One specific consideration people need to make when they host a party or invite some premium guests to home is to choose a fine quality wine. French wines have special administration, and there are many varieties of it to choose from. We may be discussing various options in this series of articles, and here let’s explore Loire Valley wines.
Quality of French wines
Like any other French made things, there are a set of rules which are followed strictly in the production of Loire Valley wines too. The French government created an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) back in the 1930s, which is a system to regulate the quality of the products like cheese and wine produced in the country.
To be categorized as AOC, the wines should be made from good quality grapes which are grown in specific areas and approved as fine grade. Each of the AOC regions has its own set of rules in terms of harvesting the best quality grapes, vinification process, and packaging of it. Adding to it, the European Union has also created AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée), which is another system to ensure the quality of all traditional wine specialties across the union.
Loire Valley wines
Loire Valley is one of the most diverse and unique regions for wine growing, and the wines from these vineyards are considered to be one of the most prestigious menus throughout the world. Usually, outside of France, the wines from the Loire are not much readily available but known with the alternatives as Burgundy, Champagne, and Bordeaux, etc. As of late, Loire Valley is one among the top three French producers of AOC wines, and the biggest of these in terms of white wines.
Some options of Loire Valley wines as offered by Sokolin are as below:
Chaume
Chaume is a sweet wine with good potential for aging. The vineyards are located n a single village at the right bank of River Layon, and top quality Chenin Blanc grapes which are grown here are used to manufacture Chaume. Complex aromas of candies, fruits, nuts, stone, and honey are complemented with the sweetness and fruity flavor of Chaume.
Anjou
Owned over five generations by Tijou family, the Château de Bellevue is a home surrounded by Layon Valley vineyards. A wide range of Anjou wines is made here by grapes like Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay. One of the best options to consider is the Coteaux du Layon 1er Cru Chaume, one among the two top “crus” of Loire Valley.
Saumur
Saumur is a vineyard located right at the center of Loire Valley. There is a calcareous rock named ‘tuffeau’ which was actually quarried many centuries ago. Now, these caves serve as natural wine cellars. This region is world famous for the sparkling wines and the medium-body reds produced here. These are made from the varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pineau d’Aunis, etc.
To conclude, Loire Valley wines are delicious as well as excellent in value. Given the diversity of this region, the wines produced here can appeal to everyone’s taste.
