Loire

Loire

COUP DE COEUR
Jérémie Huchet/La Chauvinière - Chapeau Melon 2022 – Sku: 1016122 – 187
Jérémie Huchet
2022
French wine
€6.90
COUP DE COEUR
Michel Brégeon - Foll' Blanche 2020 – Sku: 10167 – 14
Brégeon
2020
Gros-Plant-du-Pays-Nantais PDO
€7.90
-9%
J.Mourat - IGP Val de Loire OVNI Blanc 2022 (étiquette & capsule abîmées) – Sku: 1016699 – 1
Jérémie Mourat
2022
French wine
Special Price €9.90 Regular Price €10.90
Bio
La Pépière - Muscadet Domaine de la Pépière 2022 – Sku: 1016322 – 249
La Pépière
2022
Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie PDO
€9.90
COUP DE COEUR
François Chidaine - Touraine Sauvignon 2022 – Sku: 1092022 – 21
François Chidaine
2022
Touraine PDO
€10.20
J.Mourat - IGP Val de Loire OVNI Blanc 2022 – Sku: 1016622 – 12
Jérémie Mourat
2022
French wine
€10.90
Bio
Bérioles - Saint-Pourçain Rosé 2021 – Sku: 1025321 – 35
Domaine des Bérioles
2021
€11.00
Jérémie Mourat - OVNI Rosé 2020 – Sku: 10169 – 2
Jérémie Mourat
2020
IGP Val de Loire
€11.00
Jérémie Mourat - OVNI Rosé 2022 – Sku: 1016922 – 32
Jérémie Mourat
2022
French wine
€11.50
COUP DE COEUR
Bio
La Pépière - Muscadet Les Gras Moutons 2022 – Sku: 1015622 – 205
La Pépière
2022
Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie PDO
€12.90
COUP DE COEUR
91/100 RVF
Bio
La Pépière - Muscadet Briords 2022 – Sku: 1015322 – 100
La Pépière
2022
Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie PDO
€12.90
COUP DE COEUR
Bio
Vigneau Chevreau - Vouvray Méthode Traditionnelle Extra Brut – Sku: 10745 – 24
Vigneau-Chevreau
Vouvray PDO
€12.90
Page

Loire wines: diversity along the river

The largest vineyard in the country is located on either side of the longest river in France. Over a thousand kilometres, the 70,000 hectares or so of vineyards in the Loire Valley flourish along the banks of the Loire and its tributaries. The Loire Valley and its great diversity of terroirs offer wines in all three colours, starting with the white. Red wines, rosé wines and sparkling wines are also part of the range and present the same diversity that characterises this great wine region.

General presentation

The Loire Valley vineyards follow the river and its tributaries from its source in the Massif Central to its mouth towards the ocean in the Loire-Atlantique. It thus covers several wine-producing regions: the Pays nantais and the Fiefs vendéens, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, Orléanais and Centre and finally, Auvergne. Each of these regions has its own particularities.

The extensive geography of the vineyards contributes to a great diversity of wines: dry, semi-dry, sweet and syrupy white wines to start with. They are mainly made from the following grape varieties: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, Melon de Bourgogne and Chardonnay. The white wines of the Loire are distinguished by their freshness and fruity notes.

As for the reds and rosés, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, Gamay, Pineau d'Aunis, Pinot Noir and Côt are the dominant grape varieties.

This diversity of products corresponds to a wide range of prices. From châteaux to estates, from cooperatives to wine houses, there is no shortage of references. All the more so as, for some years now, many young winegrowers have been inviting themselves into this vast landscape and making the vineyards more dynamic.

The appellations

The Loire Valley has two regional appellations:

  • Crémant de Loire, produced in the Anjou, Saumur and Touraine areas
  • Rosé de Loire, produced in Anjou and Touraine

Many AOCs then punctuate the Loire landscape. Muscadet, Chinon, Saumur, Sancerre, Quincy, Reuilly... are some of the most renowned appellations of the Loire.

The vineyards

With its 70,000 hectares of vines, the Loire Valley vineyards cover a vast production area, which extends over 4 main regions

  • The Nantes region
  • Anjou
  • Touraine
  • The Centre

Vineyards of the Nantes region

This region extends mainly in Loire-Atlantique, south and east of Nantes. It also extends into the Vendée and Maine-et-Loire. Mainly dry white wines are produced, of which the Muscadet (melon) and Gros Plant (folle blanche) appellations are the best known. Gamay reigns over the Coteaux d'Ancenis alongside Cabernet, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Gris. In the Fiefs Vendéens (Mareuil, Brem, Pissotte and Vix), blended or single-varietal wines are produced in red, rosé and white

Vineyards of Anjou-Saumur

In the extension of the Nantes region, this vineyard extends mainly in Maine-et-Loire, with small incursions into Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. All types of wine are produced around the towns of Angers and Saumur: reds, dry and sweet whites, rosés and sparkling wines.

As for the red wines, light and tasty, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes dominate. The AOC Anjou, Anjou Villages, Saumur-Champigny and Chinon are the main representatives.

The whites come in dry, sweet, mellow and sweet wines, which are mainly made from Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Bonnezeaux, Coteaux de l'Aubance, Savennières, Coteaux de Saumur and Saumur are among the most famous AOCs.

There are also supple and aromatic rosé wines, many of which are made from Grolleau, Cabernet and Gamay grapes. The main appellations are Rosé d'Anjou, Cabernet d'Anjou and Cabernet de Saumur.

Finally, the vineyard produces sparkling wines, including Crémant de la Loire, Anjou fines bulles and Saumur brut.

Vineyards of Touraine

In the heart of the famous Loire castles, this vineyard extends around the city of Tours, between Saumur and Blois. All types of wine are produced in this area, from a single grape variety or from blends.

For reds, Cabernet Franc dominates, along with Gamay, Pinot Noir, Pineau d'Aunis, Côt and Grolleau. Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Cheverny... are worthy representatives.

The white wines are made from chenin blanc, sauvignon and chardonnay grapes. Let us quote Vouvray, Cour-Cheverny, Montlouis...

Vineyards of the Centre

This region is at the heart of the Loire vineyards. It is very fragmented and extends around Orléans, Bourges and south of Châteauroux. This vineyard is generally divided into three distinct areas:

  • The Centre Loire, the land of choice for Sauvignon, a grape variety that produces exceptional dry white wines: Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Quincy, Reuilly... Gamay, pinot noir, cabernet-sauvignon... also produce famous red wines: Châteaumeillant, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly...
  • The Orléanais, where there are 3 AOCs in the 3 colours: Orléans, Orléans Cléry and coteaux du Giennois
  • The Massif Central, where Gamay and Pinot Noir are grown for the reds and Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Aligoté for the whites. Côte roannaise, Côtes d'Auvergne, Côtes du Forez and Saint-Pourçain offer red, white and rosé wines.

Vins et vignobles Loire

Le Savoir-faire

The estate has more than 20 different climates. The vinification and maturation are carried out so that each wine evokes the terroir from which it is made. The vinification is as natural as possible. Fermentation is slow and with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels on fine lees. Two winters in the cellar bring finesse, depth and the necessary structure for a wine to age.
Where is the domain located?

Appellations

Bonnezeaux PDO

Chaume PDO

Sancerre PDO

Sancerre, the flagship of Loire wines

Savennières PDO

Savennières, an exceptional dry white wine from the Loire

Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru PDO

Côteaux-du-Loir PDO

Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine PDO

Reuilly PDO

IGP Val de Loire

Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine sur Lie PDO

Muscadet, the white pearl of the Nantes region

Vouvray PDO

Vouvray: still and sparkling white wines from the Loire

Pouilly-Fumé PDO

Pouilly-Fumé, a multi-faceted white wine from the Loire

Fiefs Vendéens

Bourgueil PDO

Bourgueil (Loire): aromatic red wines and confidential rosés

Touraine PDO

Chinon PDO

Chinon, emblematic wines in the heart of the Loire Valley

Saumur-Champigny PDO

Saumur-Champigny: a great red AOC wine from the Loire

Quincy PDO

Jasnières PDO

Chaume Premier Cru AOP

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil PDO

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, a fruity and tasty red wine from the Loire

Côteaux-du-Layon PDO

Coteaux-du-Layon, a great sweet white wine from the Loire

Anjou Villages Brissac PDO

Côteaux-de-la-loire PDO

Côte-Roannaise PDO

Coulée de Serrant PDO

Montlouis PDO

Anjou PDO

Saumur PDO

Menetou-Salon PDO

Rosé de Loire PDO

Cheverny PDO

Cour-Cheverny A0P

Cour-Cheverny PDO

Le vignoble

Alexandre Bain

Alexandre Bain produces with the greatest passion authentic whites, reflecting their vintage and their terroir.

Bernard Baudry

Bernard Baudry seeks the silky and civilised dimension of Chinon wines, while remaining as close as possible to their expression of terroir. This approach, which he is now pursuing with his son Mathieu, is coupled with organic certification. A philosophy that also inspires them to plant non-grafted vines, free-standing for ten years (following the plantings of Charles Joguet in the 1980s), and to establish themselves on new forgotten terroirs, such as the excellent Clos Guillot in Chinon. Their Croix Boissée (clay-limestone terroir in Cravant-les-Coteaux), built for ageing, has an extra velvety and sometimes sweetness in hot years, which is not to be disliked by great lovers of Saint-Émilion wines. This cuvée naturally takes the lead among the great reds of Touraine.

Brégeon

"Frédéric Lailler continue sa marche en avant sur ce secteur du Muscadet, avec un mode de culture bio sur les 10 hectares que compte le domaine : le patrimoine de vignes se révèle qualitativement impressionnant.

Château Plaisance

Clos Rougeard

Delaporte

The rising star of Sancerre is now on the heels of the greatest...

Delesvaux

"« Nous sommes deux cinglés venus faire du vin ! » Philippe et Catherine Delesvaux ont la parole facile et une joie de vivre qui infuse chacune de leurs cuvées.

Didier Dagueneau

The quintessence of Sauvignon...

Domaine aux Moines - Tessa Laroche

"Des 2019 et 2018 en forte progression nous amènent à hausser la note pour ce domaine modèle de Savennières.

Domaine de la Butte

Le Domaine de la Butte, repris en 2002, appartenait à Jacky Blot, également propriétaire de la Taille aux Loups à Montlouis. Entrepreneur soucieux d’excellence, ce vinificateur de chenins charmeurs a bouleversé le ronron rustique du cabernet bourgueillois.

François Chidaine

François Chidaine is now one of the greatest winemakers in the Loire region, and by extension in France, recognised by his peers for his talent as a winemaker but also for his mastery of biodynamic principles.

Gérard Boulay

The elite of Sancerre... Intense, mineral, precise, complex...

Huards

Huet

The Vouvray wines of Domaine Huet, with a worldwide reputation for its Vouvray wines, is a very old house. It has been in existence since 1928, located east of Tours on land planted exclusively with Chenin grapes.

Jérémie Huchet

"Jérémie Huchet, vigneron œnologue, a propulsé son domaine de la Chauvinière, d'une soixantaine d'hectares, au panthéon des grands muscadets. Son terroir composé de granite de ChâteauThébaud est unique. Il ne représente qu'un îlot de 4 %, au cœur du vignoble : son sol composé de sable, gravier et caillou y demeure peu profond.

Jérémie Mourat

Jo Landron

"Vigneron exemplaire, Jo Landron figure depuis plusieurs décennies parmi les meilleurs et les plus réguliers producteurs de muscadet. Les domaines comprennent 46 hectares, cultivés en bio et répartis entre deux sites, le domaine de la Louvetrie et le château de La Carizière.

Jonathan Didier Pabiot

"Jonathan Pabiot a commencé modestement en 2005 avec trois hectares en bio, le voilà aujourd'hui avec 20 hectares (dont 5 ha de chasselas à Tracy) et une certification en biodynamie.

La Pépière

"Les communales 2017 dégustées cette année confirment tous les espoirs entrevus l'an passé et ces cuvées ont dominé notre dégustation de juin 2021.

La Porte Saint-Jean

The Domaine La Porte Saint-Jean is beginning to build a solid reputation on the web, on starred tables and for export. Sylvain Dittière is the son-in-law of the late Charly Foucault (Clos Rougeard).

La Taille aux Loups

"Après la disparition de son père, figure charismatique du vignoble mondial, Jean-Philippe Blot reprend seul les rênes, aidé par une équipe technique et culturale soudée. De quoi assurer de la plus belle des façons la pérennité de ce domaine phare du vignoble français.

Mai and Kenji Hodgson

D'origine japonaise et canadienne, Maï & Kenji Hodgson forment un couple d'une passion débordante. Kenji, journaliste en vin à Vancouver, ressent une soif insatiable à travers ses mots. Après de nombreuses visites dans les prestigieux domaines canadiens, il se lance dans la quête de réponse à une question qui le taraude : pourquoi les vins français sont-ils d'une telle excellence ? Le couple explore les trésors des vignerons français avant de poser ses valises près de Faye d'Anjou, où ils concrétisent la création de leur propre domaine. Sur 4 hectares de schistes et d'argile, le chenin règne en maître, et chaque coup de sécateur témoigne de leur passion dévorante.

Michel Autran

"L'énigmatique Michel Autran officiait comme médecin urgentiste à l'hôpital de Tours dans une autre vie. Il décide un jour de rendre sa blouse blanche et récupère 3,6 hectares de vieux chenin, aujourd'hui âgés de 50 à 85 ans, dans le secteur de Noizay, en appellation Vouvray.

Nicolas Joly

Nicolas Joly, one of the "great" precursors of biodynamic viticulture and very pedagogical in explaining all its benefits. The Coulée de Serrant is a very special wine, with a unique and very contemporary style, to be tasted at least once in your life... The Coulée de Serrant is an Appellation Contrôlée of only 7 hectares, exclusively owned by the Joly family. "One of the five greatest white wines of France", said Curnonsky.

Ogereau

"Emmanuel Ogereau bichonne ses terroirs d'Anjou, de Savennières et de Coteaux-du-Layon Saint-Lambert, livrant une partition juste du chenin et du cabernet, cultivant sereinement leurs 23 hectares en agriculture biologique.

Pierre André

An exceptional heritage of old vines!

Pierre Luneau-Papin

Pierre-Marie and Marie represent the 9th generation of the Domaine and continue the dazzling adventure of the Domaine Luneau-Papin on the forty hectares of vineyards located in the communes of Le Landreau, La Chapelle-Heulin and Vallet.

Pierre Ménard

A very talented winemaker to discover first...

Riaux

Richard Leroy

Roches Neuves - Germain

EXCELLENCE IN SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY

Saint-Nicolas

"Thierry Michon, supported by his sons, Antoine and Mickaël, runs the only estate of international stature in the Vendée. On the Atlantic terroir of Brem, he has vines cultivated entirely in biodynamic methods, whose yields have unfortunately been very low in recent years. Under the influence of the ocean, the vineyard produces whites of chenin and chardonnay (yellow stone fruits and saline finish), and reds of pinot noir aged for a long time (Jacques, La Grande Pièce), but also of gamay, negrette and cabernet franc. This eclecticism is reflected in wines that are constantly gaining in finesse, purity and intensity of fruit. Their natural balance, which is becoming more and more accomplished, makes them affordable when young, but they can age gracefully: don't hesitate to aerate them in a carafe. The brand new cellar will allow the trio of winemakers to further refine their cuvées." RVF Guide 2018

Sébastien David

Sébastien David's vines were mainly planted around 1940, with some plots being much older, planted long before the appellation was classified in 1937.

Serol

"Stéphane Sérol conduit son domaine sur la voie de l'excellence. Les 34 hectares de vignoble mettent en lumière le cépage gamay qui s'exprime ici totalement sur les sols de granite et de porphyre.

Thibaud Boudignon

Thibaud Boudignon is heading straight for the top of the great names in French winegrowing. His passion, his determination and his extreme rigour in all areas of the winegrowing profession have already made him one of the very best in the Loire. His ambition, his know-how and his heritage of massal selection vines (still young) will take him to the top very quickly...

Vigneau-Chevreau

Very nice Vouvray, biodynamic and at angelic prices...

Vincent Pinard

Based in Bué, the Pinard family, now led by Clément and Florent but still under the watchful eye of father Vincent, continues its spectacular progress towards excellence, with organic farming and a demanding desire to transcribe each specific terroir as well as possible.

Julien Delrieu

Thomas Batardière

Domaine des Bérioles

"Jean Teissèdre s’est imposé en peu de temps comme l’incarnation du renouveau de Saint-Pourçain. En 2011, il reprend les vignes familiales qui approvisionnaient la cave coopérative.

Jean-Baptiste Hardy

Les Pierres Meslières

Après avoir changé de carrière, Frédéric Monnier, ancien ingénieur de l'industrie pharmaceutique, se lance en 2021 dans l'aventure des Pierres Meslières, situées sur les coteaux d'Ancenis. Il découvre un terroir exceptionnel, doté d'une sensation tellurique et d'une singularité remarquable !

Terra Vita Vinum

Benoît Courault