Vouvray

For Vouvray, always white, only one grape variety is allowed, the Chenin Blanc. This is mainly planted on chalky plateaus of tuff. The number of wine types made here is surprisingly large. Most producers make a Vouvray Sec (which can be very dry), a Demi-Sec and, in sunny years, a Moelleux (sometimes from overripe grapes and lusciously sweet). In addition, there are sparkling Vouvray (made according to the Méthode Traditionelle and often called Vouvray Brut) and Vouvray Pétillant. Vouvray is located in the Tourraine area. Coming from Tours, you enter the Vouvray wine region via the northern Loire bank. The first wine village you encounter is Rochecorbon. The Vouvray appellation consists of eight communes: Vouvray, Rochecordon, Vernou sur Brenne, Sainte-Radegonde, Chançay, Noizay, Reugny and Parçay-Meslay.

Interesting to know is that the cellars are carved into the Tuffeau. Nowadays they are still used to process the sparkling wines and to ripen the other wines. The wine offer of the Loire Valley is nothing but diverse, and Vouvray is the only region that best typifies this diversity. Granted, Vouvray is all about one variety: Chenin Blanc. Vouvray is located in the coolest part of the Loire and the climate has the most influence on the wine style. In colder years, increased acidity lends itself to both still and sparkling wines that can be dry, semi-dry, or medium dry. Botrytized sweet wines of aigre-doux perfection are the happy result of the humid conditions that have been present for several years. Mother Nature's occasional cruelty can cause extremely short harvests in vintages such as 2012 and 2013.