Loire

The region is located along the upper reaches of the Loire river, north of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in France. The name is derived from the city of Gien. The vineyard area totals around 160 hectares, the soils are rich in limestone and flintstone. This was previously a VDQS, and was only classified as AC in 1998. Of the 16 communes, eight in the département Nièvre are entitled to use the AC designation Coteaux du Giennois Cosne-Sur-Loire. Around 70% of production is of fruity red wines and rosés with fairly low tannin levels, blends made from Gamay and Pinot Noir (maximum of 80% of each). The white wines are made from Sauvignon Blanc. In 1900, the region covered an area more than 40 times as large, and included more than a thousand producers. Wines from this region are also entitled to use the AC Côtes de Gien. Well-known producers of the Coteaux du Giennois region include René Berthier and Paul Paulat.