Loire

This communal appellation has a total vineyard area of around 1.800 hectares, and is located in the south-west of the Touraine area in the Loire wine-growing region in France. It is named after the medieval city of the same name. A castle used to be located above Chinon, in which Joan of Arc (1412–1431) met with king Charles VII. For the first time in 1429. A white wine made from Chenin Blanc was the favourite wine of the famous Franciscan monk and poet François Rabelais (1495–1553). He vociferously exposed all he considered wrong in the church and state in satirical style, his main work is the adventure novel „Gargantua and Pantagruel“ (see also under quotes). The vineyards are terraced, they lie on gravel sand and limestone soils, and are located at the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers. The red wine is usually matured in oak barrels, and is made from Cabernet Franc (known here as Breton) and Cabernet Sauvignon (maximum of 10%). Small amounts of rosé are produced from the same varieties, and there is also a white wine made from Chenin Blanc. Well-known producers include Philippe Alliet, Barnard Baudry, Domaine du Carroi Portier, Couly-Dutheil, Château de la Grille, Charles Joguet, Jean-Maurice Raffault and Domaine du Raffault.