Chenin blanc is the dominant grape variety in the middle Loire where it produces a wide range of styles, sparkling wine, dry, off dry and sweet wines. Dry and off dry wines have medium intensity aromas of green apple and lemon (sometimes with a steely smoky character) medium alcohol, and noticeable high acidity often balanced with some residual sugar for an off dry style Typically good to very good in quality and in expensive to mid-pirced with some outstanding and premium priced options Outstanding quality producer eg Domaine Huet

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The Loire Valley - Anjou-Saumur and Touraine - Grape varieties

5 important questions on The Loire Valley - Anjou-Saumur and Touraine - Grape varieties

What are the principal grape varieties in the Middle Loire?

Chenin Blanc for dry off-dry and sweet white wines
Cabernet Franc for red wines and as a contributor to Rosé
Sauvignon Blanc is the key white variety in Touraine

Chenin Blanc - Grape Growing

Buds early making it prone to spring frosts
Vigorous grape variety and if allowed can carry high yields
Prone to Powdery Mildew, botrytis bunch, trunk diseases
(possitive effect of botrytis for making sweet wines
It ripens late vulnerable to the onset of autmn rains
Chenin Blanc ripens unevenly for the best quality it has to be picked on several passes through the vineyard pickubg by hand are necessary adding to costs.

Chenin Blanc - style

Chenin blanc is the dominant grape variety in the middle Loire where it produces a wide range of styles, sparkling wine, dry, off dry and sweet wines.
Dry and off dry wines have medium intensity aromas of green apple and lemon (sometimes with a steely smoky character) medium alcohol, and noticeable high acidity often balanced with some residual sugar for an off dry style
Typically good to very good in quality and in expensive to mid-pirced with some outstanding and premium priced options
Outstanding quality producer eg Domaine Huet

Cabernet Franc - grape growing

Cabernet Franc is an early budding variety making it prone to spring frost
It is also prone to coulure and therefore reduction in yields
Mid - ripening variety - it can often be picked before autumn rains begin
Its winter hardy - good variety for cool areas
If not ripened fully it can taste excessive leafy/herbaceous - better canopy management avoiding dense canopies (leaf removal)

Cabernet France -Style

In the middle Loire CF wines typically have medium to pronounced red fruit (redcurrant, raspberry) floral (violet) and leafy aromas. A light to medium body, medium tannins and high acidity
In the Loire valley CF used to make single varietal wines or part of rose blend
Eastern Touraine ripens fully it can be blended with Cot