Top 100 wines of Loire Valley - Page 2
Discover the top 100 best wines of Loire Valley as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Loire Valley and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is a key wine region in western France. It follows the course of the Loire River on its Long journey through the heart of France, from the inland hills of the Auvergne to the plains of the French Atlantic coast near Nantes (Muscadet country). Important in terms of quantity and quality, the region produces large quantities (about 4 million h/l each year) of everyday wines, as well as some of France's greatest wines. Diversity is another of the region's major assets; the styles of wine produced here range from the light, tangy Muscadet to the Sweet, honeyed Bonnezeaux, the Sparkling whites of Vouvray and the juicy, Tannic reds of Chinon and Saumur.
It's quite telling that this brief overview of the region's wines doesn't even mention the Loire Valley's two most famous wines - Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume. White wines are clearly the strong point of the Loire Valley and represent the vast majority of production. A significant proportion of these are produced under PGI appellations, most commonly the IGP Loire (formerly Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France), which covers the whole region. The main white Grape varieties used for the production of white wines in the Loire Valley are Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and, more popular than the traditional, Chardonnay.
Discover the grape variety: Pinot noir
Pinot noir is an important red grape variety in Burgundy and Champagne, and its reputation is well known! Great wines such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti elaborate their wines from this famous grape variety, and make it a great variety. When properly vinified, pinot noit produces red wines of great finesse, with a wide range of aromas depending on its advancement (fruit, undergrowth, leather). it is also the only red grape variety authorized in Alsace. Pinot Noir is not easily cultivated beyond our borders, although it has enjoyed some success in Oregon, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of Loire Valley
wines from the region of Loire Valley go well with generally quite well with dishes of rich fish (salmon, tuna etc), vegetarian or poultry such as recipes of smoked salmon sandwich, summer tuna quiche or royal couscous (lamb, chicken, merguez).
Organoleptic analysis of wine of Loire Valley
On the nose in the region of Loire Valley often reveals types of flavors of oaky, oil or mushroom and sometimes also flavors of plum, burnt sugar or dried herbs. In the mouth in the region of Loire Valley is a with a nice freshness.
News from the vineyard of Loire Valley
More must-taste wines selected by Decanter’s Regional Editors for DFWE NYC
In the second part of this series, Decanter’s editorial team members highlight the wines they are looking forward to tasting at the upcoming Decanter Fine Wine Encounter NYC on Saturday 18th June 2022. Tina Gellie – Content Manager and Regional Editor (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand & South Africa) Burrowing Owl, Cabernet Sauvignon, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 2019 In 2016, while on a press trip to British Columbia’s Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, I had the pleasur ...
Walls: a drink with Château de Beaucastel’s César Perrin
The Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainable viticulture. They converted their 100ha estate to organics as early as 1950; biodynamics in 1974. And when it comes to facing the climate crisis, they’re not standing still; refurbishing cellars, planting trees, championing ancient varieties and developing new techniques in the vineyard. Winemaker César Perrin explains… ‘The main reason we decided to construct a new ...
DO Penedès: new rules and aiming for Spanish wine’s top-tier
On 16 November 2021, the Denomination of Origin Penedès in Catalunya (DO Penedès) announced an extensive roadmap up to 2030, taking into account sustainability and establishing the region as a high-quality wine producer in Spain. Most immediately, all grapes for DO Penedès wines must be from fully-certified organic vineyards by 2025. While it’s an aggressive timeline, DO Penedès president Joan Huguet told Decanter, ‘Currently around 60% of the vineyards are already certified and our ...
Top wines in regions and sub-regions of Loire Valley
The best wines of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines natural sweet of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines pink of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines red of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines sparkling of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines sweet of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines unknow of Loire Valley in other styles
- The best wines white of Loire Valley in other styles