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French Wine Explorers Wine e-Newsletter
www.wine-tours-france.com - September 2004

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This month's wine explorations:

Getting to Know the Wines of the Loire Valley

When visitors to France think of the Loire Valley, the primary images that come to mind are the beautiful, historic chateaux that dot the countryside, including Chambord, Chenonceau, Chaumont, etc.  For residents of France, on the other hand, the Loire Valley is a fertile terroir producing great cheeses and of course, great wines.  Outside of France, the wines of the Loire Valley are unfortunately not very well represented, and only a handful of the many appellations ever make it into wine stores or restaurants.  Much the pity, since the Loire offers wine lovers not only great wines, but also great value, in a tremendous variety of styles and colors.

Perhaps the best-known Loire Valley wine is Vouvray, the crisp, fruity white wine of the Touraine subregion (the region surrounding the town of Tours).  Vouvray is made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes, as are many of the white wines of the Loire.  It exists in a totally dry form, and also off-dry and sweet versions.  Some of the production goes to making a sparkling wine that is vinified using the "Méthode Champenoise", and the very best of these wines can compete quite nicely with good Champagnes.  Another well-known Loire wine, this time from the Central subregion, is Sancerre.  White Sancerre, made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, is, at its best, one of the most elegant white wines in France.  A rosé and red also exist, and can be quite pleasant, easy-drinking wines at affordable prices.

But there's much more to the Loire Valley than just Vouvrary and Sancerre.  There are some excellent reds produced as well, both in the Touraine and the Anjou subregions.  The best are made in Chinon and Bourgeuil, from 100% Cabernet Franc grapes.  The best of these wines are hearty and fruity, with light tannins and refreshing acidity, excellent accompaniments to red meats and, when older, go very well with game meats.

The Anjou subregion is best known for the inexpensive, off-dry Rosé d'Anjou, which is certainly not its best product.  The most elegant and complex wines come from the appellations of Côteaux de Layon, Bonnezeaux and Quarts-de-Chaume for sweet dessert wines, and from Savennières for remarkably terroir-influenced dry white wines (all of these wines exhibit the very best that can be extracted from the Chenin Blanc grape, which is a native of the Loire Valley and is found nearly exclusively in that region in France).

The Loire is an immense wine region, stretching from the center of France to the Atlantic coast at Nantes.  The area around Nantes produces another famous wine, Muscadet, which is an excellent accompaniment to the fresh seafood of the coastal region.  Muscadet has gotten a bad rap over the years, and one has to admit that alot of Muscadet is not very well made, but the best producers who work "sur lies" (aging on the lees) produce interesting wines that offer a good value.

Here are some suggestions for great Loire wines to try at home:

  • Domaine des Aubuisières, Vouvray Brut, Vouvray sec Girardières 2002, or Vouvray demi-sec Girardières 2001
  • Domaine Bernard Baudry, Chinon Croix Boisée 2002
  • Domaine Pierre Soulez, Savennières Chateau de Bizolière 2001
  • Chateau de Fesles, Côteaux de Layon Chaume Chateau de la Roulerie Aunis 2001
  • Domaine de l'Ecu, Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie 2002

With its great variety of fine wines, historic chateaux and beautiful scenery, the Loire Valley is a fantastic vacation destination.  Let us help you discover this interesting and scenic region on our Paris, Champagne & Loire Valley tour, Sept. 11-17, 2005, or on a private, customized wine tour.

Announcing "Wine & War - The Tour"

French Wine Explorers is very proud to present a one-time-only, exclusive event: Wine & War, the Tour!  Wine & War is the best-selling book that tells the remarkable story of the courageous French vintners who protected and rescued the country's most treasured commodity (its wine) from German plunder during World War II.  Authors Don & Petie Kladstrup (two American journalists) will co-lead the tour with myself and Jean-Pierre, starting in Paris and traveling for 10 days through Champagne, Burgundy, the Loire Valley and Bordeaux.  Along the way, we'll meet many of the prominent wine personalities featured in the book (who are also some of the most prestigious winemakers in France), and hear their amazing stories as we taste their great wines.  An unforgettable experience for World War II buffs and wine lovers alike, the tour will take place just before the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, May 8, 2005.

For wine lovers, this is a dream tour, a veritable "Tour de France" of the country's greatest vineyards.  For example, you'll have the extremely rare privilege of touring Domaine de la Romanée Conti and tasting its wines in barrel and bottle, accompanied by owner Aubert de Villaine.  Also on the program are First Growths Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Haut Brion, a luncheon with May de Lancquesaing, owner of "Super 2nd" Growth Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, and a meeting, tour and tasting with Claude Taittinger (whose father prevented the Nazis from blowing up Paris) at world-famous Champagnes Taittinger, among others. Along with these exclusive opportunities, you'll enjoy first-class hotels, gourmet dining and the beauty of the French wine country.  A pre-tour extension is also offerred, with 2 nights hotel, a fabulous dinner and cellar visit at 2-star La Tour d'Argent restaurant and a day tour of the Normandy D-Day landing beaches with a WWII historian.

As members of our mailing list, we are announcing this special event to you first, so you may have the opportunity to sign up before we announce to the general public.  We fully expect this tour to sell out quickly (there is room for only 14 guests), so contact us today for more information and a preliminary itinerary.

When is "Rotten" a Compliment for a Wine?

The grape harvest ("vendanges" in French) is now underway in most of France.  These days, the best wineries examine their grapes very carefully as they harvest, as they cut the bunches off the vines, and again just before the grapes enter the winery facility.  The goal is to eliminate any berries that are not ripe, and particularly any that may be rotten.  Rot happens when moisture on the grapes favorises the development of a fungus called Botrytis Cinerea that deteriorates the skin of the grape.  This type of uncontrolled rot, called Gray Rot, makes grapes unusable for dry wine production, as it gives the wine the unpleasant aromas and tastes we associate with rotten fruit.

However, under the right conditions, and for the right kind of wine, the development of the Botrytis Cinerea fungus on the grapes is a most welcome occurence, one that is encouraged and awaited with great anticipation.  Such is the case in the vineyards of Sauternes, Vouvray, Alsace, Côteaux de Layon, Montbazillac, and many other white, sweet wine appellations, where the controlled version of Botrytis, often referred to as "Noble Rot," brings complexity and concentration to the wines.  These vineyards benefit from a very particular microclimate, with fog and humidity in the mornings that encourages the development of the fungus, but with hot temperatures and good wind in the afternoon to dry the grapes so the rot does not proliferate into a simple Gray Rot, but remains "noble" and controlled.  The Botrytis fungus attacks the skins of the grapes, making them quite permeable.  In the afternoon heat and wind, the water inside the grapes evaporates, concentrating the sugar.  The fungus, in its controlled state, also increases acidity and produces complex aromas like dried fruit, mushrooms, forest floor, depending on the grape variety and the terroir.  The result? Some of the greatest dessert wines, known for their opulence, complexity and elegance.

Taste some of the great Botrytised wines of France on our Bordeaux wine tours (May 23-28, June 13-18 and Sept. 5-10, 2005), on our Paris, Champagne & Loire tour, Sept. 11-17, 2005, or on a private, customized tour.

Upcoming Wine & Food Events in France: Harvest Festivals abound!

  • Oct. 9-10:  Wine harvest festival, Tarascon (Provence): folk festival honoring Bacchus, the god of wine, and the local grape harvest.  CENTRE-VILLE DE TARASCON, rue Poissonnerie, 13150 TARASCON.  For more info:  +33 (0)4 90 91 47 95.
  • Oct. 15-17: Winemakers' Days (Journées de Vignerons), Cannes (Riviera): winemakers from all over France offer tastings, and other agricultural products (cheese, etc.) from the different regions will also be available for tasting.  A fun event with music, lectures, more.  For more info: +33 (0)1 40 23 91 13, marchesdeleon@yahoo.com. 
  • Oct. 23-24: Fête du Nouveau Vin (new wine festival), Nuits St. Georges (Côte de Nuits, Burgundy):  taste the new wine and numerous other crus from all over Burgundy.  For more info: http://www.lacabotte.com, jacques@lacabotte.com. 
  • Oct. 28-Nov. 1: Chocolate Salon, Paris. The 9th Salon Européen du Chocolat will bring together for the public 150 European and international chocolatiers, and this year Russia, Japan, Italy, and even Venezuela will be represented. For more info: + 33 (0)1 43 16 47 10, http://www.carrousel-du-louvre.fr.  Takes place at the Carousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st arrondisement.

We're always happy to design a customized, private tour for you in the region of your choice, so you can take advantage of the many wine-related events available throughout the year!

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Contact Us

I'm always available to answer your questions about our wine and culinary programs, our company, and wine in France in general. Please feel free to contact me at info@wine-tours-france.com, or toll free at  1-877-261-1500.

Best regards,

Lauriann Greene-Sollin, Sommelier-Conseil
President/Founder

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FRENCH WINE EXPLORERS
info@wine-tours-france.com
www.wine-tours-france.com
Tel:  1-877-261-1500
Fax: 1-253-423-5316

© 2004 French Wine Explorers. Articles © 2004 Lauriann Greene.  All rights reserved.  WST #601 903 728.