The Loire Valley
France's most diverse wine region: dry to lusciously sweet, white to rosé to red, still to sparkling.
Overview and history
The Loire Valley follows the Loire River, France's longest, from central France west to the Atlantic Ocean. The region is France's third-largest and most diverse wine-growing region. It's surrounded by fields of fruit, artichokes, and asparagus. Styles here vary from dry to lusciously sweet, white to rosé to red, still to sparkling.
The Loire Valley was crucial in connecting many different agricultural regions to routes to market. The region was at one point the center of the French royal court and, after the court moved back to Paris, it remained a longtime getaway for the aristocracy. Today that influence shows in how much Loire Valley wine stays in the country: over three-quarters of the region's production is not exported.
Phylloxera hit the region hard in 1877 and the years following its discovery. At that time, it was estimated that over half of the Loire Valley's population depended on vine cultivation for their livelihood. As vineyards were replanted, the region benefited from the technical advances of the 20th century, and wineries were equipped with stainless-steel tanks, temperature control, and high-end presses.
Climate
Because the region is so vast, generalizations about styles and climate often can't be made. Many parts of the region get significant rainfall throughout the growing season. This increases fungal risk in the vineyards, but can also encourage botrytis, which is desirable for some lusciously sweet wine styles.
The region experiences intense spring frosts that can damage crops and wipe out whole vineyards, as in 1991, when around 90% of the crop was destroyed. Other recent years of intense frost damage include 2021, 2019, 2017, and 2016. On top of frost, the region frequently experiences both hail and autumn rain.
The Loire Valley sits well north of the equator (around the 47th parallel) and has a cool climate. As a result, its wines often have higher acidity, and some years call for chaptalization. Strong production of Crémant de Loire gives producers an option for years when the grapes struggle to ripen enough for quality still wine.
Pays Nantais
The Pays Nantais sits directly on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Loire River. The region has a cool climate and is often rainy. The risk of fungal disease here is higher than in other parts of the valley and is a constant battle in the vineyards. The vines grow on the ancient Armorican Massif, once mountains that have been worn down over millennia. This unique soil type offers the vines hard bedrock to break through and nutrient-deficient soils that are perfect for winemaking.
Muscadet is the most important wine produced here, and the Muscadet AOC region is the largest in the whole valley. Muscadet rose to importance after brandy production in the area fell out of favor and vineyards were replanted in the early 20th century.
Wines produced here are fairly consistent in quality and style: light, zippy, and dry. This consistency is often seen as a strength in export markets compared with other regions of the Loire.
Grape varieties
- Melon de Bourgogne (Melon B.)
Appellations
- Muscadet AOC
- Muscadet Sèvre et Maine AOC
- Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC
- Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC
Anjou-Saumur
Centered around the town of Angers, Anjou-Saumur is known for producing a wide range of wines: whites, sparkling, rosés, and reds; sweet to dry; large-scale production to small, artisanal winemakers. It is the Loire Valley's most productive region and has the most acreage under vine.
The soil here is interestingly varied. The Armorican Massif ends just east of Angers, where the limestone of the Paris Basin begins, extending east all the way to the vineyards of Chablis. Some refer to Anjou Noir and Anjou Blanc to describe the difference between the darker and lighter soil types. Anjou-Saumur is also home to the Loire Valley's only Grand Cru, in the sweet-wine-producing Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
The region gets less rainfall and higher average temperatures than its surrounding regions, which lets red wines fully ripen here consistently. The best red wines come from Saumur AOC and Saumur-Champigny AOC.
Savennières
Savennières AOC is focused on quality Chenin Blanc. It is a small, coveted area with only about 40 producers working the land. The grapes are hand-picked, and the vineyards are often farmed organically (upwards of 75% of them).
Grape varieties
- Cabernet Franc
- Chenin Blanc
- Grolleau Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellations
- Anjou AOC
- Saumur AOC
- Anjou Villages AOC
- Savennières AOC
- Saumur-Champigny AOC
Rosé appellations
- Rosé de Loire AOC
- Rosé d'Anjou AOC
- Cabernet d'Anjou AOC
Touraine
Centered around the town of Tours, Touraine is the Loire Valley's most recognized region. It covers the stretch where the valley's Atlantic influence turns to a fully continental climate.
A wide range of famous wines is produced here. Vouvray AOC is well known for its sweet wines, which depend heavily on the mists rolling off the nearby Loire. These constant autumn mists give the vineyards the perfect conditions for botrytis to develop.
Chinon AOC and Bourgueil AOC are well known for Cabernet Franc. The red wines are often very fragrant, with minimal use of new oak.
Grape varieties
- Cabernet Franc
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Gamay
- Sauvignon Gris
Appellations
- Touraine AOC
- Vouvray AOC
- Chinon AOC
- Bourgueil AOC
Central Vineyards
Here you'll find what might be the Loire Valley's most famous and far-reaching AOCs: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Both produce elegant Sauvignon Blancs in different styles. The vineyards are far inland from the ocean, resulting in a moderate continental climate.
Sancerre AOC used the required replanting with grafted vines after phylloxera to shift its plantings from primarily Pinot Noir to Sauvignon Blanc. The village sits on a fault line that adds pockets of flint to its dynamic soils. Because the soil types vary so much, Sancerre producers often highlight single-vineyard wines.
Grape varieties
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Noir
Appellations
- Sancerre AOC
- Pouilly-Fumé AOC
- Quincy AOC
- Menetou-Salon AOC