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Farming

Why Loire Wines Deserve More

Why Loire Wines Deserve More Attention
The Loire Valley is France’s best-kept wine secret, home to some of the most vibrant, expressive, and terroir-driven wines in the world. From crisp, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc in Sancerre to elegant, age-worthy Chenin Blanc in Vouvray and the light, juicy reds of Saumur and Chinon, there’s a Loire wine for every occasion. At Cave, we think it’s time Loire wines had their moment in the spotlight. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just starting to explore, these bottles offer incredible value, depth, and character.

The key grapes:

Whites
Chenin Blanc – Expressive & age-worthy. Styles range from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. Think green apple, honey, and waxy complexity.
Sauvignon Blanc – Crisp, vibrant, and mineral-driven. A classic from Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé, showing zesty citrus, flint, and cut grass.
Melon de Bourgogne – The backbone of Muscadet. Lean, saline, and oyster-friendly with notes of sea breeze and green melon.

Reds
Cabernet Franc – Loire’s signature red. Light to medium-bodied, herbaceous, and bursting with bright red fruits and floral notes.
Gamay– Juicy, fresh, and unpretentious. Often found in Touraine, offering vibrant berry fruit and soft spice.

The Key appellations:

Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé (Sauvignon Blanc)
These two neighbouring appellations are famous for producing some of the world’s finest expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, marked by high acidity and distinctive minerality.

  • Sancerre: Elegant, mineral-driven wines with citrus (lemon, grapefruit), green apple, gooseberry, herbs, and wet stone. Soils (limestone, flint, clay) shape its lighter, refined style.
  • Pouilly-Fumé: Richer and smokier, with ripe citrus, peach, and gunflint notes from flinty soils. Fuller body than Sancerre.

Vouvray (Chenin Blanc)
One of the most versatile appellations in France, Vouvray showcases Chenin Blanc in multiple styles, from dry (sec) to off-dry (demi-sec), sweet (moelleux, liquoreux), and even sparkling crémant.

  • Styles: Ranges from dry (sec) to sweet (moelleux) and sparkling.
  • Flavours: High acidity, with pear, apple, quince, honeysuckle in youth; honeyed, nutty, and waxy with age.
  • Sparkling: Crisp, lively, mineral.
  • Sweet: Made from late-harvest or botrytised grapes; rich with apricot, honey, and ginger, balanced by acidity.

Saumur & Saumur-Champigny (Cabernet Franc)
This region is known for sparkling wines and red wines, with Saumur focusing on Crémant de Loire and fresh whites, while Saumur-Champigny is recognised for elegant Cabernet Franc-based reds.

  • Saumur: Known for Crémant de Loire (sparkling), and fresh whites from Chenin Blanc—light, floral, and mineral.
  • Saumur-Champigny: Silky, aromatic reds from Cabernet Franc; red berries, floral, peppery, with ageing potential due to limestone soils.

Chinon & Bourgueil (Cabernet Franc)
Two of the most celebrated appellations for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley, these regions produce wines ranging from light and fruity to deep and structured.

  • Chinon: Versatile reds from light and fresh to deep and structured; cherry, plum, violets, herbs.
  • Bourgueil: More structured, with darker fruit, spice, graphite, and earthy depth—excellent for ageing.

Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne)
The definitive seafood-friendly wine, made from Melon de Bourgogne, a grape known for its briny freshness and subtle fruit flavours.

  • Light, bone-dry, and saline with citrus and green apple notes.
  • Often aged sur lie, adding texture and yeasty complexity.
  • Classic seafood pairing, especially oysters and shellfish.

Anjou & Coteaux du Layon (Chenin Blanc)
These neighbouring appellations highlight both dry and sweet expressions of Chenin Blanc.

  • Anjou: Dry whites with citrus, pear, and waxy minerality. Also makes Rosé d’Anjou—off-dry, fruity, and floral.
  • Coteaux du Layon: Prestigious sweet wines from botrytised Chenin Blanc; honey, dried apricot, pineapple, and marmalade with vibrant acidity.

 

Each of these appellations showcases the diversity and elegance of the Loire Valley, a region that excels in both white and red wines, spanning from fresh, mineral-driven styles to complex, age-worthy expressions. There is a Loire wine for everyone, no matter the occasion. Want to find yours? Then take a look on our website.

 

 

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