🇫🇷LOIRE VALLEY–Central Vineyards

CENTRAL VINEYARDS IS–    AOC.– 14      @Bourges

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc 53%, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Gris
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Gamey, Le Genouillet, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir

GEOGRAPHY– France, REGION-Loire Valley(East), SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards

  • DEPARTMENTS-Cher, Indre, Nievre, Loiret, Rhone-Alpes
  • Sub-AOC.’s– Cotes du Forez AOC., Coteaux de Giennois AOC., Cote Roannaises AOC., Gien Cosne-Sur-Loire AOC., Menetou-Salon AOC., Orleanais AOC., Pouilly-Fume AOC., Quincy AOC., Reuilly AOC., Sancerre AOC., Valencay AOC.

TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. +Alt. 107mt.- 366mt.

  • On~Cher~River~Tributary~Loire~River~

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Silex, Chalk, Gravel, Tufa, Marl

  • Oxfordian Era Formation- MYA. Caillottes(Small Limestone Pieces, Flint)
  • Kimmeridgian Era Formaton- MYA. Terres Blanches(Clay)
  • Tuffeau- Yellowish, Sedimentary Rock(Mixture of Sand and Marine Fossils)
    • Form In Turonian Era(90 Million Years Ago)
  • Silex(Siliceous Rock With Flint)

CLIMATE– “Continental” With “Mediterranean” Influence

  • *Summers– Warm, Dry     |   *Winters– Cold, Wet

VITICULTURE– 5,900 ha. Planted

CULTURE–  AKA= “Eastern Loire”, “Upper Loire”

**Refer to “FRANCE/ Home” For Detailed Information On France as a Country.

**Central Vineyard Map Images Courtesy of Delong Maps, Purchase Maps at Delongwine.com

ORLEANAIS AOC.     @Orleans

  • BLANC= Auvernat Blanc AKA=Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards(North-West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Loiret, @Hw.#E60, “Non-Contiguous(3)”, LATITUDE: 48° ‘N’
    • COMMUNES-(13)-Baule, Beaugency, Chery, Clery-Saint-Andre, Mardie, Mareau-Aux-Pres, Meung-sur-Loire, Mezieres-Lez-Clery, Olivet, Orleans, Saint-Ay, Saint-Hilaire-Sant-Mesmin, Saint-Jean-de-Braye, Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle, Saint-Pryve-Saint-Mesmin
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Loire~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Kimmeridgian, Siliceous Clay/ Gravel
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”
  • VITICULTURE- 90 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Clos Saint-Fiacre, Reynald Heaule
  • CULTURE-  2006- AOC. Officially Established.
    • AKA=Cote de Gien
    • “Monks & Monasteries” ~Orleanais~

ORLEANAIS-CLERY AOC.     @Orleans

  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards(North-West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Loiret, @Hw.#E60, LATITUDE: 48° ‘N’
    • COMMUNES-Chery, Clery-St.-Andre, Mezieres-Lez-Clery, Olivet, St.-Hilaire-St.-Mesmin, St.-Pryve-St. Mesmin
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Loire~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Kimmeridgian, Siliceous Clay/ Gravel
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”
  • VITICULTURE- 28 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-  Benedicte & Hubert Piel, Clos St.-Fiacre, Valerie Deneufbourg
  • CULTURE-  2006- AOC. Officially Established.

COTEAUX De GIENNOIS AOC.    @Gien

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards
    • DEPARTMENT-Cher, @Hw.#A77, BORDERS-Sancerre(South-West)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Loire~River~(East)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”
  • VITICULTURE- 190 ha. Planted
  • VINICULTURE- Rose
    • Estate/ Producers- Clement & Florian Berthier, Joseph Mellot, Matheus Coste, Villargeau

GIEN COSNE-Sur-LOIRE AOC.      @

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards
    • DEPARTMENT-Cher, @Hw.#A77
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”
  • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-

POUILLY-FUME AOC.     @Pouilly-Sur-Loire

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc, Chasselas
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards(East)
    • DEPARTMENT-Cher, Nievre, @Hw.#A77
    • BORDERS-Coteaux du Giennois AOC.(North), Sancerre AOC.(West)
    • VILLAGES-Garchu, Mesves-sur-Loire, Pouilly-sur-Loire, St. Andelain, St. Laurent-l’Abbaye, St. Martin-sur-Nohain, Tracy-sur-Loire
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Loire~River~(East)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Kimmeridgian, Caillottes(Small Limestone Pieces, Flint), Marl
  • CLIMATE- “Mediterranean” With “Continental” Influence
  • VITICULTURE- 1,380 ha. Planted,  HARVEST/ -75 Hectoliter per Hectare
    • Estate/ Producers- A. Cailbourdin, Alexandre Bain(Nat.Pro.), Bouchie-Chatellier(22ha.), Chatelain, Comte Henry d’Assay, Didier Dagueneau, Francis Blanchet, Fournier Pere & Fils, Jean Pabiot, Lacheteau, Marc Deschamps, Masson-Blondelet, Michel Redde et Fils, Patrice Moreux(4.4ha.), Pascal Jolivet, Pastou, Pe, Saget la Perriere, Tinel-Blondelet, Quintessence
    • Vineyards- En Chailloux, Clos du Paladi(.39ha.), Pur Sang
  • CULTURE- “Pouilly-Fume”…+Pronounced…“Poo-yee Foo-may”
    • 1937- AOC. Officially Established.
    • ~Etymology~ Fume/ Smoke…Named After the Struct Gun Flint Aroma of the Wines.
    • “Monk & Monasteries”  ~La Charite-Sur-Loire~

POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE AOC.     @Pouilly-Sur-Loire

  • BLANC= Chasselas
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards(East)
    • DEPARTMENT-Nievre
    • COMMUNES-(7)-Garchy, Mesves-sur-Loire, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Andelain, Saint-Laurent-l’Abbaye, Saint-Martin-sur-Nohain, Tracy-sur-Loire
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Loire~River~(East)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Kimmeridgian, Caillottes(Small Limestone Pieces, Flint), Marl
  • VITICULTURE- 60 ha. Planted
  • CLIMATE- “Mediterranean” With “Continental” Influence
  • VITICULTURE- 50 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Serge Dagueneau, Jonathan Diier Pabiot, Michel Redde
    • Vineyards-
  • HISTORY & CULTURE- 1937- AOC. Officially Established.

SANCERRE AOC.      @Sancerre

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc 80%, Chardonnay
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards, DEPARTMENT-Cher
    • BORDERS-Menetou-Salon AOC.(South-West), Pouilly-Fume AOC.(South-East), Coteaux du Gienois AOC.(North-East)
    • Sub-Zones- Bue, Crezancy, Chavignol, Menetreol-Sous-Sancerre, Vinon
    • COMMUNES-(14)-Bannay, Les Boucauds, Bue, Chavignol, Crezancy, Menetou-Ratel, Menetreol, Saint-Satur, Sainte-Gemme, Sancerre, Sury-en-Vaux, Thauvenay, Veaugues, Verdigny, Vinon
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. 146mt.- 366mt., On~Loire~River~(West)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Silex(Siliceous Rock With Flint)(In East Sancerre)
    • Oxfordian Era Formation- Caillottes(Small Limestone Pieces, Flint), Griottes(?)
    • Kimmeridgian Era Formaton- Terres Blanches(Clay-Limestone)(In West Sancerre)
      • Soils High In Clay and Limestone.(Exogyra Virgula Fossels)
  • VITICULTURE- 3,070 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- A & A Chaumeau, Alphonse Mellot, Carrou, Chevreau, Claude Riffault(13.5ha.), La Croix St-Laurent(10ha.), Daniel Crochet, David Sautereau, Didier Dagueneau, Etienne & Sebastien Riffault, Fournier, Francois Cotat, Gerard Boulay(9ha.), Gerard Fiou, Girault, Henri Bailly, Henri Bourgeois(70ha.), Henry Natter, Hubert Brochard, J. de Villebois, Jean-Paul Picard, Jean-Max Roger, Langlois(15ha.), Lucien Crochet(26ha.), Martin, Pascal Cotat, Pastou, Patrick Noel, Paul Prieur & Fil, Pierre Riffault, Poussie, Pierre Martin, Reverdy-Docroux(30ha.), Le Roi des Peirres, Saget La Perriere, Vacheron, Vincent Delaporte, Vincent Pinard
    • Vineyards- Les Baconets, Les Baconets, Les Beltins, Les Bouffants, Les Buronnes, Les Chaintres, Les Challoux, Champ Clos, Champ de la Noue, Les Chasseignes, Chateau du Nozay, Les Chaumes, Le Chene Marchand, Les Cotes, Cote d’Amigny, Cote de Verdigny, Le Cote des Monts Damnes(35ha./45°), Croix Paignan, Croix du Roy, Le Croupon, Le Cul de Beaujeu, Les Demales, Fontagreve, La Fontaine des Vignes, Grand Chemarin, Le Grand Senais, Les Grous, Les Longues Fins, Les Luneaux, Les Marnes, Les Montachins, Les Mont Damnes, Les Mossettes, Moulins a Vent, Les Moussieres, Pain Perdu, Le Paradis, Le Pave, Le Petit Poitereau, Le Petit Senais, Les Plantes, Les Portes du Clos, Les Renarderes, Le Roc, Les Romains, Les Roulottes, Les Ruchans, La Rue de Vaux, Le Tout, La Valee, Le Vallon, Les Varvottes, Les Vauyons
  • VINICULTURE- Blanc,  Rose,  Rouge
  • HISTORY & CULTURE- “Sancerr”…+Pronounced…“Sahn-Sair”
    • 1936- AOC. Officially Established.
    • “Monks & Monasteries” ~Sancerre~
    • CHEESE~ Crottin de Chavignol AP.- Goats Cheese

MENETOU-SALON AOC.     @Menetou-Salon

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards, DEPARTMENT-Cher
    • BORDERS-Sancerre AOC.(North-East)
    • COMMUNES-(10)-Aubinges, Humblligny, Menetou-Salon, Morogues, Quantilly, Parassy, Soulangis, St. Ceols, Vignoux-Sous-Les-Aix
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. 175mt.- 315mt.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Limestone, Clay
  • VITICULTURE- 625 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Chavet, L’Ermitage, Henry Pelle, Isabelle et Pierre Clement, Jean Teiller, Joseph Mellot, Millet-Roger, Nicolas Girard, Patient Cottat, Philippe Gilber

VALENCAY AOC.     @Valencay

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Chardonnay, Arbois
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Cot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY– France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards
    • DEPARTMENT-Indre
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Cher~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”
  • VITICULTURE- 240 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Augis, Le Claud Delorme, Sebastien Vaillant

QUINCY AOC.     @Quincy

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc 70%, Pinot Gris
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Le Genouillet, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards(West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Cher, BORDERS-Reuilly AOC.(South-West), @Hw.#E11
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Cher~River~Tributary~Loire~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”,  Sand, Gravel, Silex, Pink Limestone
  • VITICULTURE- 340 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Andre Pigeat, J. de Villebois, Lecomte, Mardon, Pierre Duret, Sylvian Bailly, Trotereau, Villalin
    • Lieux-Dits/ Vineyards- Les Brosses, Clos de la Victoire, Gatebourse, La Pointe, Le Pressoir, Les Rimonets, Villalin
  • CULTURE- “Quincy”…+Pronounced…“Can-see”
    • “Monks & Monasteries”  ~Quincy~

REUILLY AOC.     @Reuilly

  • BLANC= Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Central Vineyards(West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Cher, Indre, BORDERS-Quincy AOC.(North-East), “Non-Contiguous(2)”
    • COMMUNES-Cerbois, Chery, Diou, La Ferte, Lazenay, Lury sur Amon, Preuilly, Reuilly
    • South of Vierzon-City(    km.)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly/ Terraced”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. 107mt.- 167mt.
    • On~Cher~River~Tributary~Loire~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Kimmeridgian Limestone, Sand, Siliceous Gravel, Marl, Clay
  • VITICULTURE-  280 ha. Planted
  • VINICULTURE- Rose
    • Estate/ Producers- Bernard Aujard, Chai de Reuilly(Co.-Op.), Claude Lafond, Dyckerhoff, Francois Carpentier, Gerard Cordier, Henri Beurdin, Jacques Vincent, Jean-Michel Sorbe, Mabillot, De Reuilly, Valery Renaudat,
    • Lieux-Dits/ Vineyards- Beauregard, Les Beaumonts, Boissieres, Les Bouchauds, Les Chatillons, Clos Fussey, Le Clos des Messieurs, Le Clos des Sablons, Les Coignons, La Commanderie, Les Conges, Le Croteau Loup, Le Croz, Les Enaudes, Figuier, La Fontaine, Les Grandes Vignes, Les Justices, Laleuf, Les Landries, Les Lignis, Marnais, Mirabeau, Mont Cocu, Mussay, Les Ombets, Les Pierres Plates, Pointe de la Motte, La Raie, Les Ruesses,  Les Sables, Terre du Moulin, Les Thaumiers, Les Varennes
  • CULTURE- “Reuilly”…+Pronounced…“Reuh-Yee”

COTE ROANNAISE AOC.      @Roanne

  • BLANC= Aligote, Chardonnay, Marsanne, Roussanne, Pinot Gris    
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, In Massif Central(North-East)/“Upper Loire Valley”
    • DEPARTMENT-Rhone-Alpes, (25km. Long, North-South)
    • COMMUNES-(14)-Ambierle, Bully, Changy, Le Crozet, Lentigny, La Pacaudiere, Renaison, Saint-Alban-Les-Eaux, Saint-Haon-Le-Chatel, Saint-Haon-Le-Vieux, Saint-Jean-Saint-Maurice-Sur-Loire, Villemontais, Villerest
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Loire~River~(West)
    • SLOPES/ Massif Central(Monts de La Madeleine), +Alt. 370mt.- 550mt.
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, Granic, Basalt
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”,  +Rain Shadow/ ~Monts de la Madeleine~
  • VITICULTURE- 210 ha. Planted
  • VINICULTUE- Rose,  Carbonic Maceration
    • Estate/ Producers- Alain Baillon, De la Paroisse, Robert Serol, La Rochette, Vincent Giraudon
  • CULTURE- 1994- AOC. Officially Established.

COTES Du FOREZ AOC.     @Montbrison

  • BLANC=  ?       |   ROUGE= Gamay
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, In Massif Central(North-East)/“Upper Loire Valley”
    • DEPARTMENT-Rhone-Alpe
    • COMMUNES-(17)-Arthun, Boen/Lignon, Bussy-Albieux, Champdieu, Ecotay-l’Olme, Liegneux, Lezigneux, Marcilly-le-Chatel, Marcoux, Montbrison, Pralong, Saint-Agathe-la-Bouteresse, Saint-German-Laval, Saint-Georges-Haute-Ville, Saint-Sixte, Saint-Thomas-la-Garde, Trelins
  • TOPOGRAHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, SLOPES/ Massif Central(Monts du Forez), +Alt. ?
    • On~Loire~River~(West)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Volcanic”, Granic, Basalt
  • CLIMATE- “Continental”,  +Rain Shadow/ ~Monts du Forez~
  • VITICULTURE- 120 ha. Planted
  • VINICULTUE- Rose,  Rouge,  Carbonic Maceration
    • Estate/ Producers- Cave Verdier-Logel, Clos Chozieux, Couzan, Gilles Bonnefoy, Madone, Poyet, Stephanie Guillot
  • CULTURE- 2000- AOC. Officially Established.

CREMANT De LOIRE     @Loire

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
  • 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.

Indication Geographique Protégée IGP. of Loire Valley

  • VITICULTURE- Wines Produced In Loire Valley Non-Conforming to a AOP.

COTEAUX De TANNEY IGP.

  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, DEPARTMENT-Nievre

COTEAUX Du CHER Et De L’ARNON IGP.

  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, DEPARTMENT-Between Cher & Arnon Rivers

COTE De La CHARITE IGP.

  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, DEPARTMENT-Nievre, South of Sancerre

VAL De LOIRE IGP.

  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley
    • Catchment Covering 14 Department of the Loire.

Upper Loire Valley

ST. POURICAIN AOC.     @St. Pouricain

COTES D’AUVERGNE  AOC.      @Clermont-Ferrand

COTE ROANNAISE AOC.      @Roanne

COTES Du FOREZ AOC.     @Montbrison

  • GEOGRAPHIC DISCLAIMER~ “Some Consider St. Pourician AOC., Cotes d’Auvergne AOC., Cote Roannaise AOC. and Cotes du Forez AOC. to Be Part What is Referred to as the Upper Loire Valley.  I List Them In Massif Central Because of Proximity and Similarities In Geography, Topography and Climate.”

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.