Discovering the Loire Valley, France

Calling all wine connoisseurs and natural sommeliers!

The coveted land stretching along the Loire River is home to a select few of the world’s oldest and most praised wine territories in history. This brief overview of the Loire Valley will open doors to new friends who share the same admiration for elegant vino. The Loire Valley’s beauty and wonderful culture made it an easy addition to the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Starting with Pays Nantais, located on the west coast of Brittany near Nantes, this region is well known for Muscadet. Production dating back to the Roman era has left a perfected white wine with a dry seaside crisp.

The Anjou, once rivaled the Kingdom of France, encapsulates the best sweet wines of the Loire that are made from Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Saumar, the smallest region, is dominated by one of the most striking castles in France: Château de Saumur. The Saumur-Champigy is the popular red wine in this area.

Touraine, referred to as the “Garden of France”, is a prominent location for wine enthusiasts. The variety of fine wines found here range from Vouray to Bourgueil.

The Centre-Loire has grown grapes for over 2,000 years, giving home to the original Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in Sancerre, Menetou- Salon and Chateaumeilant.