Loire Valley

Grape

Varieties

Everything you need to know about Loire Valley grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, Gamay, and more!

The grape varieties of the Loire offer remarkable diversity, contributing to the richness of the wines produced in this region. From the vineyards of Anjou-Saumur to Touraine and the Cher Valley, there is a wide range of grape varieties that shape the unique identity of Loire wines.

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In Anjou-Saumur, Chenin Blanc is the flagship grape variety, offering incredible versatility. This grape produces both dry and sweet wines, such as Coteaux du Layon, capable of pairing with a wide variety of dishes, from sweet-savory foods to soft cheeses. Cabernet Franc is also very prevalent in this region, giving birth to elegant and structured red wines, particularly in the Saumur-Champigny and Anjou-Villages appellations.

Touraine sees the emergence of Sauvignon Blanc, which reaches its peak in the Touraine and Cheverny appellations. These dry and aromatic white wines are renowned for their perfect pairing with fish, seafood, and goat cheeses. For red wines, Cabernet Franc stands out as the emblematic grape variety, especially in Chinon and Bourgueil, where it fully expresses its character, influenced by the tuffeau soils. Gamay, present in some Touraine red wines, brings fruity and light wines, perfect for summer consumption.

The Cher Valley, although less known, also contributes to the diversity of Loire wines. Here you’ll find appellations like Cheverny, which produces white, red, and rosé wines on a 500-hectare vineyard. These wines are appreciated for their finesse and freshness. Other grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, found further east in the region, complete this mosaic, offering delicate and elegant red wines.

This richness of grape varieties and styles makes Loire wines an inexhaustible source of discoveries for enthusiasts, offering quality wines at often affordable prices. Each grape variety brings its unique contribution to the identity of Loire wines, reflecting the diversity of terroirs and the expertise of winemakers in this exceptional wine region.


  • Cabernet Franc

    Cabernet Franc

    It is between the Touraine and Saumur wine regions that Cabernet Franc expresses all its character, infused with the characteristic chalky notes of tufa (Loire Valley’s predominant subsoil rock). Mostly vinified alone, Cabernet Franc accounts for more than half of the total production of red wines in the Loire Valley.

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  • Chenin Blanc

    Chenin Blanc

    Chenin Blanc is the emblematic grape variety of the Loire Valley wine region. Chenin offers a great diversity of wine styles (dry, sweet, sparkling) and is a perfect match to the variety of terroirs found in Anjou and Touraine. It is the third grape varietal planted in the Loire Valley behind Melon de Bourgogne and…

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  • Côt

    Côt

    The Côt grape variety, also known as Malbec in South America, has also found a beautiful place of rebirth in the Touraine wine region. Even though it is a minority Loire variety, côt has the wind in its sails, like the AOP Touraine Amboise which has decided to produce its reds using non-assembled 100% côt…

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  • Gamay

    Gamay

    If Gamay is the star grape variety of Beaujolais, it is found in many other Loire Valley appellations: Chateaumeillant, Valençay, Touraine (red wines) and Anjou (rosé wines). Gamay accounts for nearly twenty percent of the total production of Loire Valley red and rosé wines.

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  • Melon de Bourgogne

    Melon de Bourgogne

    Originally from Burgundy, as its name suggests, Melon de Bourgogne has adapted perfectly to the oceanic climate of the Nantes region, where it is now exclusively grown. It is the result of a natural cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.

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  • Pinot noir

    Pinot noir

    While Pinot Noir is the emblematic grape variety of Burgundy, it is also found in the Loire Valley, particularly in the Sancerre, Cheverny and eastern Touraine regions. Loire Pinot Noir, with its distinctive red fruit aromas and finesse, accounts for about fifteen percent of the region’s total red wine production. It is particularly appreciated for…

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  • Sauvignon Blanc

    Sauvignon Blanc

    Sauvignon Blanc is the only grape variety authorized in the great appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. It can also be found in the Touraine wine region. Sauvignon Blanc is a very aromatic grape variety that reveals complex and multiple nuances depending on the terroir where the vine is planted. Mostly vinified alone, Sauvignon Blanc weighs…

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