Pays-De-La-Loire best ‘grands crus’

France has plenty of regions producing wines classified as A.O.C (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) especially in the South of France. But one region in the North of France remaining specialised in ‘grands crus’ is the Pays-de-la-Loire.

The Loire Valley is France’s third most important region in terms of production and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It stretches from the Atlantic to the depths of the Berry region, nestled halfway between the South and the North and offers a balance between mildness, freshness and tradition. The Loire valley is in  superb surroundings with stunning landscapes, ideal if you are looking for a French property with a nice view over the countryside.

What makes Loire wines different from the others is that they are made from a single grape variety: Melon de Bourgogne in the Nantes region, Chenin, Cabernet and Gamay in Anjou, Saumur and Touraine, Sauvignon and Pinot noir around Tours.

The Val de Loire vineyards are one of the leading A.O.C. region’s for fine sparkling wines. They are France’s leading producer of white wines.

The West side of the Valley (near Nantes) grows Muscadet, the Anjou-Saumur area the Saumur and the Coteaux du Layon, Touraine the Vouvray, and Bourgueil and the East side of the Loire Valley the Pouilly Fumé and the Sancerre.

Here is a selection of the most famous wines in the Loire Valley:

–          Muscadet: made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, its name comes from ‘a wine with a musk-like taste’. Officially established in 1937, the Muscadet covers about 30 villages in the Loire-Atlantique and the Maine-et-Loire departments. The most common viticulture hazards in the Muscadet region are winter and spring time frosts and threat of mildew near harvest time. But in Western France, the Melon has well adapted to the climatic conditions in this region known as the main meeting point between the North and the South.

–          Saumur Blanc: is the appellation for the still, dry white wines. The title represents a production of roughly 20,000 hectolitres of Chenin Blanc . Chenin Blanc (known there as the ‘Pineau de la Loire’) is required to constitute at least 80% of any Saumur Blanc wine, although the use of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc is increasing, as is of oak fermentation and maturation.

–          Touraine: wines made under the Touraine regional appellation may be red, white or rose, and each colour also comes in sparkling ‘Mousseux’ variants.

–          Cheverny: also known as the name of one of the most famous Chateaux de la Loire, Cheverny wines are made from mixtures of Sauvignon (‘blanc’ or ‘gris’), and proportions of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. They could be compared to the Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé although they are not acid  like other wines, a feature that defines the Eastern Loire’s most famous appellations.