It’s another way of tying down production to a specific area and doesn’t necessarily indicate the wine is of inferior quality to one with AOC on its label. Loosely translated, Vin de Pays means ‘country wine’. Unlike New World wines, the variety of grape is rarely displayed on French wine labels, so it pays to know that a particular appellation requires a certain type of grape. If in doubt, check our interactive wine map of the Loire Valley for details.Ī sub-appellation is simply a further breakdown of the region of a wine’s origin. For example, the Loire Valley’s popular Muscadet appellation has three sub-appellations: Muscadet-Sevre et Maine, Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire and Muscadet-Côtes de Grandlieu. The benefit of a sub-appellation is that it is able to pinpoint the wine’s origin with great precision. Understanding the nature of appellations is especially vital in the vast and varied Loire Valley, where big producers sit alongside smaller establishments such as Cour-Cheverny (which only uses the obscure Romorantin grape) and Coteaux de Giennois. In 1937, lawyer and winegrower Baron Pierre Le Roy Boiseaumarié from Châteauneuf-du-Pape campaigned and won to secure legal recognition of Côtes du Rhône’s appellation of origin. The AOC seal (standing for Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée), which appears on the wine’s label, was created by French law in the 1950s. Consequently in 1935, the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine was created to manage wine production and to this day, the INAO remains a passionate supporter of the ‘terroir’, in other words the peculiar soil, climate and vegetation that determine the character of wine.

The early part of the 20th century saw France producing a selection of wines that were poor by today's standards. In this way quality is protected, as are vineyard practices and the marketing of wine. Other restrictions also apply, such as the types of grape that may be grown, their maximum yield, pruning and harvesting techniques, and alcoholic content. The same rule applies before other wines can legally print an appellation name on the label of their bottle. In simple terms, an appellation is the geographical identification of where the grapes for a certain wine were grown. We all know Champagne can only be called Champagne if it’s grown in the region Champagne (about 100 miles east of Paris). Wherever your tastebuds are tempted to take you, our interactive map of the Loire Valley will ensure they’re not disappointed.

Near the Atlantic, you’ll find blends of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, while in the Touraine the highly versatile Chardonnay grape will mix happily with Sauvignon Blanc. The Upper Loire is the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc, while a meander further up the river finds Gamay and Pinot Noir reigning supreme. Touraine’s Chinon Blanc makes for dry whites, complemented by its Cabernet-Franc based reds. Pay Nantais is best known and loved for its crisp Muscadets, while Anjou specialises in Chenin Blanc both sweet (Coteaux du Layon) and dry (Savennieres). Lighter-bodied wines are also made from Pinot Noir and Gamay. The quality of its reds is ever-increasing, with Cabernet Franc being the primary grape variety. The Loire proudly produces white wines with key grapes Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne and Chardonnay. The town of Angers in Anjou is known mainly for its rosés, based on the Cabernet Franc grape, including Rosé d’Anjou and Cabernet d’Anjou. Vouvray’s white wines sparkle while Chinon and Saumur are known for their meaty, tannic reds.

The wines of the Loire Valley range from light, sharp Muscadet to honeyed Bonnezeaux. Explore the different regions, appellations and grape varieties of this beautiful part of France to learn more about its elegant wines. The Loire based holidays in the Belle France programme offer cycling and walking holidays but so many of customers ask about local wines and vineyards. On this specially designed, interactive map you'll find details of a range of vineyards, some close to our Loire routes and others not. If there are two words that have you reaching for a corkscrew and glass, they're surely Loire and Valley. This key wine region stretches from the hills of the Auvergne, deep in the heart of France, to the Atlantic coast near Nantes. It generates huge quantities of wine each year, from the everyday and quaffable to some of the very finest in the world.Ī trip to the Loire Valley is something of a treasure hunt, with gems such as Touraine, Sancerre, Anjou and Pouilly-Fumé hailing from the fertile lands along the river.

Great wine maps of france