Loira

The River Loire with its 1000 kilometers is the longest river in France. It is born from the Central Massif to Southeast of Lyon and extends northward by taking a tour to the west reaching the city of Orleans and then falling into the Atlantic near Nates, during its route crosses 12 departments. The Loire wine region begins with the big bend that the river takes to Orleans to continue to the Atlantic. The climate is somewhat mild and humid in the wine-growing areas near the sea and is continental inland. The dominant types of soil are: Terres Blanches, Marne Kimmèridgiennes, Silex and les Caillottes. Blanches are composed of clay and limestone with the characteristic of slowing ripening of grapes and allowing late harvest. The Silex is located closer to the shore of Loria and is characterized by a stony ground that has great ability to accumulate heat. The Marnes Kimmèridgiennes are limestone soils, characteristic of the Sancerrois area. The typical vines of the Loria are; the Cabernet Franc bred in the Saumur and Touraine areas, around the city of Tours, where we have the Chinon Appellation, placed on a sandy soil, and Bourgueil on clayey and dung-land. Chenin Blanc (from which some of the longest white wines are born in the world, such as Vouvray and Savannièere), which is cultivated in the Vouvray district. With Chenin Blanc there are 4 types of wines ranging from dry to sparkling wine, from sweet to sweet. Another typical Loria grape is the Sauvignon Blanc from which the Sancerre and the Poully-Fume are produced. The main wine regions of the Loire are: Pays Nantais, which is the area around Nantes, near the Atlantic. Pays Nantais are the homeland of Grape Muscadet, also known as the Melon de Bourgogne, which is a white wine with a fairly neutral taste but with good acidity. The Muscadet's great muscadet is named Muscadet De Sèvre-Et-maine where the wine is refined in contact with the fine lees so as to obtain a deeper product. Moving eastward, we find the Anjou-Saumur area where roses are produced (representing 45% of the whole production), for which the grapes of the Grolleau, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Gamay grapes are used.Samour is famous for its sparkling wines obtained from Chenin blanc grapes with little Chardonnay additions. Among the most important appellations we find: Anjou, famous for its red wines based on Cabernet Franc, Bonnezeaux which is one of the finest French sweet wines based on Chenin Blanc, The Coteaux du Layon famous since the sixth century for its spectacular sweet white wines based on Chenin Blanc, Savennieres where the world's largest Chenin Blanc is produced, and the two Appellations of Savannières, Couleè-De-Serrant, which is a seven hectare vineyard owned by Nicolas Joliè, one of the founders of natural wine, and Roche-Aux-Moines, a 17-hectare vineyard belonging to Nicolas Joly, Pierre and Yves Soulez and Madame Laroche. In the wine district surrounding the city of Tours we find the Touraine area, famous for the numerous Appellations using Cabernet Franc. Among the most important are; Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-De-Bourgueil where the best red wines of Loria are produced, while the Appellation Vouvray and Montlouis produce rich and long-lasting sweet wines using Chenin Blanc. Along the banks of the Loire is the Cheverny Appellation with its red wines based on Gamay and Cabernet Franc, and white wines produced with Sauvingon Blanc and Chardonnay. In the most eastern part of the country we find the central vineyards, so called because they are in the center of France. Sauvignon Blanc is for central vineyards what Muscadet is for Pay Nantais. With Sauvignon Blanc, French vignerons are able to produce wines that are the best in the world, particularly in the Appellation Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume. The Pouilly-Fumè production area is near Orlèans, where the land is rich in limestone. The wine you get is one of the most complex in the world, and the smoky name is due to the perfumes of gunpowder and flintstones that emerge from its bouquet. Do not confuse this appellation with Pouilly-Fuissè, which is in Burgundy and the wines are produced with Cahrdonnay. The city of Sancerre is located on a hillside on soil made up of chalk and flint sediments on which the Sancerre is made of perfumed wines of elder, fresh and crisp. Among the best producers in the Loria are: Thierry Puzelat, Domaine de l'Ecu, Domaine des Roches-Neuves, Domaine Sebastien Riffault, Clos Des Treilles, Domaine Breton, Clos De La Coulee De Serrant, Domaine Frantz Saumon