🇫🇷LOIRE VALLEY–Touraine

TOURAINE IS–   AOC.- 18     @Tours

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Menu Pineau AKA=Arbois, Pineau Blanc de Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc, Romorantin, Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc AKA=Breton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot AKA=Malbec, Gamay, Grolleau, Grolleau Gris, Orbois, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis

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

  • DEPARTMENTS– Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Sarthe
  • Sub-AOC.’s– Ambois AOC., Bourgueil AOC., Cheverney AOC., Chinon AOC., Coteaux de Loir AOC.
    • Coteaux du Vendomois AOC., Jasnieres AOC., Lucay-le-Male AOC., Montlouis AOC., St. Nicolas de Bourgueil AOC., Touraine AOC., Touraine Azay-le-Rideau AOC., Touraine-Mesland AOC., Touraine Noble Joue AOC., Touraine-Oislay AOC., Vouvray AOC.

TOPOGRAPHY– “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”

SOILS– “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Varennes(Alluvial Sand), Clay, Tufa, Sand, Gravel, Flint

  • Tuffeau- Yellowish, Sedimentary Rock(Mixture of Sand and Marine Fossils), Form In Turonian Era(90 Million Years Ago)

CLIMATE– “Continental” With “Maritime” Influences and Micro-Climates

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

VITICULTURE–  ?  ha. Planted

  • ~Etymology~ “Touraine”, Refers to Turonian Era, Which is When a Lot of the Land/ Soils Were Formed 90 Million Years Ago.

GOING THERE–  This Part of the Loire Valley is the Land of Chateau and Castles.

  • ~Le Chateau de Chambord “Castle”~  @Chambord
  • ~Le Chateau de Chenonceau “Castle”~
  • ~Le Chateau de Cheverny 3 “Castle”~  @Cour-Cheverny

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

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

COTEAUX Du LOIR AOC.     @Coteaux du Loir

  • BLANC= Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc  
  • ROUGE= Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(North)
    • DEPARTMENT-Indre-et-Loire, North-West of Tours-City(10km.), @Hw.#A28
    • BORDERS-Coteaux du Vendomois AOC.(North-East)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Loir~River~Tributary~Loire~River~
  • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- De Belliviere, Guindon

JASNIERES AOC.     @Ruille-Sur-Loir

  • BLANC= Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Malbec, Pineau d’Aunis
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(North)
    • In Coteaux de Loire AOC.(North-East), DEPARTMENT-Sarthe
    • North of Tours-City(10km.),  COMMUNE-L’homme, Puille-Sur-Loir
    • BORDERS-Coteaux du Vendomois AOC.(North-East)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Loir~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Clay-Sandstone, Clay-Silica Over Tuffeau
  • VITICULTURE- 65 ha. Planted    
  • VINICULTURE- Botrytis
    • Estate/ Producers- Belliviere, Gigou, Pascal Janvier, Roche Bleue

COTEAUX Du VENDOMOIS AOC.    @Vendome, Aze

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Pineau d’Aunis, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(North)
    • DEPARTMENT-Cher, Loir, COMMUNES-(27)-
    • North-East of Tours-City(10km.), @Hw.#N157
    • BORDERS-Coteaux du Loir AOC.(South-West)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly/ Plateau”, On~Loir~River~Tributary~Loire~River~
  • VITICULTURE- 152 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Brazilier, Le Carillon, La Cave du Vendomois(Co.-Op.), Du Four a Chaux, Henri Bourgeois, Montagne Blanche, Montrieux, Patrice Colin, Les Vignerons du Vendomois
    • Vineyards/ Lieu-Dit- Cocagne
  • VINICULTURE- White,  Rose,  Red
  • HISTORY/CULTURE-
    • 1100’s- Wine Making Culture.
    • 2001- AOC. Officially Established.

TOURAINE AOC.     @Tours

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(Greater)
    • DEPARTMENT-(Laps)indre-et-Loire & Loir-et-Cher & Indre
    • “Multi-Appellation”, “Non-Contiguous(4)”
  • VITICULTURE- 65 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Cellier du Beaujrdin, Chidaine, Paul Buisse, Les Vins Contes(Nat.Pro.), Xavier Frissant

BOURGUEIL AOC.    @Bourgueil

  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc AKA=Breton, Cabernet Sauvignon
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Indre-et-Loire, West of Tours-City(    km.), @Hw.#A85
    • COMMUNES-(7)-Benais, Chouze-sur-Loire, Ingrandes-de-Touraine, Saint-Tatrice,
      La Chapelle-sir-Loire, Bourgueil
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Hills/ River-Bench”, On~Loire~River~(North)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Tuffeau
    • Hills– Turonian Chalk/ Limestone
    • River Bench- Gravel, Silt, Sand, Clay
  • CLIMATE- “Continental” With “Maritime” Influence
  • VITICULTURE- 14,000 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Bel Air, Bouvet-Ladubay, De la Butte, Catherine & Pierre, La Chevalerie, Chesnaies, Gauthier Pere et Fils, Guion, Lame Deslisle Boucard, De Miniere, Nau Freres, La Noblaie, Rochouard, Roncee, Des Vallettes, Yannick Amirault, 
  • VINICULTURE- Rouge,  Rose
    • Wine Must Be 90%+ to Be Labeled Bourgueil AOC.
  • CULTURE- 1937- AOC. Officially Established
    • “Monks & Monasteries” ~Bourgueil Abbey~
      • Abbot Breton First Planted Cabernet Franc Here.

St. NICOLAS De BOURGUEIL AOC.     @Bourgueil

  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Indre-et-Loire, In Bourgueil AOC.(North-West), @Hw.#A85
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Sand, Gravel, Clay, Limestone
  • VITICULTURE-  1,100 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Amirault, Clos de Quarterons, Cotelleraie, Famille Amirault-Grosbois, Frederic Mabileau, Jarnoterie, Joel Taluau, Mortier(13ha.), Lysiane et Guy Mabileau

CHINON AOC.     @Chinon

  • BLANC= Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(West)
    • DEPARTMENT-Indre-et-Loire, BORDERS-Bourgueil AOC.(North)
    • COMMUNES-(26)-Anche, Avon-les-Roches, Beaumont-en-Veron, Briancon, Chezelet, Chinon, Cravant-les-Coteaux, Crouzilles, Huismes, Ligre, L’ile-Bouchard, Panzoult, La Roche-Clermault, Riviere, Savigny-en-Veron, Sazilly, Tavant
    • Sub-Zones- Left Bank, Right Bank
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling/ Hilly”, On Veron Plain
    • On~Vienne~River~Tributary~Loire~River~(South)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Limestone, Gravel, Scree, Flint
    • Banks- Varennes(Alluvial Sand, Clay),  Slopes- Tuffeau(Soft-Limestone)
  • CLIMATE- “Maritime” With “Continental” Influences
  • VITICULTURE- 5,801 ha./ 2,347 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Baudry-Dutour, Beausejour, Bernard Baudry, Bonneliere(30ha.), Charles Joguet, Couly-Dutheil, Charles Pain, Fabrice Gasnier, Le Grand Bouqueteau, Grosbois(9ha.), Noblaie, Olga Raffault, Philippe Alliet, Wilfrid Rousse
    • Vineyards-(Right Banks of Vienne River)– Les Barnabes, Les Battereaux, Beauregard, Bel Air, Bois d’Arcon, Bouchardiere, Les Chesnaise, Le Chene Vert, Champ Chenin, Clos de l’Echo, Clos Guillot, Clos del’Olive, Clos Turpenay, Coteaux du Vieux Bourg, La Galipe, Les Galippes, Les Galuches, Les Gresilles, Haute Olive, Isore, Moulins de Beau Puys, Moulin a Tan, De la Noblaie, De Noire, De Pallus, Le Pressoir, Les Peuilles, Le Petit Bouqueteau, Les Picasses, Le Puy Gallant, Le Puy Livet, Le Puy Rigault, La Roche d’Honneur, Les Rosiers, La Semellerie, Sonnay
    • Vineyards-(Left Banks of Vienne River)– La Bois Joubert, Le Bois Piquet, Clos de la Cure, Clos de La Croix Marie, Les Corneulles, La Dioterie, La Folie, Le Hegronniere, La Paradis, Saut-au-Loups, Les Varennes du Grand Clos
  • VINICULTURE- Blanc,  Rouge,  Rose
    • Wine Must Be +90% Cabernet Franc to Be Labeled AOC.
  • CULTURE- “She-nohn” +Pronounced…“She-nohn”
    • 1937- AOC. Officially Established.
    • UNESCO WOLRD HERITAGE~ ~Chinon~ ~Exceptional Cultural Landscape~
    • WINNER “Worlds Best”~ DtheV.com Awards “France’s Best AOC.” (5th. Place)
      • **Refer to “WINE CULTURE/ Derek’s Top 6 List” For Detailed Information.
  • GOING THERE-
    • “Monks & Monasteries” ~Fontevraud-l’Abbay~
    • “Cultural Obligations” ~Forteresse Royale de Chinon~

TOURAINE AZAY-Le-RIDEAU AOC.      @Azay-le-Rideau

  • BLANC= Pineau de la Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot AKA=Malbec, Gamay, Grolleau
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(Central)
    • In Touraine AOC.,  DEPARTMENT– ?
    • COMMUNES-Artannes-sur-Indre, Azay-le-Rideau, Cheille, Lignieres-de-Touraine, Riverennes, Sache, Thilouze, Valleres
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, SLOPES/ ?, +Alt. 45mt.- 55mt.
    • On~L’Indre~River~Tributary~Loire~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Limestone, Aubius(Yellow Chalk), Tuffeau
  • VITICULTURE- 115 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- L’Aulee, La Cour, Marie-Thibault-Cabrit, Nicolas Paget, Pascal Pibaleau, La Roche
  • VINICULTURE- Blanc,  Rose,  Rouge,  Cremant de Loire
  • CULTURE- 1953- AOC. Officially Esteblished

TOURAINE NOBLE JOUE AOC.     @

  • BLANC= Pinot Gris
  • ROUGE= Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(Central)
    • In Touraine AOC., DEPARTMENT– ?,   North of Chinon-City(    km.)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Indre/ Cher~Rivers~(Between)
  • VITICULTURE- ?  ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Remi Cosson, Vincent Dupuy

VOUVRAY AOC.     @Vouvray

  • BLANC= Pineau de la Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc, Arbois
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(Central)
    • DEPARTMENT– ?, Extends From Eastern Edge of Tours to the Breanne River
    • COMMUNES-(8)-Chancay, Noizay, Parcay-Meslay, Reugny, Rochecorbon,  St. Radegonde-Touraine, Vernon-sur-Brenne, Vouvay
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On-Brenne~River~Tributary~Loire~River~(North)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”
    • Hillsides- Turonian Chalk
    • Valley Floor- Perruche(Flint, Clay), Aubuis(Chalk, Clay)
  • CLIMATE- “Maritime” With “Continental” Influences
  • VITICULTURE-  ? ha. Planted
  • VINICULTURE- Dry-Sweet,  Botrytis,  Sparkling
    • Estate/ Producers- Barton & Guestier, Bougrier, Catherine & Pierre Breton, Clos Gaimont, Lacheteau, Montfort, Saget La Perriere, Tania & Vincent Careme, Viking, Vigneau-Chevreau, Vaufuget
  • CULTURE- “Vouvray” +Pronounced…“Voo-vrey”
  • CREMANT De VOUVRAY AOC.     @Vouvray
    • BLANC= Chenin Blanc
    • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, Touraine
    • VINICULTURE- SPARKLING…Method/ Traditional
      • Estate/ Producers- Champalou, De Chanceny, Jaillance, Moncontour, Vigneau-Chevreau

MONTLOUIS AOC.     @Montlouis

  • BLANC= Pineau de La Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(Central)
    • DEPARTMENT– Indre-et-Loire,  East of Tours-City(2 km.)
    • CITIES-Lussault sur Loire, Montlouis sur Loire, St Martin leBeau
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Flat/ Rolling”, On~Cher~River/ Loire~River~(South)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Gravel Top-Soil, Over Tuffeau, Sand Silex Stones, Limestone
  • CLIMATE- “Maritime” With “Continental” Influences
  • VITICULTURE- 455 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Flamand, Francois Chidaine, La Grange Tiphaine, Liards, Lise & Bertrand Jousset, Le Rocher, Stephane Cossais(Nat.Pro.)
    • Vineyards- Borderies
  • VINICULTURE- Still(Dry to Sweet),  Botrytis,  Sparkling
  • CULTURE- +Pronounced– “Mon-loo-wee”
  • CREMANT De MONTOUIS AOC.     @Montouis
    • BLANC= Pineau de La Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc
    • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley, SUB-REGION-Touraine
    • VINICULTURE- SPARKLING…METHOD/ Traditional
      • Estate/ Producers- Francois Chidaine, Lise & Bertrand
  • PETILLANT MONTLOUIS AOC.      @Moutlouis
    • BLANC= Pineau de La Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc
    • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire, SUB-REGION– Touraine
    • VINICULTURE- SPARKLING…Methode Ancestrale/ Petillant Naturel
      • Estate/ Producers-

TOURAINE-AMBOIS AOC.     @Amboise

  • BLANC= Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cot, Gamay
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(Central)
    • DEPARTMENTS-Indre-et-Loire, BORDERS: Vouvray AOC.(West)
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Loire~River~
  • VITICULTURE- 220 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Closerie Chanteloup, Dutertre

TOURAINE-MESLAND AOC.     @

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Cot AKA=Malbec, Cabernet Franc
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(North-East)
    • In Touraine AOC., DEPARTMENT-Loir-et-Cher
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Loire~River~(Right Bank)
  • VITICULTURE- 90 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-

TOURAINE-CHENONCEAUX AOC.     @Montrichard

  • BLANC= Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Cot AKA=Malbec, Cabernet Franc
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(South-East)
    • In Touraine AOC., DEPARTMENT-Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, @Hw.#85
    • CITIES-Blere, Montrichard, Saint-Aignay
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”, On~Cher~River~
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Limestone, Perruches(Flint/Stony Soil)
  • VITICULTURE- ? ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Bougrier, Echardieres
  • GOING THERE- “Cultural Obligations” ~Le Chateau de Chenonceau “Castle”~  

CHEVERNEY AOC.     @Blois

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc(60%-85%), Chardonnay, Menu Pineau AKA=Arbois, Pineau Blanc de Loire AKA=Chenin Blanc, Romorantin
  • ROUGE= Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cot AKA=Malbec, Cabernet Franc
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(East)
    • DEPARTMENET-Loir-et Cher,  Sub-Zones/ AOC’s- Cour-Cheverny AOC.
    • COMMUNES-(24)-Canne-sur-Beuvron, Cellettes, Cheverny, Chitenay, Cormeray, Cour-Cheverny, Feings, Fougeres-sur-Bievre, Fresnes, Huisseau-sur-Cosson, Maslives, Monthou, Les-Montils, Montlivault, Mont-Pres-Chambord, Muides, Ouchamps, Saint-Claude-de-Diray, Saint-Dye, Saint-Laurent-Nouan, Sambin, Seur, Tour-en-Sologne, Vineuil
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly/ Terraces”, On~Loire~River~(South)
  • SOILS- “Metamorphic”, “Sedimentary”, Sand, Clay, Gravel, Limestone, Perruches(Flint/Stony Soil)
  • VITICULTURE- 536 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Benoit Daridan, Herve Villemade(Nat.Pro.), Philippe Tessier, Salvard
  • VINICULTURE- Blanc,  Rose/ Pineau d’Aunis, Rouge
    • +BLENDED/ Gamay & Pinot Noir
  • GOING THERE-
    • “Cultural Obligations” ~Le Chateau de Chambord “Castle”~  @Chambord
  • COUR-CHEVERNY AOC.     @Cour-Cheverny
    • BLANC= Romorantin, Sauvignon Blanc
    • ROUGE= Gamay, Cot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
    • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(East)
      • DEPARTMENET-Loir-et Cher,  In Cheverny AOC.(Central)
    • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling/ Hilly”, On~Loire~River~
    • VITICULTURE- 49 ha. Planted
      • Estate/ Producers- Henri Marionet(Planted/ 1850)
    • GOING THERE-
      • “Cultural Obligations“ ~Le Chateau de Cheverny “Castle”~  @Cour-Cheverny

LUCAY-Le-MALE AOC.    @Lucay-le-Male

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(East)
    • DEPARTMENTS-Indre-et-Loire
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”
  • VITICULTURE- 536 ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers-

TOURAINE-OISLY AOC.    @

  • BLANC= Sauvignon Blanc
  • ROUGE= Pinot Noir
  • GEOGRAPHY- France, REGION-Loire Valley(East-Central), SUB-REGION-Touraine(East)
    • DEPARTMENT– Indre-et-Loire
  • TOPOGRAPHY- “Rolling”
  • VITICULTURE-  ha. Planted
    • Estate/ Producers- Marce

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.

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)

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