🇫🇷FRANCE–Loire Valley
LOIRE VALLEY IS– AOC.- 70 @Nantes
- BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc 27% , Chenin Blanc 22% AKA=Pineau de la Loire, Arbois AKA=Orbois/ Petit Pineau, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Folle Blanc, Meslier-Saint-Francois, Muscadet AKA=Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot Gris, Ramorantin
- ROUGE= Cabernet Franc 18%, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Groslot AKA=Grolleau, Malbec AKA=Cot, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
GEOGRAPHY– France(West), REGION-Loire Valley, LATITUDE: 47.5° ‘N’
- DEPARTMENTS-Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Sarthe, Indre-Et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret, Vendee, Cher, Nievre
- Sub-Zones-Pays Nantais(West), Anjou-Saumur(West-Central), Touraine(East-Central), Central Vineyards(East)
- **Refer to “PROCEEDING CHAPTERS” For Detailed Information On These Sub-Zones.
TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Coast/ Atlantic~Ocean~
- On~Cher/ Sevre/ Maine/Indre~Nievre/Vienne/Erdre~Tributaires~to~Loire~River~Atlantic~ (360km.)
- Headwaters On Armorican/ Central Massif(Volcanic Peak of Gerbier-de-Jonc) to Bay of Biscay/ Bay of St. Nazaire/ Bay of Bourgneuf.
- Loire River is the Longest River In France.
- Headwaters On Armorican/ Central Massif(Volcanic Peak of Gerbier-de-Jonc) to Bay of Biscay/ Bay of St. Nazaire/ Bay of Bourgneuf.
- History- The Loire River Has Had a Great Cultural, Economic, and Historical Importance With Western Europes.
VITICULUTRE– 48,000 ha. Planted
VINICULTURE– 200 Negotiants, 20 Cooperatives
SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, “Sedimentary”, Granite, Decomposed Volcanic Rock
- Kimmeridgian Ridge- “Contiguous Limestone Basin”, Runs From Southern England to France.
- Tuffeau- Sedimentary Rock(Mixture of Sand and Marine Fossils Yellowish In Color), Form In Turonian Era(90 Million Years Ago)
CLIMATE– West- “Maritime”, With “Continental” Influence, Weather Lightly Moderated by Loire River.
- East- With “Continental” With “Maritime”, Influence
HISTORY– Viticulture Introduced to Region by Romans In the 1st. Century.
- 1700’s @Loire Valley– Kings and Nobles of France Used Loire Valley as Getaway For Hunting and Relaxation.
CULTURE– “Loire” +Pronounced…“L’war”
- GASTRONOMY… Mushroom, River Fish, Pralines | CHEESE… Chaviginol
- UNESCO. WORLD HERITAGE SIGHT~ ~Loire Valley~ (Culture, Landscape, Vineyards)
- “Monks & Monasteries” ~Loire Valley~
- ~Cistercian of Sancerre~ ~Benedictine of Muscatdet~
- ~Benedictine of Pouilly Fume~ ~Fontevraud Abbey of Chinon~
- ~Benedictine of Bourgueil~ ~Cistercian of Orleans~
- ~Cistercian of Quincy~
- ~Cistercian Monastery In Coulee de Serrant~
- Vines Planted Vineyards In 1130 and Vineyards Are Still Cultivated Today.
- PIONEERS~ ~Nicolas Joly~ “France”, Leader In Loire, Modern Natural Wine Pioneer.
- ~International Sauvignon Blanc Day~ (April 24th.)
- ~International Chenin Blanc Day~ (June 15st.)
**Refer to “FRANCE/ Home” For Detailed Information On France as a Country.

**Loire Valley Images Courtesy of Delong Maps, Purchase These Maps at Delongwine.com
CREMANT De LOIRE @Loire
- BLANC= Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay
- ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamey, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir
- GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(Greater)
- VINICULTURE- SPARKLING…Method Traditionelle(+AGED/+1 Year, On Lees)
- Cremant de Loire Can Be Produced From the Entire Region , From 13 Different Grapes From Any Area From Muscadet to Sancerre.
- Estate/ Producers- Ackerman de Chanceny, Baumard, Bouvet-Ladubay, Breze, Cave de Saumur, Deligeroy, Gratien & Meyer, Lacheteau, Langlois, Marcel Martin, M. Bonnamy, Monmousseau, Paul Buisse, Prince Alexandre, Souchherie
Indication Geographique Protegee of Loire
- BIANC= Any White Grapes Varieties Approved For Production In Loire Valley.
- ROUGE= Any Red Grapes Varieties Approved For Production In Loire Valley.
- VITICULTURE– Labeled– “Val de Loire” Wine Produced Non-Conforming to AOC.
VAL De LOIRE IGP. @Loire
- GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(Greater)
- VITICULTURE-
- Estate/ Producers- Delaille, J. Mourat
- SUB-CHAPTERS Of FRANCE LOIRE VALLEY
- Pays Nantais
- Anjou-Saumur
- Touraine
- Central Vineyards
- **Refer to These Proceeding Sub-Chapters For Detailed Information.
**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.