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Loire Valley Wines
The Loire Valley is famous for its white wines. None
of them use Chardonnay as a main grape variety.
Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon are widely used. About 75%
of the production is made of white wine.
Although Loire is a land of white wine, some red
wines are very interesting. They are fruity and
pleasant.
The Loire Valley is probably the most beautiful wine
region in France and in the world.
The Most Beautiful
Villages of the Loire
The most basic information on the wines of Loire
are:
|
Location: |
From the Massif Central to the Atlantic coast
around Nantes. The Loire wine region follows
the Loire river in its valley
Loire region information |
|
Size: |
n/a |
|
Size of the vineyards: |
30,000 hectares |
|
Grapes in Loire: |
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon |
|
Production: |
400 million bottles
Loire wine making |
|
Type of Wine: |
Dry white wine
Sweet white wine
Semi-dry white wine
Sparkling white wine
Fruity red wine
Rosé wine |
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Loire Wine and food: |
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Geography of the Loire Valley:
The Valley of the
Loire,
in the Centre West of France, is often considered as
the most beautiful French wine region.
The region is wide and follow the river, starting in
the Auvergne and Massif Central and finishing in the
Atlantic coast around Nantes city.
The Loire River is wide and deep. The landscape is
quiet and undulated.
It is probably more accurate to say that the Loire
Valley is made of several different regions, which
have one thing in common: the river.
Loire Region Information:
|
Location: |
From the Massif Central mountains to the
Atlantic coast and Nantes cities. The Loire
wine region follows the Loire river in its
valley and the rivers flowing into (Cher, Loir,
Layon, etc) |
|
Size: |
n/a |
|
Weather: |
Atlantic weather in the West (mild winter and
summer)
Continental in the East (cold winter, warm
summer) |
|
Population: |
n/a |
|
Main Cities: |
Nantes
Tours
Tours
Bourges |
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Places of Interest: |
Châteaux de la Loire (Chambord, Azay le
Rideau, Amboise, etc)
Loire Valley wine road (the most beautiful in
France !)
Angers (heritage city)
Atlantic Coast (salt production) |
History of wine in the Loire Valley:
Vines already existed when Romans invaded the
Loire Valley.
The legend says that Saint Martin was the first to
make wine in the Loire region. It was in 380.
The wine production then grew fast. In both river
banks, wine makers made white wine. On the hills,
they went for red wine.
Such as in
Burgundy, most of the vineyards belong to
monasteries and monks had developed the wine
production in the whole region.
Wine making in the Loire Valley:
The wines reflect the mood of the landscape. They
are soft, pleasant, charming and light. About
three-quart of the production are white wines.
The main grapes are Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon for
white wine and Cabernet Franc for red wine.
Loire wine making information:
|
Size
of the vineyards: |
30,000 hectares |
|
Vineyards: |
n/a |
|
Soil: |
Various: Clayey-limestone, limestone,
siliceous and chalky soils |
|
Weather: |
Continental in the East of the Loire Valley
Oceanic in the West of the Valley |
|
White Grapes
in Loire Valley: |
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon
Melon |
|
Red Grapes
in Loire Valley: |
Cabernet Franc
Gamay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir |
|
Production: |
over 400 million bottles |
|
Type of Wine: |
Dry white wine
Sweet white wine
Semi-dry white wine
Sparkling white wine
Fruity red wine
Rosé wine |
Wines of Loire and food:
Loire wines go very well with any dish
based on pork, from paté to roast, ham and chicken,
from fish to sea-food, from eel to trout. They are
just palatable with all the summer cooking.
Muscadet is excellent with oysters, the
Sancerre with goat-cheese.
Muscadet
Muscadet
is produced in 4 wine terroirs around the city of
Nantes. The Muscadet Sèvre et Maine is the most
important and the best of them.
In the Muscadet region, wine makers use to
leave the grape juice to rest during winter before
putting the wine in bottle.
Muscadet
is a dry white wine that is a fine companion to
shellfish.
The quality of Muscadet varies very much from
one winery to another.
Muscadet wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Muscadet Controlée
Appellation Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Controlée
Appellation Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire
Controlée
Appellation Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu
Controlée |
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Location: |
Around the city of Nantes, from Ancenis to the
Atlantic coast |
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Places: |
Vallet, La Haye Fouassière, Le Landreau,
Mouzillon, La Chapelle Heulin, Château
Thébaud, Maisdon sur Sèvre, Le Landreau, Saint
Philbert de Grand Lieu |
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Soil: |
Granite |
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Size: |
12,500 ha (30,900 acres) |
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Production: |
almost 100 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Melon (or Muscadet) |
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Type of wines: |
Dry white wine
also sweet white wine |
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Age: |
Drink now and up to 2 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003 |
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Aromas: |
White flowers
Anise
Citrus |
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Food: |
Oysters
Shellfish
Aperitif |
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Cheese: |
Nantais |
Anjou
Anjou
wines are made around the city of Angers. They were
very popular as soon as in the 6th century. During
the 13th and 14th centuries, Anjou was one of the
most popular wines in England. And then in Holland
and Belgium.
Nowadays Anjou is famous for the rosé d'Anjou.
Rosé makes about half of the production in Anjou.
However we should recommend the white wine from
Anjou. New techniques and aging in oak barrel have
improved the wine. Red wine from Anjou Villages
deserve as well a special note.
Anjou wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Anjou Rouge Controlée
Appellation Anjou Gamay Controlée
Appellation Anjou Villages Controlée
Appellation Cabernet d'Anjou Controlée
Appellation Rosé d'Anjou Controlée
Appellation Anjou Blanc Controlée
Appellation Anjou Mousseux Controlée
|
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Location: |
Covers Maine et Loire department, west of
Touraine |
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Places: |
Beaulieu sur Layon, Thouarcé, Martigné Briand,
Saint Lambert du Lattay, La Pommeraye, Faye
d'Anjou, Rochefort sur Loire, Rablay sur
Layon, Brissac Quincé |
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Soil: |
Various |
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Size: |
9,000 ha (22,200 acres) |
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Production: |
55 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Rosé and red:
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grolleau
White:
Chenin blanc, Sauvignon, Chardonnay |
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Type of wines: |
Sweet rosé
Dry white wine
Light and medium body red wine |
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Age: |
Red: 2 to 6 years
White: 1 to 3 years
Rosé: now to 2 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003, 1997 |
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Aromas: |
Red:
Black currant and black fruits
Red fruits
White:
White flowers
Apricot
Crystallized fruit |
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Food: |
Red:
Red meat
White:
Fish
Rosé:
Cold meat |
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Cheese: |
White:
Chabichou du Poitou
Red:
Camembert
Crottin de Chavignol |
Coteaux du Layon
Coteaux du Layon
is the widest wine area of the Anjou region. Along
the Layon river, the vines are protected by the
hills in this lovely contryside. Although wine
makers produce a good semi-dry white wine,
Coteaux du Layon is well known for the sweet
white wine and for at least 15 centuries! The most
reputed of all is the sweet wine coming from Chaume.
The vine growers leave the grapes in their vines
until they begin to over-ripe. They are then ready
to harvest. It means that harvest take place in
Coteaux du Layon later than other places in the
Loire valley.
Coteaux du Layon wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Coteaux du Layon Controlée
Appellation Coteaux du Layon Villages
Controlée
Appellation Chaume Premier Cru Controlée
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Location: |
South of Angers city and West of Saumur, along
the Layon river |
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Places: |
Rochefort sur Loire, Saint Lambert du Lattay,
Beaulieu sur Layon, Saint Aubin de Luigné,
Faye d'Anjou Concourson sur Layon, etc
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Soil: |
Schist |
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Size: |
1,800 ha (4,450 acres) |
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Production: |
7 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Chenin blanc |
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Type of wines: |
Sweet white wine
Semi-dry white wine |
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Age: |
10 to 20 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003, 1997, 1995, 1990, 1989 |
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Aromas: |
Honey
Fig
Acacia |
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Food: |
Dessert wine |
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Cheese: |
Livarot
Maroilles
Pont l'Eveque |
Saumur
In Saumur, wine makers build caves in the
chalky soil so that wine can rest in stable
condition. If you visit the area, we recommend you
visit one of these caves (called "tuffeau" in french).
Wine makers produce red, dry white and sparkling
white and rosé wines.
Red wines are fruity and light. The ones from Saumur
Champigny are among the best red wines in the Loire
Valley.
Sparkling wines take advantage of the chalky soil
and of the caves mentioned above. They can be a
cheaper alternative to Champagne.
White wines from Saumur are nervous and can
age a few years in a cellar.
Saumur wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Saumur Champigny Controlée
Appellation Saumur Controlée
Appellation Cabernet de Saumur Controlée
Appellation Coteaux de Saumur Controlée
Appellation Saumur Rouge Controlée
Appellation Saumur Blanc Controlée
Appellation Saumur Brut Controlée |
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Location: |
South East of Angers city, on the left bank of
the river, and East of Coteaux du Layon and
Anjou. |
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Places: |
Saumur, Le Puy Notre Dame, Varrains,
Vaudelnay, Saint Cyr en Bourg, Turquant,
Champigny, Dampierre sur Loire, etc |
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Soil: |
Chalk
Limestone |
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Size: |
4,000 ha (9,900 acres) |
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Production: |
20 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Red: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
White: Chenin blanc, Chardonnay |
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Type of wines: |
Fruity red wine
Dry white wine
Dry sparkling white wine |
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Age: |
Red: 2 to 8 years
White: 1 to 3 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
Red: 2003, 1998, 1997
White: 2003 |
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Aromas: |
Sparkling wine:
White flowers
Brioche
White wine:
Apple
Broom
Red wine:
Red fruits
Licorice |
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Food: |
Various |
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Cheese: |
Red:
Chabichou du Poitou
Crottin de Chavignol
Saint Nectaire
Valencay |
Touraine
Touraine
is a huge wine area, just at the centre of the Loire
Valley. It is also the place where you can find most
of the famous Châteaux de la Loire.
All kind of wines are produced in Touraine.
Red wines from Touraine are predominantly
made from Gamay grapes. The other place where we can
find Gamay is in Beaujolais where it is the only
grape used. Here in Touraine, Gamay is used with
Cabernet, from Bordeaux, and Pinot Noir, from
Burgundy. It means that red wine from Touraine is a
great condensed french wine
However Gamay wines in Touraine do not taste
that good. More and more, wine makers use Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir to bring
balance to the wine.
Touraine wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Touraine Controlée
Appellation Touraine Mesland Controlée
Appellation Touraine Azay le Rideau Controlée
Appellation Touraine Noble Joué Controlée
Appellation Touraine Amboise Controlée
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Location: |
At the heart of the Loire valley, around the
city of Tours and close to the Châteaux de la
Loire |
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Places: |
Noyers sur Cher, Meusnes, Saint Georges sur
Cher, Pouillé, Chatillon sur Cher, Amboise,
Limeray, Cheillé |
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Soil: |
Sand
Clay
Limestone |
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Size: |
6,000 ha (15,000 acres) |
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Production: |
26 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Red and rosé: Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot
Noir, Malbec, Pineau
White: Chenin blanc, Sauvignon |
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Type of wines: |
Light and fruity red wine
Light and fresh dry white wine
Medium rosé
Sparkling red, rosé and white wines
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Age: |
Red: 2 to 7 years
White: 1 to 4 years
Rosé: drink now and up to 2 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003 |
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Aromas: |
Red:
Red fruits
Black fruits
Raspberry
White:
Menthol
Vanilla
Litchee |
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Food: |
Red:
Red meat
White:
Aperitif |
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Cheese: |
Red:
Boursin
Camembert
Chabichou du Poitou
Saint Nectaire
Valencay
White:
Maconnais
Cheddar |
Bourgueil
Bourgueil
is a terroir of red wine, similar to Chinon. You
need to be an expert to distinguish the one from the
other. This is because Bourgueil and Chinon share
the same terroir specificity, history and wine
making tradition.
It seems that some Bourgueil wines mature
longer than their Chinon neighbor. Specially the
ones coming from the south of the appellation and
called "vins de cotes".
Bourgueil
is often compared to the wines from
Médoc in Bordeaux. Cabernet grapes are used to
make both wines.
Bourgueil wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Bourgueil Controlée
Appellation Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil
Controlée |
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Location: |
West of Tours city, and East of Saumur |
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Places: |
Bourgueil, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil and
Restigné, Benais, Ingrandes de Touraine |
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Soil: |
Limestone
Sand
Gravel |
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Size: |
1,200 ha (2,900 acres) |
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Production: |
9 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Cabernet Franc (or Petit Breton) |
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Type of wines: |
Fruity red wine
Dry rosé (less than 5% of the production) |
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Age: |
Bourgueil: 3 to 10 years
Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil: 2 to 5 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003, 1997 |
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Aromas: |
Red fruits
Black currant
Green capsicum |
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Food: |
With a starter |
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Cheese: |
Port Salut
Reblochon
Saint Nectaire
Valencay
Gouda |
Vouvray
There is not only one Vouvray but several
different Vouvrays. The wine can be sweet, flavored
or full-body and dry. But one can say that Vouvray
is always at its best.
The sweet wine has a golden color, is vigorous,
fruity and fresh. The dry and semi dry are rich and
intense.
There is also a sparkling wine in Vouvray. It
is fruity as well - a trademark of the Vouvray
terroir ! - and can mature for a few years which is
quite uncommon for a sparkling wine.
Vouvray
is definitely an unique wine, well more accurately,
Vouvray are a few unique wines!
Vouvray wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Vouvray Controlée |
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Location: |
Right bank of the Loire river
Close to Tours city and the Châteaux of Loire |
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Places: |
8 villages: Vouvray, Rochecorbon, Vernou sur
Brenne, etc |
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Soil: |
Clayey limestone
Chalk |
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Size: |
2,000 ha (4,900 acres) |
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Production: |
13 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Chenin blanc (Pineau blanc de la Loire) |
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Type of wines: |
Sweet viscous white wine
Dry white wine
Semi dry white wine
Sparkling white wine |
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Age: |
Sweet: sometimes over a century !
Dry: 5 to 25 years
Semi-dry: drink now and up to 5 years
Sparkling: 1 to 4 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003, 1997, 1995, 1990, 1989 |
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Aromas: |
Quince
Honey
Almond |
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Food: |
Chicken in white sauce
Veal in white sauce
Fruits |
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Cheese: |
Cabécou
Camembert
Crottin de Chavignol
Livarot |
Pouilly Fumé
Pouilly Fumé
has an unusual flavor for a dry white wine: a strong
flavor of musk and smoked.
Pouilly sur Loire
is a different wine made with Chasselas grape
variety. It should be drunk young. When the
phylloxera destroyed all the vines 2 centuries ago,
vine growers replace them with Sauvignon to create
the Pouilly Fumé. Nowadays Pouilly sur Loire makes
less than 5% of the production of Pouilly.
Pouilly is very close
from
Sancerre, just on the other side of the river.
However both wines are a little bit different.
Pouilly Fumé is probably thicker, deeper and has
more structure.
Pouilly Fumé wine information:
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Name: |
Appellation Pouilly Fumé Controlée |
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Location: |
Eastern part of the Loire Valley
East of Sancerre and Bourges |
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Places: |
Pouilly sur Loire, Saint Andelain, Tracy sur
Loire, etc |
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Soil: |
Limestone
Clayey-limestone |
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Size: |
850 ha (2,100 acres) |
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Production: |
6 million bottles
White wine only! |
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Grapes: |
Pouilly Fumé: Sauvignon
Pouilly sur Loire: Chasselas |
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Type of wines: |
Thick dry white wine |
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Age: |
1 to 5 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003 |
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Aromas: |
Smoked
Broom
Acacia |
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Food: |
Salmon
Chicken
Veal
Aperitif |
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Cheese: |
Crottin de Chavignol |
Sancerre
Sancerre
is one of the most famous white wines in France.
Sancerre is also a very nice village with a typical
castle.
Sancerre
white wine is more delicate than close-by
Pouilly Fumé. Sancerre matures a little bit fast
than its neighbor.
Although wine tasters need to differentiate the
Sancerre wines coming from marl terroir from the
ones coming from limestone vineyards. The first are
fruity and well balanced, the second are full
flavored but less stable.
Sancerre
is produced on 15 villages. The wines coming from
Bué and Chavignol are the best
Sancerre wine information:
|
Name: |
Appellation Sancerre Controlée |
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Location: |
North-east of Bourges city, in the east part
of the Loire Valley, on the left bank of the
river |
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Places: |
Bannay, Bué, Chavignol, Crézancy,
Menetou-Ratel, Ménétréol, Montigny, St-Satur,
Ste-Gemme, Sancerre, Sury-en-vaux, Thauvenay,
Veaugues, Verdigny and Vinon |
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Soil: |
Marl (called "white soil")
Limestone |
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Size: |
2,200 ha (5,400 acres) |
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Production: |
16 million bottles |
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Grapes: |
Sauvignon Blanc |
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Type of wines: |
Nervous dry white wine
Light and flavored red wine |
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Age: |
1 to 5 years |
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Vintages:
(recommended) |
2003 |
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Aromas: |
Grapefruit (and citrus)
White flowers |
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Food: |
Shellfish
Trout
Fish |
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Cheese: |
Chabichou du Poitou
Crottin de Chavignol
Pouligny Saint Pierre
Valencay |
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