🇫🇷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.
  • 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.