![]() The most common hazard is that the cool climate will prevent the grapes from ripening fully and developing the sugars needed to balance the naturally high acidity of the grapes. Due to its location and marginal climate, the overall quality of a vintage has a dramatic effect on the quality of the region's wines-more so than with other French wine regions. With over 185,000 acres (750 km 2) planted under vine, the Loire Valley is about two-thirds the size of the Bordeaux wine region. Viticulture and winemaking Vineyard in the Loire Valley near Saumur Source : Climatology from 1947 to 2008 - Angers, France Temperature, rainfall and average sunshine time in Angers ( Anjou): During the harvest months rain can cause the grapes to be harvested under ripe but can also aid in the development of Botrytis cinerea for the region's dessert wines. The climate can be very cool with spring time frost being a potential hazard for the vines. The area has a continental climate that is influenced heavily by the Loire and the Atlantic Ocean at the western edge of the region. In addition to finding vineyards along the Loire, several of the river's tributaries are also well planted-including the rivers Allier, Cher, Indre, Loir, Sèvre Nantaise and Vienne. 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. Climate and geography The Loire River near the town of Champtoceaux in the Anjou wine region. In the High Middle Ages, the wines of the Loire Valley were the most esteemed wines in England and France, even more prized than those from Bordeaux. By the 11th century the wines of Sancerre had a reputation across Europe for their high quality. In his work the History of the Franks, Bishop Gregory of Tours wrote of the frequent plundering by the Bretons of the area's wine stocks. By the 5th century, the flourishing viticulture of the area was noted in a publication by the poet Sidonius Apollinaris. History Īrchaeological evidence suggest that the Romans planted the first vineyards in the Loire Valley during their settlement of Gaul in the 1st century AD. The Loire Valley has a long history of winemaking dating back to the 1st century. Among these different wine styles, Loire wines tend to exhibit characteristic fruitiness with fresh, crisp flavors-especially in their youth. With Crémant production throughout the Loire, it is the second largest sparkling wine producer in France after Champagne. In addition to still wines, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines are also produced. While the majority of production is white wine from the Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, there are red wines made (especially around the Chinon region) from Cabernet franc. The area includes 87 appellations under the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) and Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) systems. The Loire Valley itself follows the river through the Loire department to the river's origins in the Cévennes but the majority of the wine production takes place in the regions noted above. In between are the regions of Anjou wine, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon, and Vouvray. The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the river Loire 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. Still, sparkling wine, dessert wine, rosé French wine region Loire Valley Wine regionĪnjou, Nantes, Saumur, Touraine, Centre-Val de LoireĬhenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet franc, Melon de Bourgogne, Gamay, Pinot noir and more
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