We sell gift vouchers - for more details call us on 0115 911 0555 or email us at eann@gauntleys.com
We sell gift vouchers - for more details call us on 0115 911 0555 or email us at eann@gauntleys.com
As those of you who have been with us for some time will know, alongside the Rhône, the Loire Valley is one of our most treasured regions, having inspired many decades of exploration.
Known as the Garden of France, for over 600 miles the Loire River sweeps across central and north-western France, with its countless tributaries snaking out like veins through gorgeous and varied landscapes. From rolling hills scattered with vineyards to medieval villages and stunning castles perched atop lush forests, the Loire Valley is as much a visual treat as it is an oenological one.
The sheer diversity and scale of the region make it perfect for vinous exploration and the perfect playground for scores of ambitious and passionate winemakers to craft exemplary wines in every possible style. From the crisp, mineral and age-worthy whites of Sancerre and Savennieres; to the sumptuous sweet wines of the Coteaux du Layon and Vouvray; to the rich and exciting reds of Chinon to world-class Champagne method Cremant de Loire’s (sparkling), variety is truly the spice of life in the Loire.
The Loire’s winemaking history is inextricably linked to the river, which meanders its way through several distinct climatic zones, creating a diverse range of terroirs as it flows from its source in the Grand Massif near Clermont Ferrand all the way to the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes.
This multitude of unique micro-climates and soils (ranging from clay-limestone to granite to schist-stone, to name a few) allows for a wide variety of grape varieties to be grown successfully.
The Loire Valley consists of 51 individual AOPs (Appellations d’Origine Protégée), however, is divided into three main wine-producing regions, each with its own sub-appellations and home to several terroirs: the Lower Loire, Middle Loire and Upper Loire.
Sauvignon Blanc is perhaps the most widely-known variety and produces some of France’s most iconic white wines — Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. The Upper Loire is the home of these two celebrated appellations and is one of the smallest regions in the Loire Valley when it comes to wine production.
It is nestled among rolling hills and forests, far from the source of the river Loire. In this part of France, vineyards are often scattered due to its mountainous terrain. The climate here differs greatly from that of the Lower Loire, as it experiences hot summers and cold winters that create a unique environment for producing some of the most famous wines of the region, as opposed to the wet oceanic breezes of the Atlantic coast.
Domaine Daniel Crochet in Sancerre and Domaine Michelle Redde in Pouilly Fumé offer some of the finest examples of wines from these revered appellations.
The Middle Loire is a stunningly beautiful region centered around the historic cities of Angers and Tours. The diversity of exquisite wine produced along this stretch of the river is truly astounding. Chenin Blanc flourishes here in a variety of styles. It takes on a dry, steely and mineral expression in appellations such as Savennieres and Saumur (with exquisite winemakers such as Chateau d’Epiré, Loïc Mahé and Arnaud Lambert leading the charge); a more floral and exotic style in Vouvray and Anjou (fine examples include the gorgeous wines of Chateau de la Roulerie in Anjou); and a gloriously decadent and sweet style, made from botrytised grapes, in the world-famous Coteaux du Layon valley, with wonderful winemakers such as Domaine des Forges, who also produce a broad range of delicious dry whites and reds as well.
The Middle Loire, between Tours and Angers, is also home to some of the worlds most renowned expressions of Cabernet Franc. Starting in Saumur-Champigny (with domaines such as Arnaud Lambert) where the chalky subsoils produce a deliciously pure, light and approachable expression of the grape, contrasting the bolder, richer and more complex Cabernet Francs produced further downstream in the appellation of Chinon. Here the sandy and clay-rich terraces can produce complex and long-lasting reds that, at their best, can hold up against any in France. Domaine Beatrice et Pascal Lambert is one of the finest proponents of Chinon around.
Finally, we come to the Lower Loire, where white Muscadet rules, made from Melon du Bourgogne. Based around the City of Nantes, close to the Atlantic coast, the sea takes centre stage here – with its mild and damp weather conditions producing white wines with a distinctively fresh and salty taste.
By the numbers, Muscadet is the most-produced white wine in the Loire, and although these can often fall into the neutral, insipid, mass-produced category, some rise above. Specifically, Domaines such as Chateau du Coing, who specialise in late-release Muscadets with a great ability to age, and which are true showcases of what the best of Muscadet has to offer.
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