The Loire Valley offers a wide variety of quality wines thanks to its diversity of terroirs and grape varieties, ranging from dry white wines to light and fruity red wines, as well as dry rosé wines and sparkling wines.
Many wineries own vineyards across multiple appellations (also known as PDO or Protected Designation of Origin), which always leaves a wide range of possibilities. In France, appellations are usually referred to as AOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) or AOP (Appellation of Protected Origin). The difference? None really, it lies in the fact that AOP is a newer and broader European appellation, which includes French AOCs as well as other European appellations.
The Anjou AOC (or AOP) produces wines in a very wide range of styles and colors: red wines, rosé wines, white wines and sparkling wines! The appellation was created in 1936, and today brings together more than 800 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,500 hectares.
The Coteaux du Layon AOC/AOP (with which we have included Layon 1er Cru Chaume and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru) produces exclusively sweet wines from Chenin Blanc grapes that are harvested at (over)maturity. The wine appellation was created in 1950, and amounts to over 400 wineries spread over a vineyard of 1,700 hectares.
The three AOC (or AOP) of Savennières produce great white wines, essentially dry but can also be vinified in semi-dry or sweet. The appellation was created in 1952, and today brings together more than 30 wineries spread over a (small) vineyard of 150 hectares.
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