What’s special about The Loire?
The Loire river winds westward from the mountainous region of Auvergne for 625 miles to the Atlantic Ocean – it’s the longest river in France – passing fairy tale chateaux, historic towns and a remarkable diversity of soils, microclimates and wine styles along the way. Whites, reds, rosés, sparkling and sweet are all found here, with plenty of choice, from fresh, easy wines made for glugging to more serious, top-class bottlings. With over 80% of Loire estates holding organic or similar accreditation, it’s a hotbed of natural winemaking with a modern, innovative outlook.
Main grapes
White Melon de bourgogne, chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.
Red Cabernet franc, gamay, pinot noir, côt (malbec) and pineau d’aunis.
Perfect pairings Muscadet cries out for seafood, especially oysters…
