de Saumur Controlée
Appellation Saumur Rouge Controlée
Appellation Saumur Blanc Controlée
Appellation Saumur Brut Controlée
Appellation Anjou Rouge Controlée
Appellation Anjou Gamay Controlée
Appellation Anjou Villages Controlée
Appellation Cabernet d'Anjou Controlée
Appellation Rosé d'Anjou Controlée
Appellation Anjou Blanc Controlée
Appellation Anjou Mousseux Controlée
Appellation Coteaux du Layon Controlée
Appellation Coteaux du Layon Villages Controlée
Appellation Chaume Premier Cru Controlée
ppellation Muscadet Controlée
Appellation Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Controlée
Appellation Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire Controlée
Appellation Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu Controlée
Loire Region Information:
Weather:
West part of the Region: mild weather in the whole year because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean
East part of the Region: cold winters and warm summers
Main City: Nantes (600,000)
Production: 400 million bottles
Grapes grown in the Loire Valley:
White:
Chenin Blanc
Muscadet or Melon de Bourgogne
Sauvignon Blanc
Red:
Cabernet Franc
Gamay
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
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