Loire Valley

THE HEART OF FRANCE

THE LOIRE VALLEY BY NUMBERS

63 000 ha of wine growing area 2,700,000 hl production 3rd largest AOC winemaking region France’s top producer of white AOC wines 2nd largest producer of sparkling wines (after Champagne) 2nd largest producer of rosé AOC wines 79 wine appellations 320 million bottles sold per year (68 million exported)

AOC = appellation d’origine contrôlée means “controlled designation of origin” in French.

FOUR MAIN WINE-GROWING REGIONS Region Nantais Anjou/Saumur Touraine Centre-Loire

The Loire Valley lies at the geographical and cultural heart of France. According to the locals, the ‘purest French’ is spoken in the Loire, and the region has long been the preferred residence of French kings. From the middle ages to the 17th Century, the French upper class and royalty built their holiday homes, hunting lodges and castles in the Loire and along the way, picking up the name of: ‘Le Jardin de la France, The Garden of France.

Many of Frances’s most famous and visually stunning châteaux’s are in the Loire Valley, making it, along with its accessibility from Paris, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Much of the Loire is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Region. The grand chateaux of Chambord, the hunting lodge of King Francois I, and Fontevraud Abbey are just some of the many must-visit architectural marvels that adorn the length of the Loire Valley which runs from the Atlantic coast in the west right into the heart of France. The Loire Valley is also the 3rd largest AOC winemaking region with a range of wines that are characterised by their freshness and diversity of colour. The region has four distinct areas that are known for their production of specific grapes: Region Nantais, Anjou/Saumur, Touraine, and Centre-Loire.

Region Nantais is furthest west and closest to the coast and the influences of winds having travelled thousands of kilometres across the vast north Atlantic Ocean. Here is the famed Melon de Bourgogne and Muscadet.

Ancient wine cellar

Saint Etienne Cathedral in Bourges

Moving upstream to the east is the Middle Loire, headlined by cities of Angers and Tours. The Middle Loire is home to the two districts of Anjou/Saumur and Touraine where Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc are kings; this is the beating heart of the Loire Valley, with the highest production and the most appellations. The region benefits significantly from long hot summers developing a smooth, silky Cabernet style, especially in the Anjou-Villages appellation. Here you find the wine styles of Vouvray, Saumur-Champigny, and Chinon. Savenniéres is the most famous region for Chenin Blanc production, but unfortunately, the volume is far lower than demand restricting access to some of the region’s most age-worthy wines. Crémant de Loire is the regional appellation for sparkling wines from Anjou, Saumur, and Touraine, that, in its best form – can rival the noisy neighbours to the north-east in Champagne.

The diverse styles of wines from the Loire are becoming more readily available in Australia as French winemakers look further afield to attract new world drinkers to their wines. Sparkling wines are made in abundance throughout the Loire, making the region the second-largest producer of sparkling wines behind Champagne. The style is clean and approachable, and the price point far more accessible Loire chateaux over the river

than Champagne. Prosecco’s newfound popularity seems to have stolen a march on Loire Valley sparkling wines such as Crémant de Loire, Saumur Sparkling, and Vouvray Sparkling; all are stylistically elegant wines and worth taking the time to explore. The Crémant de Loire wines can be white or Rosé. The white is made from Chenin Blanc mostly while the Rosé is Cabernet Franc. Crémant de Loire can be produced in the Anjou, Saumur, or Touraine areas of the Loire Valley. It can get confusing. Saumur Sparkling, however, can only be made in Saumur and is the most famous sparkling in the region (at least by bottles sold). Vouvray Sparkling also must only come from the Vouvray region.

Further upstream and you’ll land in the heart of France and the city of Bourges, home to the World Heritage-listed Gothic Saint Etienne Cathedral. In wine region parlance you are now in the Upper Loire, the region famous for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and the wine districts of Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre.

A visit to the Loire Valley uncovers a long list of visually stunning vineyards and breathtaking chateaux’s all set against the backdrop of the Loire River, winding its way from Sancerre to Nantes. There’s something for everyone on this journey; from the wine connoisseur to the history buff. The Loire itself is over 1000 kilometres long, and the temperature, apart from the highs of mid-summer and the lows of mid-winter, is relatively mild. When visiting, keep in mind that vintage time (harvest) is from September to October. You will get day visitors from Paris, which is just two hours away by train, but most will look to stay for a week or more.

The wine buff visiting the region will find a range of quality wines coming from 79 appellations and 14 grape varieties. It’s worthy of a ‘deep dive’ should you want to travel the length of the river; you can also pick your favourites and focus your energies there. One common thread along the length of the valley is the generous and welcoming nature of the people. The Loire represents so much of what is great about the country: the arts, culture, food, and wine sit alongside a region of abundant natural beauty and architectural genius.

The grapes may sit at the heart of local culture and play a vital role in the lives of towns and villages along the way, but it is the people that make this place so special. A region to spend time.

Saint Etienne Cathedral in Bourges

MUST VISIT: Don’t miss one of the best zoos in Europe is in Beauval, near SaintAignan, home to Pandas donated by the Chinese government.