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Loire Valley (wine)
The Loire Valley wine region includes the French wine regions situated along the river Loire from the Muscadet region near the city of Nantes on the Atlantic coast to the region of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of the city of Orléans in north central France. In between are the regions of Anjou wine, Saumur, Bourgueil, Chinon, and Vouvray. The Loire Valley itself follows the river through the Loire department to the river's origins in the Cévennes but the majority of the wine production takes place in the regions noted above. The area includes 87 appellations under the ''Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC), '' Vin Délimité de Qualité Superieure'' (VDQS) and '' Vin de pays'' systems. While the majority of production is white wine from the Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, there are red wines made (especially around the Chinon region) from Cabernet franc. In addition to still wines, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines are also pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gamay
Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century. It has been often cultivated because it makes for abundant production; however, it can produce wines of distinction when planted on acidic soils, which help to soften the grape's naturally high acidity. History The Gamay grape is thought to have appeared first in the village of the Gamay, south of Beaune, in the 1360s. The grape brought relief to the village growers following the decline of the Black Death. In contrast to the Pinot noir variety, Gamay ripened two weeks earlier and was easier to cultivate. It also produced a strong, fruitier wine in a much larger abundance. In July 1395, the Duke of Burgundy Philippe the Bold outlawed the cultivation of the grape, referring to it as the "disloyal Gaamez" that in spite of its ability ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anjou Wine
Anjou wine is produced in the Loire Valley wine region of France near the city of Angers. The wines of region are often grouped together with the wines of nearby Saumur as "Anjou-Saumur". Along with the wines produced further east in Touraine, Anjou-Saumur make what is collectively known as the "Middle Loire" (as opposed to the "Upper Loire" which includes the wine regions of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.J. Robinson. ''Jancis Robinson's Wine Course'', Third Edition. Abbeville Press, 2003. pp. 180-184. . Within the Anjou wine region are several ''Appellation d'origine contrôlées'' (AOCs) responsible for a broad spectrum of wines including still red, white and rosé produced with varying levels of sweetness. Extending across the Deux-Sèvres, Maine-et-Loire and Vienne ''départements'', the generic Anjou AOC appellation and its various sub-appellations encompasses vineyards across more than 151 communes. Wine expert Tom Stevenson describes the wines of the area as being a "microcosm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muscadet
Muscadet ( , , ) is a French white wine. It is made at the western end of the Loire Valley, near the city of Nantes in the Pays de la Loire region. It is made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape, often referred to simply as ''melon''. While most ''appellation d'origine contrôlée'' wines are named after their growing region, or in Alsace after their variety, the name ''Muscadet'' refers to an alleged characteristic of the wine produced by the melon grape variety: ''vin qui a un goût musqué'' (wine with a musk-like taste). However, according to wine expert Tom Stevenson, Muscadet wines do not have much, if any, muskiness or Muscat-like flavors or aromas. The sole variety used to produce Muscadet, Melon de Bourgogne, was initially planted in the region sometime in or before the 17th century. It became dominant after a hard freeze in 1709 killed most of the region's vines. Dutch traders, who were major actors in the French wine trade, encouraged the planting of this variety; t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical boundaries, such as what grapes may be grown, maximum grape yields, alcohol level, and other quality factors may also apply before an appellation name may legally appear on a wine bottle label. The rules that govern appellations are dependent on the country in which the wine was produced. History The tradition of wine appellation is very old. The oldest references are to be found in the Bible, where ''wine of Samaria'', ''wine of Carmel'', ''wine of Jezreel'', or ''wine of Helbon'' are mentioned. This tradition of appellation continued throughout the Antiquity and the Middle Ages, though without any officially sanctioned rules. Historically, the world's first exclusive (protected) vineyard zone was introduced in Chianti, Italy in 1716 and t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cévennes
The Cévennes ( , ; oc, Cevenas) is a cultural region and range of mountains in south-central France, on the south-east edge of the Massif Central. It covers parts of the ''départements'' of Ardèche, Gard, Hérault and Lozère. Rich in geographical, natural, and cultural significance, portions of the region are protected within the Cévennes National Park, the Cévennes Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO), as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape. The area has been inhabited since 400,000 BCE and has numerous megaliths which were erected beginning around 2500 BCE. As an agriculturally-rich area, but not a suitable location for cities, the Cévennes developed a wide diversity of pastoral systems, including transhumance. The irrigation and road networks put in place in the early Middle Ages for these pastoral systems are still in use today. The name ''Cévennes'' comes from the Gaulish ''Cebenna.'' As of 1999, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vouvray (wine)
Vouvray is a French wine region in the Loire Valley located in the Touraine district just east of the city of Tours in the commune of Vouvray. The ''Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) is dedicated almost exclusively to Chenin blanc; the obscure and minor grape Arbois is permitted but rarely used.T. Stevenson ''The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia'' pg 210 Dorling Kindersley 2005 Wine production in this area is highly variable and dependent on climate conditions. Cooler years promote the production of dry '' (sec)'' and sparkling Vouvray, while a warmer, more favorable vintage encourages the production of sweet ''moelleux'' or '' liquoreux'' styles produced by noble rot in a manner similar to the sweet dessert wines of Sauternes. With the naturally high acidity of Chenin blanc, Vouvrays from favorable vintages have immense aging potential. A few wines drink well into 100 years of age, but it is more common to find a well aged Vouvray peaking at the 40 year mark. Jancis R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinon Wine
Chinon wine comes from the vineyards around the town of Chinon in Touraine. Unusual for the Loire Valley, it is mostly red wine, with 2-5% rosé and a little white wine. Geography The town of Chinon is situated on the banks of the River Vienne in Indre-et-Loire. The vineyards of the Chinon AOC cover the relatively steep banks of the Vienne as well as the less steep slopes running northward from the hills above Chinon to the Loire. The vineyards consist almost entirely of erosional scree and gravels on top of rather hard Turonian limestones. Toward the Loire itself, the Turonian limestones give way to the Jurassic rock of the Loire. Styles The reds and rosés are generally made from Cabernet Franc, although up to 25% of Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon () is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bourgueil AOC
Bourgueil () is an ''appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) for wine in the Loire Valley region, and produces primarily red wine from the grape variety Cabernet Franc, located in the commune of Bourgueil and surrounding communes. Bourgueil gained ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) status when regulatory laws were passed on 31 July 1937. Climate and geography Like other wine regions in the Saumur region, Bourgueil has mostly a continental climate with some maritime influences that are enhanced the further west you go in the AOC. It is situated on the left bank of the river Loire, which provides some climate moderation, to the west of Tours and on the edge of the Maine-et-Loire department. The AOC region stretches over an area of 1400 hectares, encompassing 7 communes of the Indre-et-Loire department: Restigné, Benais, Ingrandes-de-Touraine, Saint-Patrice, Chouzé-sur-Loire, La Chapelle-sur-Loire and Bourgueil. The wine region contains three different types of s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saumur Wine
Saumur is a French wine region located in the Loire Valley. The region is noted for sparkling wines produced by the traditional method, and for red wines made primarily from Cabernet Franc Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire's Chinon. In addition to being u .... The main variety in the white wines is Chenin blanc. The annual ''Grandes Tablées du Saumur-Champigny'' is a popular annual event held in early August with over 1 km of tables set up in Saumur so people can sample the local foods and wine. Appellations The following AOCs may be used for Saumur wines: * Saumur - white, red or rosé * Saumur-Champigny - red * Coteaux de Saumur - sweet white * Saumur mousseux - sparkling * Cabernet de Saumur - for the rosé wines produced before 2015 (Saumur Rosé for 2016 and after) See also * List o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea; overseas territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Due to its several coastal territories, France has the largest exclusive economic zone in the world. France borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Andorra, and Spain in continental Europe, as well as the Netherlands, Suriname, and Brazil in the Americas via its overseas territories in French Guiana and Saint Martin. Its eighteen integral regions (five of which are overseas) span a combined area of and contain clos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orléans
Orléans (;"Orleans" (US) and , ) is a city in north-central France, about 120 kilometres (74 miles) southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the department of and of the of . Orléans is located on the river [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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