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What wine is the Loire Valley famous for?
Home to the most recognizable wine region in the Loire Valley–Sancerre,– known for its benchmark Sauvignon Blanc. The Centre-Loire surrounds the exact center point of France! Since this area is geographically closer to the Burgundy wine region (known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), you’ll see some overlap here.
What type of wine is made in Loire Valley?
The Loire Valley is often divided into three sections. The Upper Loire includes the Sauvignon blanc dominated areas of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. The Middle Loire is dominated by more Chenin blanc and Cabernet franc wines found in the regions around Touraine, Saumur, Chinon and Vouvray.
What are the characteristics of Sancerre wine?
The classic Sancerre wine is white, bracingly acidic, and has pungent aromas of gooseberries, grass, nettles, and a hint of stony minerality. Richer, riper examples – particularly those from warmer, west-facing sites with chalky soils – often show fruitier notes of passionfruit and lemon peel.
What are the main white grape varieties from Loire Valley France?
Six Primary White Grape Varieties in the Loire Valley
- Melon. a.k.a. Muscadet, Melon de Bourgogne.
- Sauvignon Blanc. a.k.a. Sauvignon Fumé, Blanc Fumé
- Chardonnay.
- Folle Blanche. a.k.a. Gros Plant.
- Menu Pineau. a.k.a. Arbois, Orbois, Petit Pineau.
Is Sancerre sweet or dry?
dry white
Ask Decanter. Sancerre is today a Sauvignon Blanc stronghold in France’s Loire Valley, known for delicious dry white wines that can marry citrus, green fruit and grassy flavours with beautiful texture and refreshing acidity.
What grapes are grown on the Loire?
Loire Grapes: red and white varietals
- Red.
- Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Franc grape finds its finest expression in the Loire.
- Gamay. Gamay produces some of the most juicily attractive wines with some of the succulent fruitiness of Beaujolais.
- Grolleau.
- Malbec.
- Pineau d’Aunis.
- Pinot Noir.
- White.
What is the difference between Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc?
Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine grape, while Sancerre is the name of a wine region in France’s Loire Valley where the white wines from are made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. White wines from Sancerre are known for their vibrant acidity and flinty notes.
What grape is Sancerre wine made from?
Sauvignon Blanc
Sancerre itself is a medieval town in the Upper Loire where Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are planted; Pinot Noir is used here to produce Sancerre Rouge and Sancerre Rosé. But it is the white Sancerre, made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc, that is the most famous wine of in this district.
Which is better Pouilly-Fumé or Sancerre?
Pouilly-Fumé tends to be a little broader, softer, slightly less vibrant and aromatic than Sancerre. It can have a smoky character, especially those from flint (silex) soils, though this can also be true of Sancerre grown on flint.
Is Pouilly-Fuissé the same as Chardonnay?
To add to the confusion, Pouilly-Fumé is not made from Chardonnay, but is instead made from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc. Again, this appellation, too, only allows for white wines to be made from Sauvignon Blanc. The term “fumé” translates to smoke.
What is Loire Valley wine?
Loire Valley wine) The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the Loire River from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France.
How does the Loire River affect wine production in France?
The Loire river has a significant effect on the mesoclimate of the region, adding the necessary extra few degrees of temperature that allows grapes to grow when the areas to the north and south of the Loire Valley have shown to be unfavorable to viticulture.
How does the Loire River affect the Anjou region?
The Loire River near the town of Champtoceaux in the Anjou wine region. The Loire river has a significant effect on the mesoclimate of the region, adding the necessary extra few degrees of temperature that allows grapes to grow when the areas to the north and south of the Loire Valley have shown to be unfavorable to viticulture.
Which Loire town has the best climate for sweet wine?
Saumur: In the center of Anjou-Saumur lies Layon. It’s some of the best climate conditions in the world for “noble rot” (morning fog, Chenin Blanc, dry “foehn” winds) and thus Loire’s first Grand Cru sweet wine: Quarts de Chaume finds itself here.