Loire Valley Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc from the Garden of France

Muscadet, Anjou, Touraine or Sancerre?

The short answer is distance from the Atlantic. Near the coast, around Nantes, Muscadet makes crisp, salty whites from Melon de Bourgogne that are made for oysters.

Further inland, Anjou and Saumur are the home of Chenin Blanc, from dry to sweet, and of red and rosé from Cabernet Franc. Touraine adds Vouvray, Montlouis, Chinon and Bourgueil.

At the eastern end, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and Menetou-Salon make the valley's famous Sauvignon Blanc, and Sancerre and Menetou-Salon also make a little Pinot Noir.

Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc

Loire Sauvignon Blanc is taut and mineral, with citrus, green apple and sometimes a flinty edge, a cooler and more restrained style than the Sauvignon Blanc most Australians know.

Chenin Blanc is the valley's great all rounder, made dry, off dry, sweet or sparkling, with apple, quince and honey and a long life in the cellar.

Cabernet Franc gives fragrant, medium bodied reds with raspberry, violet and a leafy freshness that suits a light chill.

Loire Valley Wine Brands in Our Range

From Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé come Fournier Père et Fils, François Crochet, Domaine Vacheron and Dominique Roger, while J. de Villebois, a Touraine house with its own cellar in Sancerre, brings Sauvignon Blanc from across the valley.

Anjou is represented by Domaine Sauveroy, Patrick Baudouin and Pierre Ménard, Saumur by Domaine de la Renière, and Touraine by La Grange Tiphaine, Domaine de la Noblaie in Chinon and Domaine de la Chevalerie in Bourgueil. Domaine de la Quilla adds Muscadet Sèvre et Maine.

Serving and Food Pairing

Serve the whites well chilled and Cabernet Franc slightly cool, at around 14 to 16 degrees. Muscadet with oysters, Sauvignon Blanc with goat's cheese, Chenin Blanc with pork or creamy chicken and Cabernet Franc with charcuterie are all classic matches.

What Wine Is the Loire Valley Famous For? Your Questions, Answered

What wine is the Loire Valley famous for?

Above all for Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Anjou and Saumur, and Cabernet Franc reds from Chinon and Bourgueil. Muscadet and sparkling Crémant de Loire are famous too.

Is Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc the same as Sancerre?

Not quite. Sancerre is the largest appellation at the eastern end of the valley, but only one of its Sauvignon Blanc names. Touraine Sauvignon Blanc comes from around Tours, while Val de Loire is a broader regional label. Both are usually lighter and more affordable.

Is the Loire Valley part of Bordeaux?

No. It is a separate wine region in western and central France, well north of Bordeaux. The two share some grapes, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, but Bordeaux is known for blends, while the Loire mostly bottles a single variety.

Are Loire Valley wines dry or sweet?

Most are dry, but Chenin Blanc also makes some of France's great sweet wines, in appellations such as Coteaux du Layon, Vouvray and Quarts de Chaume.

Why Buy Loire Valley Wine at YourWines?

From a crisp white for a seafood lunch to a single vineyard Chenin Blanc for the cellar, you can buy Loire Valley wine online in Australia, alongside the rest of our French wine range.

Every wine is chosen by our team, available by the dozen or as a six-pack, and shipping is free Australia wide with a surcharge for WA, TAS and remote areas. For more French whites, explore our French white wine.