Collection: Buy Loire Valley wines

Loire Valley: diversity and freshness

Located in the center-west of France, Loire Valley is a wine region particularly renowned for the diversity and elegance of its white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines. With varied soils and a temperate climate, mostly with a strong oceanic influence, the region offers a terroir ideal for growing many grape varieties such as Chenin, Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.Moreover, nearly 23% of the vineyard is cultivated organically, one of the highest percentages in France !

Set off to discover the wonderful local AOPs such as Saumur, Bourgueil, Pouilly-Fumé, or Chinon, and let’s journey together from château to estate, you won’t be disappointed by the experience !

Terroirs, grape varieties, and appellations

Loire region is divided into 5 sub-regions : Les Fiefs Vendéens, Pays Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, as well as the Centre-Loire area to the far east. Let’s explore together the unique characteristics of each of these vineyards.

Fiefs Vendéens: a vineyard between land and ocean

The Fiefs Vendéens, located in Vendée near the Atlantic coast, form a terroir that is increasingly sought after for the production of fresh and elegant wines at affordable prices. Created in 2011, the AOP Fiefs Vendéens is still a very young appellation.

The climate here is clearly oceanic and provides ideal freshness to preserve the natural acidity of the wines. The main grape varieties grown for the production of red wine are Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Grolleau, and Négrette. For white wine, the key varieties are Chenin, Muscadet (or Melon de Bourgogne), and Chardonnay.

The soils of the Fiefs Vendéens are varied, combining schist, limestone, and gravel, which allows for the cultivation of multiple grape varieties. The white wines are often aromatic and lively, while the reds offer notes of spices and subtle red and black fruits.

Pays Nantais: the land of Muscadet

Pays Nantais, located near the city of Nantes and the mouth of the Loire, is the westernmost terroir of the vineyard. The vineyard is particularly renowned for its flagship grape variety, Melon de Bourgogne (or Muscadet), which produces a dry, mineral white wine, often aged on lees to give it a rounded texture and aromatic complexity. It is also worth noting the presence of the Folle Blanche grape variety, which is used to produce the white wine Gros-Plant, made under the eponymous AOC.

The largest appellation in the Pays Nantais remains the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOC. This appellation is surrounded by many others such as the Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC, the Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOP, or simply the Muscadet AOC, thus allowing for the distinction of all the subtle nuances of Muscadet according to the geological specificities of each terroir.

The soils here are mainly composed of schist, gneiss, and granite, giving the wines their distinctive minerality.

The oceanic climate prevails in the Pays Nantais, with mild winters and moderate summers, promoting the production of fresh, mineral, and light white wines.

Anjou-Saumur: a vineyard of a thousand facets

Further east, the Anjou-Saumur vineyard is one of the most diverse terroirs in the Loire Valley. The region indeed allows for the production of wines of all kinds: red, white, rosé, sparkling, off-dry and sweet wines are all on offer here.

Although all types of bottles are produced here, Anjou remains mainly renowned for its white wines made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety produced under appellations such as Anjou, Saumur, Savennières, Coteaux du Layon, or Anjou-Coteaux-de-la-Loire. Please note that approximately 34% of the vineyard is organically cultivated, the highest proportion in the entire valley!

For reds, Cabernet Franc is the star grape variety of the Saumur-Champigny and Anjou Rouge appellations, producing supple wines with notes of red fruits and spices. Cabernet Sauvignon is also present in smaller quantities, as well as Grolleau.

The Saumur region is also renowned for its fine sparkling wines, produced using the traditional method, with wines such as Saumur Brut and Crémant de Loire, appreciated for their freshness and liveliness.

Within Anjou-Saumur, the climate is temperate, marked by oceanic and continental influences. The soils are highly diverse, alternating between schist, limestone, and gravel.This variety of terroirs thus offers winemakers great freedom in crafting their bottles.

Touraine: the Garden of France

Touraine, sometimes called the "Garden of France," is another prestigious terroir of the Loire Valley. This vineyard, located around the cities of Tours and Chinon, benefits from a temperate climate, where Atlantic and continental influences meet.

The soils are mainly composed of tuffeau, limestone, and clay, providing ideal conditions for wines that are both elegant and complex. Along the banks of the Loire, some plots are also made up of gravel.

The reds, mainly made from the Cabernet Franc grape variety, are renowned for their finesse and aging potential, such as Chinon (Domaine Fabrice Gasnier), Bourgueil (Domaine Lamé Delisle Boucard), and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil (Domaine Amirault Clos des Quarterons), expressing notes of red fruits and undergrowth. Côt (Malbec), Gamay, Pineau d’Aunis, Grolleau, and also Pinot Noir are present in smaller quantities.

For whites, the most widely planted grape variety in Touraine remains Sauvignon, particularly for the Touraine and Touraine Chenonceaux appellations. These wines are dry, fresh, and aromatic, offering citrus, exotic fruit, and sometimes flinty notes on the palate.

Nevertheless, in terms of prestige, the most renowned white wines of the vineyard undoubtedly come from Chenin Blanc. The most famous AOCs here are Vouvray (François and Julien Pinon estate) and Montlouis-sur-Loire (Domaine de la Taille aux Loups). Other wine-growing areas are also worth discovering, such as the lesser-known IGP Coteaux du Vendômois and AOC Cour-Cheverny, offering excellent value for money.

The Centre-Loire: kingdom of Sauvignon Blanc

The Centre-Loire, located around the towns of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire, is the easternmost region of the Loire Valley. This terroir is characterized by limestone hills and soils composed of flint, clay, and marl.The climate here is more continental, with cold winters and hot summers, contributing to the concentration of aromas in the wines.

About 80% of the bottles produced in the region are white wines. The Sauvignon is also the emblematic grape variety, producing wines of great purity with aromas of white fruits, citrus, and flint.

Touraine appellations such as Sancerre (Domaine Bernard Fleuriet & Fils, Domaine Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy) and Pouilly-Fumé (Michel Redde et Fils) are among the most renowned in France. Other AOPs in the area are also worth exploring, such as Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, or Quincy.White wines here are still predominantly made from Sauvignon, but generally offer less depth and aromatic complexity.

Red and rosé wines are also produced in the vineyard, mainly from Pinot Noir.

Loire wines delivered at the best price

As you will have understood, the Loire Valley’s wine heritage is remarkable and offers an unforgettable visiting experience. Its emblematic grape varieties, prestigious appellations, wine styles, and distinct terroirs make it a true viticultural gem where you are sure to find bottles that match your tastes.

All that’s left is for you to make your choice from our selection… we look forward to hearing your feedback ! In addition, remember that all the wines we offer on our site are in stock and perfectly stored in our cellars. We also offer home delivery (standard and express) as well as delivery to pick-up points to suit your needs, whether you’re ordering a single bottle or several cases !