In the heart of France, the Centre-Loire is famed for its artisanal Sauvignon Blanc. Family-owned wineries express the unique terroir, producing crisp, flinty, and aromatic wines that embody the area's rich winemaking heritage.
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Introduction
The Heart of France
In The Heart of France sitting at the geographical centre of the country, you’ll find picturesque hilltop villages like Sancerre, surrounded by vineyards. This region, the Centre-Loire, has nurtured a viticultural tradition spanning 2000 years; and today Sauvignon Blanc reigns supreme. Its diverse expressions, from mineral and smoky to fruit forward and fresh, are shaped by the region’s varied terroirs, which range from flint and limestone to clay.
Elegant and crisp Pinot Noir and other varieties also thrive. These wines, celebrated for their freshness and finesse, have a legacy of family-run artisanal traditions that have inspired producers around the world.
Fun Facts
Sauvignon Blanc is King
The Centre-Loire is a group of 10 appellations with mostly family-run wineries who dedicate themselves to producing high quality single varietal wines with traditional winemaking practices.
81% Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc makes up 81% of Centre-Loire wine.
15,000 Acres
A total of 15,000 acres (6086 hectares) of vineyards.
36% Organic/Biodynamic
36% of vineyards are Organic or Biodynamic.
700+ Growers
More than 700 grape growers call Centre-Loire home.
10 Appellations
10 Appellations sit in Centre-Loire (8 AOCs and 2 IGPs)
85/15/5% Split
85% of the wines are white, 15% are red, and 5% are rosé.
Wines to Explore
Terroir Driven Elegance
Centre-Loire wines are crisp and mineral-led; each variety offers a unique expression of the region's diverse soils.
Four main soil types can be found: Flint (silex), which can add smokiness; Marl-Limestone which gives structure and weight to wines; Limestone, which creates lean yet refreshing wines; and Sand, which creates fruit forward wines.
The following grapes are the primary grapes of the Centre-Loire.
Top Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc
Light-Bodied White Wine
Sauvignon Blanc is the most planted grape in Centre-Loire, representing over 80% of the vineyard surface area. Sauvignon Blanc in Centre-Loire is primarily cultivated in unoaked, single-varietal, dry styles, highlighting the grape's intrinsic freshness and finesse. The soil type plays a crucial role in flavor development: clay-limestone soils enhance vivacity and freshness, flint soils contribute mineral notes and elegance, while sands and gravels foster a fruity vibrancy.
Grapefruit
Grass
Iris
Passionfruit
Mineral
Pinot Noir
Light-Bodied Red Wine & Rosé
Pinot Noir, the second most planted grape in Centre-Loire, comprises 16% of the vineyard area. This variety offers a range of styles from light, fruity, unoaked wines to more structured, delicately oaked versions. The region also produces dry, food-friendly rosés characterized by their delicate pink hue. Often found in clay-limestone soils, Pinot Noir from the Centre-Loire exemplifies the region’s distinctive finesse and elegance.
Red Cherry
Violet
Clove
Strawberry
Truffle
Gamay
Light-Bodied Red Wine & Rosé
Gamay represents just over 1% of the vineyard plantings in Centre-Loire. Gamay can be blended with Pinot Noir to create fresh, approachable, and fruit-forward red wines that are known for their elegance and easy-drinking style. These red wines are found in Coteaux du Giennois and Châteaumeillant. Gamay and Pinot Noir are also blended to produce very pale rosés known as "vin gris", particularly notable in Châteaumeillant.
Blackberry
Red Currant
Raspberry
Prunes
Baking Spices
Pinot Gris
Rosé
Accounting for just over 1% of the vineyard plantings in Centre-Loire, Pinot Gris is used to make rosé wines in the regions of Reuilly and Châteaumeillant. It is noted for its pale pink color and refreshing, dry style. These wines are unoaked and food-friendly, making them a delightful choice for various culinary pairings.
White Peach
Apricot Raspberry
Beeswax
Ginger
Chasselas
Light-Bodied White Wine
A rare grape, comprising less than 1% of the vineyard plantings in Centre-Loire and originally from Switzerland, is exclusively used in Pouilly-sur-Loire. This grape is cherished for its fruity flavors and delicate nature. Typically unoaked and dry, Chasselas wines are noted for their high acidity, making them both crisp and refreshing.
Almond
Peach
White Flowers
Hawthorne / Mint
AppleSelected
Centre-Loire Wines
Wine Regions
A Family of Terroirs
With over 15,000 acres of grapes in the Loire and Cher valleys, Centre-Loire is home to 8 Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée (AOCs) and 2 Indications Géographique Protégée (IGPs).
Sancerre-
Dominated by Sauvignon Blanc (82%), Sancerre produces dry, elegant white wines celebrated for their crispness and quality. Nestled along the left bank of the Loire, Sancerre covers 3,000 hectares (7430 acres). The three main soils are Terres blanches, made of limestone and clay (structured age-worthy wines), Caillottes, small limestone pebbles (aromatic, fruity wines), and Silex, which are flinty (smoky, mineral wines). The best can age for 10-15 years. Perfumed light-bodied red and rosé wines are also made here from Pinot Noir.
Pouilly-Fumé+
Pouilly-sur-Loire+
Menetou-Salon+
Quincy+
Reuilly+
Coteaux du Giennois+
Châteaumeillant+
Côtes de la Charité+
Coteaux de Tannay+
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