The river Loire, the longest
river in France, flows north through the heart
of France, then west where it empties into the
Atlantic. For centuries it has provided an avenue
for commerce and culture. No wonder, then, that
the Loire Valley became a center for political
power and wealth, ruled by an educated elite who
built chateaux not as a base from which to tend
their vineyards as in Bordeaux, but as a demonstration
of their influence and prestige.
The Loire boasts a variety of soils and climate,
from continental in the east to maritime in the
west, and can produce any number of wines. The
region is roughly divided into four areas: Pays
Nantais, at the mouth of the river and home of
Muscadet, Anjou, Touraine and the Central Vineyards.
No special classification exists, although the
AC system is in full swing--even the smallest
areas with a distinctive style have their own
appellations.
