Special feature on wine producing regions: "Loire"

About Loire Wines

The Loire Valley is France's longest wine-producing region, located southwest of Paris and along the Loire River.

Although it is a wine-producing region located in the north of France, it is not as cold as its latitude suggests due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. The region has a wide variety of soils, which makes it possible to produce a wide variety of wines. Also, unlike Bordeaux, there is no appellation (AOC) common to the entire Loire region, and each region has its own AOC. There are four main regions that produce a wide variety of wines, including red, white, rosé, and sparkling, and the region is characterized by its relatively inexpensive and approachable wines.

• Loire wine highlights
• Loire Winegrowers of Mavi
• Enjoy the Loire and its gourmet cuisine
• Recommended Loire

Loire wine highlights

1. The scenic "French Garden"

The Loire was the stage for French history and home to many royalty and nobility. Ancient castles are dotted along the river, and it is also known as the " Garden of France " for its beauty.

2. A friendly wine that Parisians love!

The Loire is also known for producing many relatively inexpensive and approachable wines .

3. Four wine-growing regions

In the Loire, wine is produced in four regions: Nantes , Anjou & Saumur , Touraine and Central France .

1. The scenic "French Garden"

The Loire has long been a central stage in French history.

Charles Martel prevented the Muslim invasion of Western Europe at Poitiers, Joan of Arc recognized the legitimacy of the Dauphin Charles at Chinon and liberated Orléans, Leonardo da Vinci spent the rest of his life in the ancient castle of Amboise, and King Henry IV issued the edict granting religious freedom and ending the war between Catholics and Protestants in Nantes.

There are many historically important towns and castles, and winemaking developed mainly among royalty, aristocrats and monasteries.

The region along the Loire River, dotted with ancient castles and wineries, is a popular tourist destination and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

2. A friendly wine that Parisians love!

When Mavie owner Yasushi Tamura lived in Paris in the 1990s, Loire wine was the wine that Parisians casually drank. The reason for this was that it was familiar to people as it was produced close to Paris, and was more affordable than Burgundy or Bordeaux.

In recent years, there have been many up-and-coming organic wine producers, attracting a lot of attention.

3. Four wine-producing regions

In the Loire, various types of wine are produced in four regions: Nantes , Anjou & Saumur , Touraine , and Central France .

・Nantes area (Pays Nantais)
…The region is blessed with the mild maritime climate of the Atlantic Ocean, producing the fruity and refreshing white wine Muscadet. The sur lie brewing method, in which the wine is left in contact with the lees, is well suited to Muscadet.

・Anjou & Saumur
...The majority of the wines are white and rosé, but the evolving red wines (mainly Cabernet) are also not to be missed. A wide variety of wines are produced depending on the terroir (soil) and microclimate (microclimate). Fruity and floral refreshing flavors are the hallmarks of this region. The Chauvin family 's Domaine is located in this region.

・Touraine region
...The region is blessed with an extremely favorable climate, with both Atlantic and continental influences, as well as microclimates and excellent cellars carved into the tuffau (clay-schist/limestone) rock, which contribute to the quality of the wines, for those producers who are fortunate enough to have them. The Boisart family 's Domaine is located here.

・Centre-Loire
...Continental climate with large temperature difference between winter and summer. Mainly single-varietal wines. Mostly white, but red and rosé wines are also produced. Home of Sancerre.

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Loire producers of Mavie

Boisards/Loire, France

Boisard family

Touraine region. The two sons have been making organic wine since 1996 on the 9 hectares of land they inherited from their parents. Since they started making wine in their 30s, they have been attracting attention for their high quality.

95% of the wines they produce are sold in France, mostly directly to consumers (at exhibitions, markets, restaurants, wine shops). This means that their wines are rare and almost impossible to drink outside of France, let alone Japan. They don't produce very many. Because they are popular in France, the Domaine is always low on stock.

The label design has a modern and casual impression, but each wine has an elegant and sophisticated finish.

The lifestyle itself is organic, with environmental measures being taken throughout the entire domain, including the residences, by generating 50% of their own electricity using solar panels, collecting rainwater and storing 25% of the water on site, and using waterless toilets.

>> List of Boisard wines

The Chauvin Family/Loire, France

Chauvin family

Anjou & Saumur region. Converted to organic farming in 2005 and obtained organic certification in 2008. In order to spread the appeal of Chenin Blanc, a grape variety native to the Loire and particularly characteristic of Anjou, the Domaine aims to produce wine that reflects the soil of the Domaine as closely as possible.

The Loire's representative white variety, Chenin Blanc, was born here. The rosé is famous for being semi-sweet and goes well with an aperitif or light snacks such as roast ham. The white is refreshing, fragrant, mineral and full-bodied, and goes well with fish dishes as well as white meat steaks (such as veal) with sauce. The Loire's representative red variety is Cabernet Franc. This complex, rich and full-bodied red wine is recommended for roasted red meat (such as beef) and kebabs.

>>See the list of Chauvin family wines

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Enjoy Loire wine and gourmet food

Food in the Loire is rich in game, fresh seafood from the sea and rivers, fruits, and vegetables. And above all, Guérande salt is famous.

The menu is diverse, including salmon, pike, sea bass, trout, wild boar, deer, pheasant, mushrooms, and the nutty goat's milk cheese, Valençais.

Touraine is also famous for its local cuisine, including pork rillettes, charcuterie, salami, ham, and other pork products, and terrines. Other specialty dishes include "pork tenderloin and prune noisette," which uses prunes from the region's famous region, and "quenelles de brochette," a mousse made from fish paste.

Desserts include pies and pastries, especially tarte tatin, which was created by mistake by putting the crust and filling upside down, and gateau pithiviers, an almond cream pie.

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Recommended Loire wines

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