Loire Valley Wine

The Loire Valley is divided into four major sub-regions, each with its own grapes, wine styles, and appellations. From the Atlantic coast to the heart of central France, these areas reflect the diversity of French winemaking.

• Known primarily for Muscadet, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.
• Wines are crisp, saline, and ideal with seafood, especially oysters.
• The Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOC is the best-known appellation, often bottled sur lie for extra texture.

• Centered around the towns of Angers and Saumur.
• Chenin Blanc dominates, producing a wide range: dry (Savennières), sweet (Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume), and sparkling (Crémant de Loire).
• Cabernet Franc is also important here, particularly in Saumur-Champigny reds.

• East of Anjou-Saumur, with famous appellations such as Vouvray (Chenin Blanc, ranging from dry to sweet to sparkling) and Chinon (Cabernet Franc).
• The region produces some of the Loire’s most expressive wines, both white and red, often with excellent aging potential.

• The easternmost sub-region, home to the Loire’s most famous Sauvignon Blanc wines: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.
• These wines are crisp, aromatic, and mineral-driven, setting the global standard for Sauvignon Blanc.
• Smaller appellations like Menetou-Salon and Quincy also produce excellent examples.

The Loire Valley grows a wide range of grapes, but a few key varieties define the region’s most important wines.

White Grapes

The most versatile Loire grape, thriving in Anjou-Saumur and Touraine. It makes wines across the spectrum: dry (Savennières), sweet (Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume), and sparkling (Crémant de Loire, Vouvray).

Exclusive to the Pays Nantais, where it makes Muscadet. Wines are light, dry, and saline, perfect with shellfish.

(smaller plantings)

Used mainly in sparkling wines like Crémant de Loire and blends.

Black (Red) Grapes

Found mainly in Touraine and Anjou, making lighter, fruity reds and rosés.

Grown in smaller quantities in the Central Vineyards (e.g., Sancerre), producing delicate reds and rosés.

Traditionally used in rosé wines (particularly Rosé d’Anjou), though less prominent today.

The Loire Valley is one of France’s most diverse wine regions, producing everything from crisp whites to structured reds, sparkling wines, and sweet dessert wines.

• Crémant de Loire (from Anjou-Saumur and Touraine) is the Loire’s flagship sparkling style, made in the traditional method.
• Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc are key grapes.
• Vouvray also produces excellent sparkling wines, often 100% Chenin Blanc.

• Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne, Pays Nantais) – light, crisp, and saline, perfect with seafood.
• Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (Sauvignon Blanc, Central Vineyards) – benchmark expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, mineral-driven with citrus and herbal notes.
• Savennières (Chenin Blanc, Anjou) – powerful, structured, and age-worthy dry whites.

• Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume, and Bonnezeaux (Anjou) – lusciously sweet Chenin Blanc wines, often made with noble rot (botrytis).
• Vouvray Moelleux (Touraine) – Chenin Blanc wines ranging from off-dry to sweet, capable of aging for decades.

• Rosé d’Anjou and Cabernet d’Anjou – fruit-forward, medium-sweet rosés from Grolleau and Cabernet Franc.
• Rosé de Loire – a drier style, made across Anjou and Touraine.
• Sancerre Rosé (Pinot Noir) – delicate, crisp, and pale pink.

• Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny – elegant Cabernet Franc wines with red fruit, floral, and earthy notes.
• Sancerre Rouge (Pinot Noir) – light, delicate reds with freshness and finesse.
• Gamay-based reds (Touraine, Anjou) – juicy and approachable.

The Loire Valley classifies its wines through the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system, with tiers that range from broad regional designations to specialized, high-prestige appellations.

These cover wide areas and offer accessible, everyday wines:

• Crémant de Loire AOC – sparkling wines made across Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine.
• Rosé de Loire AOC – dry rosés produced in Anjou and Touraine.
• Val de Loire IGP – broader geographical indication for simple, entry-level wines.

More specific areas where terroir plays a greater role:

• Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOC (Pays Nantais) – benchmark for crisp Muscadet whites.
• Vouvray AOC (Touraine) – Chenin Blanc in a wide range of styles.
• Chinon AOC (Touraine) – Cabernet Franc-based reds and rosés.
• Saumur AOC (Anjou-Saumur) – known for sparkling, reds, and Chenin Blanc whites.

Smaller, highly regarded AOCs with stricter rules on yield, ripeness, and production:

• Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé AOCs (Central Vineyards) – world-class Sauvignon Blanc.
• Savennières AOC (Anjou) – powerful, age-worthy Chenin Blanc.
• Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux AOCs (Anjou) – lusciously sweet Chenin Blanc wines from noble rot.
• Coteaux du Layon AOC (Anjou) – another benchmark for sweet Chenin Blanc.