I enjoyed a trip to the Loire Valley thanks to the official team at Vins de Loire.
I’m keen to dip your toes into the delights of the wine styles I discovered.
I will take a deeper dive into the Loire another time. Metaphorically, obviously.
The Loire Valley has a 500-mile wine trail as the river winds its way to the Atlantic, feeling the love of 34 wine appellations.
White grapes such as chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc and melon blanc have delicious identities here; and the reds are cajoled into being via cabernet franc and cot (malbec) among other varieties.
I’ll be back with more on this mouthwatering topic; in the meantime, here’s some Loire Valley wines you may like to try.
Thierry Delaunay ‘Manoir’ Sauvignon Blanc (£13.99, or £11.99 in a buy six deal at Majestic)
The wine is soft and welcoming with stone fruit, gooseberry and citrus. If you’re used to the New Zealand styles of sauvignon blanc, this isn’t it.
It doesn’t need to be shouty, it has a refined elegance. This is sauvignon blanc feeling proud in its homeland.
Domaine de Pierre Touraine Les Sauterelles 2022 (£14.95 or £13.95 in a case of 12, Lea & Sandeman)
This wine is divine. I loved this wine so much.
It is also made from sauvignon blanc and is lush and giving. Alongside characteristic green fruits, it also has riper yellow fruits in the palate party.
Kew Series by Laithwaites Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé NV (£19.99 or £14.99 in a buy six at Laithwaites)
The crémant pops vibrantly with redcurrants, cherries and raspberries with tickles of citrus. It is made from cabernet franc with grolleau gris.
Les Héritiers Dubois Vouvray 2022 (£14.99, or £13.49, in a six deal, also at Laithwaites)
This wine has a slight touch of sweetness, with a creamy mouthfeel. It takes you to orchards of pear and apple, is zested by lemon, and feted by white peach.
Vouvray wines are always made from chenin blanc grapes. It’s a lovely wine.
Les Perruches Domaine de la Cotelleraie (£18.13, online at vinatis.co.uk)
I met wine producer Anne-Claire Vallée in one of the traditional wine caves in the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation.
Here, cabernet franc rules. Anne-Claire shared a couple of her red wines, and this red fruit bomb was deep and savoury.
It is delicious, with long-lasting flavours.
Find out more about Loire’s appellations at the Vins de Loire website, or follow them on Instagram @loirewines.official
First published in UK regional newspapers in the Raise a Glass feature in several UK regional newspapers (July 2024).
Who is Jane Clare of One Foot in the Grapes? Read my story.