Six must-try Loire wines – how many do you know?

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Six must-try Loire Wines

Ask most wine lovers if they’ve heard of the Loire and, chances are, they’ll say ‘oh yes, Sauvignon Blanc’.

And they’d be right. In fact, Loire Sauvignon is so good, it sets the benchmark for everywhere else. Which is why wine writers often use the phrase ‘Loire-like elegance’ when describing a particularly decent drop.

But here’s the thing: the Loire stretches over 600 miles, from central France to the Atlantic coast. That’s nearly the full length of Britain. Soil, landscape and climate vary a lot – and of course, so do the styles of wine. Red or white, dry or sweet, still or sparkling, the Loire does them all – and brilliantly. Read on to make sure you’re not missing out!

1. Crisp, aromatic whites

OK, let’s start with the one everyone knows. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world’s most popular white wines, loved for its grassy, herby aromas and zingy gooseberry and citrus flavours. The Loire pretty much invented this style, and some of my favourites come from the Touraine region. The limestone soils here produce crisp, minerally whites that show exactly why Loire Sauvignon is known for its elegance.

Le Grand Maré is the flagship white of the Bougrier family. We’ve been working with them for 20 years now, and their Touraine Sauvignon never disappoints. Aged on its fine lees for creamy complexity, this white has brilliant freshness and satisfying weight. Try a glass with herby, foil-baked white fish or a creamy squash risotto.

2. Rich, rounded whites

I’ll let you in on a little secret: the signature white grape of the Loire is not Sauvignon – but Chenin Blanc. Did you know that the Loire is the world’s largest producer of Chenin Blanc – with more Chenin Blanc vineyards than the Coastal Region in South Africa?

And just as with Sauvignon, the Loire sets the benchmark for quality Chenin. It produces a range of styles, including bone-dry whites like Les Deux Vallées from Savennières AOP, in the Anjou-Saumur region. Crafted by Philippe Socheleau (shown here among the vines) it is rich and rounded, yet intensely citrusy. Try it with richly sauced fish dishes like salmon with Hollandaise sauce (perfection!) or roast chicken.

3. Racy, ocean-fresh whites

If you’re ever trying to choose a white wine in a bistro, take my advice and pick the Muscadet. It’s usually toward the top of the list (among the more affordable options) and is pretty much guaranteed to overdeliver. The region lies close to the Atlantic, and produces crisp, saline whites – often with surprising richness, too.

La Nantaise Réserve is another gem from the Bougrier family – crafted by 6th-generation winemaker Nicolas Bougrier. He uses the pick of the grapes each vintage for his Réserve Muscadet, ageing the wine on its fine lees for extra roundness. This is the ultimate partner for oysters – but if you’re not keen on those, it’ll pair beautifully with any shellfish. Try it too with a feta or goat’s cheese salad.

4. Sweet or dessert whites

Vouvray, a small region within Touraine, shows just how versatile Chenin can be. It produces both still and sparkling whites, in styles ranging from fully sweet to bone dry – all made purely from Chenin Blanc.

5. Elegant reds

The Loire is an excellent source of light, elegant yet intensely fruity reds – a style that’s becoming increasingly popular in the UK. The flagship grape is Cabernet Franc – also found in Bordeaux, where it’s used to add crunchy raspberry notes to the region’s fine reds. In the past, Loire Cabernet Franc could be a little on the lean side, but recent warmer summers have brought rounder, juicier styles into the spotlight.

Le Pavillon de Targé is a fine example. A gorgeously supple, pure Cabernet Franc from a 300-year-old organic family estate, it won Wine of the Show (as voted by Laithwaites customers) at our London Wine Festival. If you like Right Bank Bordeaux (think Saint-Émilion, Pomerol) you’ll love this. With its silky red and black fruits and leafy notes, it’s a great match for roast meats or butcher’s sausages and mash.

6. Sparkling wines

And yes, the Loire does bubbly, too. In fact, most French wine regions produce their own crémant or sparkling white. But Crémant de Loire is one of the best-known and is often cited as France’s top alternative to pricier Champagne.

Crémant de Loire can be made from a variety of grapes, but it’s not unusual to find a pure Chenin Blanc. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with Château de l'Aulée. Made using the Méthode Traditionelle (just like Champagne), it’s reminiscent of pears, apples and toasted walnuts. “Lovely,” was Victoria Moore’s verdict in The Telegraph.