Loire wines and winegrowers
– Destination –
The Loire Valley vineyard is the third largest wine region in France, and has no less than 69 appellations. Our region, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches over a wide strip along the banks of the Loire River and presents the scars of a rich past that shapes the history of France.
A bit of history
Our vineyard probably dates back to the Roman imperial era, but developed in the Middle Ages when unsafe roads gave the river the means to trade and transport wine between the Pays Nantais, the towns of Anjou, Touraine and to Orleans.
From the end of the Renaissance to the 19th century, the Loire Valley vineyards also supplied Paris, first its taverns, then its guinguettes and finally its bistros.
Today these wines have their place on the finest tables in France and around the world.
The geography
The geography of Touraine, at the crossroads of oceanic and continental influences, provides a climate that favours the development of our vineyard. The succession of valleys, the Loire, the Cher, the Vienne and the Indre provide microclimates favorable to winegrowing.
The designations of origin
Touraine is not only rich in history, it is also rich in different designations of origin that spread to the east of Tours, with Vouvray and Montlouis, but also to the west with the country of Bourgueil and Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil. The tributaries of the Loire are also a land suitable for vines, the Vienne valley with the wines of Chinon praised by Rabelais “Drink always, never die” and that of the Indre with the appellation Touraine Azay-le- Rideau AOP, in the heart of our territory.
Let's discover the Azay-le-Rideau vineyard
This designation of origin, small by its size with around 50 cultivated hectares, spreads on the slopes of 6 communes, and today includes around ten winegrowers. This is one more reason to discover by bike, by hike or by car the richness of our villages, their art of living and their vineyards.
The grapes
Our vineyard offers a great white grape from the Loire: the Chenin Blanc. This grape variety, native of the region, expresses all the richness of our terroirs. It makes it possible to develop wines offering an astonishing range of aromas: citrus fruits, white flowers, apples or pears... white wines of character, dry or semi-dry, but also sparkling, and some years sweet wines with an exceptional aptitude for aging.
Fruity and easy to drink, the Grolleau grape expresses all its freshness in summer rosés, ideal for a picnic on the banks of the Indre.
At last, the Cabernet Franc grape, very present in our communes, classified in the Touraine appellation and nicknamed "Breton", allows you to make great red wines, to enhance your meats.
The appellation's winegrowers are happy to welcome you to their estates and help you discover the richness of our wines.
