The Wine VaultLoire Valley
Incredible diversity: bone-dry Muscadet, aromatic Sancerre, sweet Vouvray, elegant Chinon reds, and sparkling Crémant de Loire.
Country
France
Climate
Maritime in the west, continental in the east, moderated by the Loire River
Key grapes
Classification
Over 60 appellations along the 1,000 km river. Key AOCs include Sancerre, Vouvray, Chinon, and Muscadet.
What to eat
Goat cheese (Chèvre de Loire), rillettes, pike-perch (sandre), and tarte Tatin.
Fun fact
The Loire Valley is known as the "Garden of France" and was a favorite retreat of French kings, lined with over 300 châteaux.