France's longest wine river
The Loire is France's longest river and one of its most diverse wine regions. It stretches nearly 300km from the Atlantic coast in the west to the continental climate of the upper Loire in the east, passing through a dozen distinct appellations along the way. No other French region produces such variety of grape, style, and price point.
The four main zones
Pays Nantais (Atlantic coast)
Muscadet is the signature wine, a bone-dry, high-acid white from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, aged sur lie (on its lees) for extra texture and yeasty complexity. The classic pairing with Atlantic oysters. Often underrated and underpriced.
Anjou and Saumur
Chenin Blanc country. Vouvray's cross-river equivalent:
- Savennières: the most austere dry Chenin in the world, mineral and slow to evolve
- Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume: luscious sweet wines from botrytis-affected Chenin, among France's finest dessert wines
- Saumur-Champigny: serious Cabernet Franc red, one of the Loire's best reds
Touraine
Vouvray: Chenin Blanc ranging from bone dry to richly sweet, plus sparkling. The same producer can make five different styles in one vintage. Chinon and Bourgueil: the great Cabernet Franc appellations. Lighter, more herbal and earthy than Bordeaux Cabernet.
Central Vineyards (Upper Loire)
Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé: the most famous Sauvignon Blancs in the world. Flint, citrus, and gooseberry on limestone and silex soils. These are the benchmarks against which New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is always measured.
The key grape varieties
- Chenin Blanc: Loire's most important and versatile white
- Sauvignon Blanc: dominant in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé
- Melon de Bourgogne: Muscadet
- Cabernet Franc: the main red variety, producing light, herbal reds in Chinon and Bourgueil
