Loire Valley, France

A long, diverse region in western France adjacent to the Loire River that produces wines from charming and fruity to rich and long-lived and a few exceptional Rosés. The whites are predominantly from the Chenin Blanc (Vouvray), Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet) and Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé) varietals. The reds are made from Cabernet Franc (Bougueil and Chinon) and occasionally Pinot Noir (Sancerre). The Loire Valley has a long history of winemaking dating back to the 1st century. In the High Middle Ages, the wines of the Loire Valley were the most esteemed wines in England and France, even more prized than those from Bordeaux.