Wines of France

Approximately 1000 km long, the Loire is the largest river in France and its vineyards are never far from its banks. Its source is very near the Rhone Valley, but the climate difference between the two is dramatic. The landscapes and climates of the large Loire region vary significantly from Nantes to Roannes, with maritime influences near the ocean and marked continental influences inland. The resulting multitude of different terroirs yields an incredibly diverse array of wines. With dry, sweet and sparkling wines that can be whites reds or rosés, the Loire Valley is the third most significant region in France in terms of wine quality.

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The Loire Valley is known for its gentle climate with mild winters followed by Atlantic low pressure systems that bring rain and humidity. Summers are reasonably warm, but not hot. The Loire represents the northern reaches of French vineyards due to its modest sun exposure and high humidity. The 500-kilometer stretch of the eastern Loire is less homogeneous than it appears, and its various microclimates provide different levels of sunlight, sun exposure and precipitation. It rains less in Blois than in Nantes and the hills of Anjou have better sun exposure than the plains between Blois and Orléans. Most northern grape varieties thrive in the Loire Valley.

The people of the Loire love wine, and their refined, distinguished cuisine is based on a wide variety of different foods. The fish and seafood are not to be missed, the vegetables ripen early in the season, there are many types of goat cheese and the climate is as well suited for growing fruit as it is for raising livestock. It is no wonder that the kings of France built their castles here and created a longstanding tradition of refinement and the good life. Many of France’s great historical events took place in the Loire, and today the quality of life here remains outstanding. If you are fond of beautiful landscapes, slate-roofed houses and French gardens, come explore life beside the peaceful Loire River.

The Loire crosses all of France, and it is not surprising that its vineyards are planted in a wide range of different soils. In the western part of the region, the vineyards of Nantes are grown in granite, shale and gneiss soils from the ancient Armorican massif. In Anjou, half of the soils are this same blend, but further east at the edge of the Parisian Basin, limestone soils take over. In Touraine, there are alluvial, clay, clay-limestone and sandy soils. In Sancerre, limestone prevails, with sandy or gravelly terraces. Because of this diversity, Loire valley wines form a large family that cannot be easily characterized with a single style. For example, Muscadet is entirely different than Sancerre. Each grape variety used must adapt to the soil and terroir in which it is planted.