Loire

Grapes and style

The Loire is the longest river in France and gives its name to a long, varied wine region. The emphasis is on white wine: sauvignon blanc in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, chenin blanc in Vouvray, Anjou and Savennières, and melon de Bourgogne in Muscadet. Chenin blanc makes everything here, from dry and taut to sweet and honeyed.

For red, cabernet franc is the most important grape, for example in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. Sparkling wine, such as crémant and pétillant, also belongs to the region, as does rosé from Anjou.

Location and soil

The vineyards follow the river from the Atlantic coast near Nantes deep inland into central France. This means big differences in climate: maritime and mild on the coast, more continental with colder winters further east. A fresh acidity is therefore a shared characteristic of the wines.

The soils also differ greatly: granite and schist in the west, tuffeau (a soft, pale limestone) around Saumur and Touraine, and chalk, marl and flint in the east. Several villages have caves in the limestone, which are used for ageing and storage.

Classification and rules

The Loire is not a single appellation but a collective name for dozens of appellations, divided into four main areas: the Pays Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine and the Centre, which includes Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Each appellation has its own rules on permitted grapes and yields.

Quality levels range from simple regional wines to prestigious village and vineyard appellations. Alongside the AOCs, a lot of wine is sold under regional designations, and sparkling wine has its own appellation, Crémant de Loire.

Ageing and serving

Ageing potential varies by style. A simple Muscadet or sauvignon blanc is best drunk young, whereas good chenin blanc, especially the sweet and off-dry types, can age for decades. Cabernet franc from the best vintages has good ageing potential but is also pleasant young.

Serve dry white wine at 8 to 10 °C, sweet wines a little colder, and cabernet franc slightly chilled at 14 to 16 °C. White Loire pairs well with shellfish, river and sea fish, and goat’s cheese. For examples, see Pouilly-Fumé and Saumur-Champigny.

Producers in our range

These producers feature in our Loire range: Clos Rougeard (Le Bourg, Les Poyeux and Le Clos), Didier Dagueneau (Pur Sang), Moulin Touchais and Baron de Ladoucette (Baron de L).

More from France

You will find more wines from France under Languedoc-Roussillon, Alsace, Jura and South West France.