Loire Valley

This rich, sweet, liqueur made from blackcurrants macerated in alcohol originated in Burgundy in the 1840s where it soon found its way into glasses of tart Aligote (a “Kir”) and then frothy Champagne (a “Kir... Read More

Lower ABV Just straight-ahead, classic, bone dry, Melon de Bourgogne with a touch of amplitude and texture from time spent “sur lee” after fermentation. Granny Smith apple, green melon and lime zest aromas and flavors... Read More

Organic/Bio Fun fact – while the Loire valley is dotted with Chateau, this is one of the very few that make wine! And Hureau makes very good and classic wine indeed, starting with this Cabernet Franc from Saumur’s... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Fiefs Vendéens is a tiny region south of Muscadel in the western Loire Valley, warm enough to ripen Chenin Blanc but still cool enough to give fresh, vibrant, wines. Here 20% Chardonnay joins the blend... Read More

Lower ABV There are a LOT of Cherriers in Sancerre! This wine is from a domaine founded in Verdigny by Pierre Cherrier and run since 1994 by his sons, François and Jean-Marie. They farm around 20HA of vines in five different... Read More

Chenin Blanc is the base of many great sweet and off-dry wines, including this one which straddles the line between the two. With time in bottle, it’s showing beautifully with layers of rich pear, spice, sliced almond, and... Read More

Organic/Bio Pure, fresh, flavorful Sancerre grown organically and made all in cool stainless steel. There’s a lot going on here, with swirling aromas and flavors of white grapefruit, lemon, tangerine skin and the traditional... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV A stunning value in top-notch Muscadet from the important Chateau Thebaud Cru. Antoine Delaunay farms his vines organically, uses no sulfur in the winery until a tiny touch at bottling, and gives all his... Read More

Lower ABV I certainly wouldn’t try to tell the 2023 Chauveau Pouilly Fume La Charmette apart from a $40+ Sancerre when tasting blind. Not surprising: its from the same Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Kimmeridgian marl and limestone... Read More

Organic/Bio Just a short distance from Sancerre, Pouilly Fume showcases the smokier, gunflint, side of Sauvignon Blanc. Especially at this outstanding estate run by 8th generation winegrower Katia Mauroy-Gauliez working with some... Read More

Lower ABV Melon de Bourgogne grown on schist soils gives more cut, energy and freshness than pure limestone, and schist around 15 inches under the top-soil is the secret to this delicious seafood and sipping white. Green apple,... Read More

Organic Lower ABV This family-run estate delivers the classic textures and flavors of Anjou Chenin Blanc at superb value prices. From schist soils, this delivers juicy pear, green apple and honeysuckle aromas and flavors with... Read More

Tucked in among Loire River tributaries, the Chenin Blanc vineyards of Coeaux du Layon see autumn morning fog followed by sunny afternoons – the perfect conditions for botrytis and great sweet wines. Here the shriveled grapes... Read More

Lower ABV Think of Coteaux du Giennois as the front door to Sancerre (technically the “back door” since it’s down river, but that doesn’t sound nearly as good!). The limestone soils here were given over... Read More

In the deep south of Languedoc, growers discovered that flooding their vineyards for 40 days in spring could kill the phylloxera louse, and that's how Ferrandiere still farms it's own-rooted vines just 12 miles from Carcassonne.... Read More

Lower ABV It’s always tempting to refer to Sauvignon Blanc from the eastern Loire Valley as coming from “near Sancerre” to take advantage of that brand. And Menetou-Salon really is not far from Sancerre, just... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABVThe small vineyard Laurent Charrier calls “The Wind in the Willows” were well known for giving good wine in the 19th century, so when Laurent’s grandfather was able to buy the abandoned... Read More

Lower ABV In the western Loire, Sauvignon sometimes struggles to ripen past its herbal, even bell-peppery, youth. In Cheverny, growers get their Sauvignon ripe AND get to add Chardonnay (15% here) for even more freshness and texture.... Read More

We'd tell you that this tastes like really good Saumur Blanc but with bubbles...but we know that doesn't mean much! It's a blend of 50% Chenin Blanc, 25% Chardonnay and 25% Cabernet Franc blended and turned into sparkling... Read More

Lower ABV Southwest of Sancerre along the river Cher, Quincy's pure limestone soils and warm climate gives Sauvignon Blanc of remarkable richness and delightful fresh minerality. Vincent Siret's Quincy is especially elegant... Read More

Lower ABV Basically a “baby Sancerre”, this exciting young Sauvignon Blanc is grown on the same chalky slate soils you’ll find across Sancerre from 10-40 year-old vines, fermented in stainless steel and allowed... Read More

Lower ABV Jean-Pierre Vacher, his son Jerome and daughter-in-law, Karine, are making classic, focused, Sancerre that hold on to Sancerre's freshness year after year. Done all in steel, this delivers fresh white citrus and... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV Jeremie Huchet has emerged as one of Muscadet's young stars, and this single-vineyard, organically farmed, Melon de Bourgogne shows why. As Wine Advocate says in the 91 point review, aromas of crushed... Read More

About a half-hour southwest of Sancerre, Menetou-Salon offers essentially the same soils and climate as Sancerre, but is enough off the beaten path to escape all of Sancerre's hype. Historic Sancerre producer Joseph Mellot... Read More

Organic/Bio Lower ABV What happens when you grow the Gamay of Beaujolais, the Pinot Noir of Burgundy and the Malbec of Cahors on the flint and silex soils of Valencay in France's western Loire Valley? Well, if the grower/winemaker... Read More