Combining the Anjou-Saumur and Touraine wine regions, there are a total of several dozen appellations in the Loire Valley. Exceptional diversity of wines!
The Anjou AOC (or AOP) produces wines in a very wide range of styles and colors: red wines, rosé wines, white wines and sparkling wines! The appellation was created in 1936, and today brings together more than 800 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,500 hectares.
The Bourgueil AOC appellation mainly produces red wines (and a very small amount of rosé wines). Two styles of wine coexist in the Bourgueil appellation : on one side the fruity and lighter red wines produced on the gravel along the banks of the Loire, and on the other, what is referred to as “tufa wines”, more tannic, complex and full-bodied. The latter are usually produced from the vines located on the hillsides of Bourgueil. The Bourgueil AOC appellation (by the way, AOC and AOP are synonyms) was created in 1937, and today brings together more than 120 wineries spread over a vineyard of 1,400 hectares.
The Cheverny AOC (or AOP) produces wines in a variety of styles and colors: white wines, red wines, and rosé wines. The appellation was created in 1993 and today has more than 60 winegrowers spread over a vineyard of 500 hectares. Cheverny wines are renowned for their finesse, freshness, and elegance, reflecting the richness and diversity of the region’s terroir.
The Chinon AOC mainly produces red wines, a little bit of rosé… and a very small part of white wines, but often of very high quality. The appellation was created in 1937, and regroups today more than 250 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,300 hectares.
The Coteaux du Layon AOC/AOP (with which we have included Layon 1er Cru Chaume and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru) produces exclusively sweet wines from Chenin Blanc grapes that are harvested at (over)maturity. The wine appellation was created in 1950, and amounts to over 400 wineries spread over a vineyard of 1,700 hectares.
The AOC Montlouis sur Loire produces white wines exclusively, but in a wide variety of styles: sparkling, dry, semi-dry or sweet white wines. The appellation was created in 1938, and comprises more than 40 wineries spread over a vineyard of 385 hectares.
The Saumur AOC (or AOP) produces wines in a very wide range of styles and colors: red wines, rosé wines, white wines, sparkling and sweet wines! The appellation was created in 1936, and comprises today more than 450 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,300 hectares.
The wines of Saumur Champigny are 100% red only. They come in two styles: light and fruity, with fine and velvety tannins, or more rich and complex, ready for ageing. The appellation (aka AOC or AOP) was created in 1957, and today brings together more than 130 winegrowers spread over a vineyard of 1,550 hectares.
The three AOC (or AOP) of Savennières produce great white wines, essentially dry but can also be vinified in semi-dry or sweet. The appellation was created in 1952, and today brings together more than 30 wineries spread over a (small) vineyard of 150 hectares.
Touraine AOC (or AOP) produces wines in a very wide range of styles and colors: white wines, red wines, rosé wines and sparkling wines! The appellation was created in 1939, and comprises nowadays more than 600 wineries spread over a vineyard of 5000 hectares.
The characteristics of Vouvray AOC wines? The appellation produces white wines exclusively, but in the widest range of styles: dry, tender, semi-dry, sweet or sparkling white wines! The appellation was created in 1936, and today brings together more than 160 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,250 hectares.
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