29th October 2025 | Cork Talk | 3 minute read
Beachy sandbanks, clear water, rolling vineyards, forests and small, charming towns – the Loire is a river with multiple personalities and plenty of character. The river is the longest in France (620 miles!) stretching from frosty mountains all the way to the sea. To get the most diverse flavour of France’s beauty, as well as the wine, take a cruise down the Loire River and drink up all there is to offer.
Each section of the river has its own soil, climate, and grape specialities, making it one of the most diverse areas in France. It offers a unique take on many well-known grapes, as well as providing many lower ABV options too. In one section of the river alone you can find a multitude of styles and grapes, making each area worth a visit in its own right. You can think of it in four main stretches from east to west, which we’ve broken down into the below with all the information of key grape varietals and food pairings.
A region with multiple well known and world-wine grape types, this is a hot spot every wine lover should know. Also known as the “Garden of France”, Touraine produce a diverse range of different grapes and styles. Home to Vouvray, a Chenin Blanc that is known for its crisp apple and citrus fruit in its drier styles, all the way to sweeter wines with flavours of honey, apricot and floral notes. Regarded for its ageing quality, the diversity within Vouvray alone makes this region one of the best and certainly one for wine tasting – you can find still dry wines, sweet wines and sparkling wines, all made from the chenin grape.
Vouvray is the perfect accompaniment to a multitude of different dishes. I’d recommend opening a bottle of the Clos du Gaimont Vouvray Sec 2023 with either a lightly spiced Thai curry or a goat’s cheese salad garnished with nuts.
Touraine Sauvignon Blanc is also a varietal that is well-regarded for how accessible yet undeniably delicious it is. It’s fill of minerality, herbal tones, citrus and freshness that makes it a great match for seafood, goat cheese or chicken and spring vegetables.
Castles, rolling hills and bountiful cellars, Anjou-Saumur is a destination for more than just wine tasting. Leading the charge are Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, but Anjou-Saumur is known for many different styles and grapes. Thanks to the mild climate and limestone rich stones, these grapes thrive and create wine known for its aromatic, pretty notes with fresh, delicate structure.
A unique take on Cabernet Franc exists in the Domaine Baumard Cremant de Loire Carte Corail Rose NV. A blend of Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Pinot Noir, this wine rolls three grapes into one bottle of beautiful sparkling wine. Whilst the region is famous today for red wine, sparkling is also a fan favourite here. This sparkling rosé works as either an aperitif or the perfect partner for king crab legs or crab parmesan canapes – basically anything seafood!
A classic red wine option would be the Guiberteau Les Moulin Rouge Saumur, made of 100% Cabernet Franc, that pairs wonderfully with herb-roasted chicken or a lentil and mushroom cassoulet.
This is where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean which gives a maritime climate that makes the crisp, light white wine the area is known for thrive. The grape that excels thanks to the climate is Melon Blanc, also known as Muscadet – also the name of the appellation. This wine comes in all forms, from non-aged dry and crisp varieties all the way to aged, complex Crus and regional wines which have a creamy texture.
Ageing on lees or “Sur Lie” is a technique specific to wines from the Nantes vineyards, particularly Muscadet. The wine rests for several months on its lees, the fine sediment consisting mainly of yeast that settles to the bottom of the vat after fermentation. This process gives the wine greater roundness, a slightly pearly texture and complex aromas ranging from citrus fruit to brioche notes.
Dry, light and refreshing, this is a grape perfect for seafood fare that the Nantes Area offer such as a a platter of oysters and prawns, or Bream Ceviche.
And if you’re wanting to try a diverse taste of Loire wines, then why not try our specially selected showcase?
