Appellation: Touraine
The countryside around the city of Tours is known as the "garden of France," a verdant, fertile area where the aristocrats of the Ancien Regime built their great châteaux.
The Touraine appellation yields red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. For white wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are the preferred grapes, but they may be blended with Chardonnay. For red wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir are the primary grapes, but they too may be blended with Cot (the local name for Malbec) or Pineau d'Aunis. Rosé may be made with Gamay or either of the Cabernets.
The region boasts several of the greatest appellations in the Loire Valley. Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire celebrate the versatility of the Chenin Blanc. Nearby, Chinon, Bourgueil and St Nicolas de Bourgueil make wines that set international standards for Cabernet Franc. To the east, Cheverny makes Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir that are as likely to resemble those of the Centre-Loire as those of its nearer neighbors. The smaller appellation of Cour-Cheverny makes only white wine, using the Romorantin grape. The Romorantin is also an element in the fresh white wines of Valençay, which also includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and the little known Arbois. The red wines of Valençay use the same grapes as are used throughout the region. Smaller appellations include Touraine Amboise, Touraine Azay-le-Rideau (made in the area surrounding one of the most beautiful château in a the Loire Valley), Touraine Mesland and Touraine Noble Joué.
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Loire365 Factoid
What's In A Name?
Long before the concept of varietals had been invented (and when the same grape often had many different names), French winegrowers and wine makers had discovered that wines from one village or vineyard were very different from wines from the neighboring village or hillside. This is why French wines (including those of the Loire Valley) are identified by “appellations” or place names rather than by the grapes from which they are made. The words Appellations d’Origine Controlee, or the letters AOC on a label indicate that a wine is made in accordance with strict regulations that allow the producer to use the appellation.
