The Loire is the third-largest wine-producing region by volume in France. The river is over 1000 kilometers (600 miles) in length and there are over 50 appellations in the region. The variety of wines produced here are staggering, everything from still to sparkling to sweet. It would take a lifetime to really understand the region and we attempted to do it in under a week.

Cru Muscadet

To improve the image and quality of Muscadet, a Cru system has been put into place. They are supposed to represent the finest wines produced around Nantes. There are currently ten Crus: Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet, Goulaine, Château Thébaud, Mouzillon-Tillières, Monnières-Saint Fiacre, La Haye Fouassière, Vallet, and Champtoceaux.

During one afternoon and evening with the producers of Cru Muscadet, we sampled all ten Crus side by side. While there are subtle differences in the Crus, the real power in these wines is the long lees contact and aging potential. There are several producers bottling wines after three to five years on the lees. This adds body and complexity to the neutrally flavored and highly acidic grape Melon de Bourgogne. We also tasted a number of vintage Muscadet wines going back to the 1970s, which showed very little signs of age. Some of these wines could pass for a high-end Chablis. Better yet, a lot of these wines Muscadet Sur Lie and Cru Muscadet can be had at low prices.

Savennières

Chenin Blanc is one of the world’s great yet unheralded grapes. It can flourish as many different styles of wine. One of the great areas for Chenin Blanc is the Savennières AOC.

The Savennières AOC is located near the city of Angers. It’s a small appellation that produces less than 500,000 bottles per year from 30 producers (according to the Loire Valley Wines website). We spent one afternoon at the famous estate Coulée de Serrant owned by Nicolas Joly and tasted through a wide range of Savennières wines.

In general, these are barrel fermented whites made from Chenin Blanc. The wines have intense mineral notes with high acidity and ripe peach flavors. They are complex and thought-provoking wines. While many people chase White Burgundy, Savennières can be a great alternative. These are wines that Charine and I plan to seek out in the future.

Saumur-Champigny

Cabernet Franc is one of the blending grapes used in Bordeaux but its spiritual home may be the Loire Valley. In the regions of Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny, and many others, the grape stands alone in varietal wines. The wines of Chinon and Bourgueil may be a tad bigger bodied but Charine has long appreciated the perfume and floral notes from Saumur-Champigny.

We spent one evening with the producers of Saumur-Champigny and tasted through dozens of wines, everything from fresh to barrel matured Cabernet Franc. While there were stunning aged examples, we found the fresh wines of Saumur-Champigny to be surprisingly enjoyable. The fresh vintages are aged in stainless steel for a few months after fermentation before being bottled. They offer attractive black olive, cherry, and violet notes with mouthwatering acidity. The reds from Saumur-Champigny are medium-bodied and food-friendly. They are easy to drink and again, can be found at fair prices (a theme in the Loire).

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

Muscadet

• Gaec Luneau Michel & Fils, ‘Tradition Stanislas’ Mouzillon-Tillières 2010

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Gaec Luneau Michel & Fils Tradition Stanislas is an impressive Cru Muscadet. Notes of lime, lemon, white peach, and salty notes. The wine has multiple layers of texture. It’s round on the palate at first and finishes with a gritty, acidic finish. Score: 92/100

• Domaine du Moulin Camus, Vallet 2012

The Domaine du Moulin Camus is a from the Vallet Cru. Its shows dried yellow fruit with almonds and lemon peel. It’s a round wine and shows lots of nuttiness on the finish. Medium level of acidity for the Melon grape. The wine spends 30 months on the lees. Score: 91/100

Savennières

• Domaine aux Moines, Savennières la Roche aux Moines 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Domaine aux Moines Savennières la Roche aux Moines is aged in the barrel for 13 months. This is a stellar white wine with notes of lemon, oak, yellow peach, and flint. It has intense fruit on the mid-palate and lots of texture. There is a long and spicy finish that leaves you wanting glass after glass of this wine. Score: 93/100

• Vignobles de la Coulée de Serrant, Clos de la Coulée de Serrant 2007

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This wine is a masterpiece. The Coulée de Serrant is a one property AOC-like Romanée-Conti in Burgundy. This beauty from Nicolas Joly is nutty with notes of caramel, tangerine peel, dried apricots, and lemony acidity. Round and long with a perfect balance of age, oxidation, and freshness. This is a wine to experience, not to drink. Score: 95/100

Saumur-Champigny

• Domaine Ratron – Clos des Cordeliers, Cuvée Tradition Saumur-Champigny 2017

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Domaine Ratron – Clos des Cordeliers Cuvée Tradition Saumur-Champigny is a fresh red aged in stainless steel. There are notes of red cherry, earth, and fall leaves. It’s medium bodied with an acidic backbone and a long finish. It’s tart and Tuscan like on the finish. Score: 90/100

• La Source du Ruault, Le Clos de la Côte Saumur-Champigny 2010

The La Source du Ruault Le Close de la Côte 201 was the finest example of Saumur-Champigny we had during our time in the Loire. It is a barrel-aged & developed wine with notes of black olive, cherry, pepper, and capsicum. It is full-bodied, yet elegant, with a subtle chocolate note that accompanies the fruit. Long finish with developed tannins wraps up the finish. Score: 92/100

Côt & Cremant de Loire

• La Grange Tiphaine, Côt Vieilles Vignes Touraine-Amboise 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This wine is made from 100% Côt (aka Malbec) and is biodynamically farmed. The La Grange Tiphaine Côte Vielles Vignes Touraine-Amboise 2016 is full of fresh violets, perfume, and blueberry with grape flavors. It’s full in body with intense fruit on the finish. This wine is highly structured and worth cellaring. This half of the cuvée is aged in concrete eggs and the other half in barriques. It’s made from vines over 100 years in age. Score: 90/100

• Domaine Pierre Chauvin, Cremant de Loire 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Sparkling wine is a big part of the production in the Loire and this is a fine example. The Domaine Pierre Chauvin Cremant de Loire has notes of crisp white pear, white peach, and a touch of unripe pineapple. The palate tastes more tropical fruit than the nose. A fine bead of creamy bubbles and fantastic acidity. The autolytic notes aren’t high but the finish is long. Spends 18 months on the lees. Score: 91/100

Loire Valley Wines provided our transportation and accommodation for the trip. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post The Loire: Muscadet, Savennières, Saumur-Champigny, and More appeared first on Wine Travel.

Check out our wine travel guide to Santa Barbara Wine Country. 

Located on the southern end of the Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara County is about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California. The history of this wine country can be traced back to five million years ago: tectonic activity thrust up a huge part of the land, rotated it, and created a geologic anomaly. As a result, the mountain ranges in Santa Barbara County are transverse and run east to west—unlike the rest of California where the mountains are parallel to the coastline, positioned in a north-south direction. This topographical feature creates wind tunnels, which enable cool air to flow from the Pacific Ocean into the valleys of Santa Barbara County, keeping the temperatures moderate during the day and cool at night. The Pacific Ocean also creates morning fog that cools and protects the grapes in the vineyards. All in all, Santa Barbara County is characterized by little to no rainfall especially during the harvest period, a lot of sunshine, and extremely long growing seasons.

Photo by Babcock Winery.

These climatic and geographical features have helped Santa Barbara County become a sublime spot for viticulture. The multitude of microclimates and soil types provide a perfect place for a wide variety of grapes. In fact, Santa Barbara is one of the oldest wine-producing areas in California, with the first wine grapes planted by the missionaries in the late 1700s. The modern commercial production as we know it today came about in 1960 when the first commercial vineyard was planted in Tepusquet in Santa Maria Valley.

Despite all the attention, Santa Barbara County remains somewhat alternative, especially in comparison to the other California’s wine regions.

Initially, most of the fruit produced was shipped out of the county to be vinified. Then, in 1962, Santa Barbara Winery, the first post-prohibition commercial winery in the county was established. In 1975, Firestone became the first estate winery to make wine using its own locally grown grapes.

The biggest revolution happened in the early 1980s when Santa Barbara became known for its independent winemakers with larger-than-life personalities. Among the first generation of winemakers that arrived in the county included Bill Wathen (Foxen Vineyard & Winery), Bob Lindquist (Qupé), Bryan Babcock (Babcock Winery & Vineyards), Chris Whitcraft (Whitcraft Winery), Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat), Ken Brown (Ken Brown Wines), Lane Tanner (now Lumen Wines), Richard Sanford (now Alma Rosa Winery), and Rick Longoria (Longoria Wines).

Qupé’s founder, Bob Lindquist, is a distinguished winemaking veteran and has mentored dozens of famous winemakers in the Central Coast. (Photo is provided by the winery.)

The spirit of innovation and quality permeated this wine country. Loads of delicious wines were coming out of Santa Barbara that could have built the area’s reputation single-handedly. Then, in 2004, the critically acclaimed film Sideways was released. Most of the movie was shot and set there; the film’s popularity and the protagonist’s affinity for Pinot Noir further enhanced the wine country’s shining reputation.

Today, the Santa Barbara County’s wine industry is said to generate around $1.7 billion of annual revenue and account for more than 9,000 full-time jobs. There are about 200 wineries in the region and more than 27,000 acres of vines.

Despite all the attention, Santa Barbara County remains somewhat alternative, especially in comparison to the other California’s wine regions. There is electricity in the air as an abundance of veteran experience and young talent keep the wine scene fresh.

Photo by J. Wilkes.

Wine Growing Areas

At around 3,730 square miles in size, Santa Barbara Wine Country offers unique topography and climatic diversity that give birth to six official AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). The distance between the grape-growing area and the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean is a key factor that shapes the characteristics of each AVA. The western areas are cooler, while the eastern reaches are warmer. The grapes also show considerable vineyard-to-vineyard variation within each AVA. The highest vineyard sits on a plateau at over 3,000 feet above sea level.

Map by Santa Barbara Vintners.

Santa Maria Valley AVA

Established in 1981, Santa Maria Valley is the northernmost and oldest AVA of the region and the third oldest in the United States. It sees direct access to the cool ocean breezes but without the topography that creates a natural wind tunnel. The vines are mostly planted on the slopes of rolling hillsides with well-drained sandy loam and clay-loam soils, at elevations between 300 and 800 feet.

There are several varieties grown here—including Albariño, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier—but the flagships are Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Chardonnays from this appellation can range from lean with crisp acidity to full-bodied with a floral tone. Noted for its slightly spicy and earthy characteristics, the Pinot Noir here can taste vastly different from the ones in Sta. Rita Hills. Overall, the wines from the Santa Maria Valley AVA tend to have a nice acidic backbone, high drinkability, yet not shy on complexity.

Total Area: Around 98,000 acres in southern San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County
Planted Area: ~7,500 acres
Notable Vineyards: Bien Nacido, Cambria, Foxen, Nielson, Sierra Madre, and Tepusquet

Santa Ynez Valley AVA

A long east-west corridor with varying temperature: the west side of the valley is cooler as it is closer to the Pacific breeze while the east side and further inland are significantly warmer. The Santa Ynez Valley AVA has the largest concentration of wineries and the most varied grape varieties. The climatic diversity here enables the cultivation of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and varieties of Bordeaux and Rhône—including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Syrah, and Viognier. Small amounts of Arneis, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling can also be found here.

The Santa Ynez Valley AVA boasts various soil types, ranging from sand to gravel, loam, and diatomaceous earth (i.e. deposits of fossilized marine life that are high in Calcium Silicate). All of these soil types provide excellent drainage and are highly suitable for viticulture.

Please note that four other AVAs are nestled within Santa Ynez Valley; they are Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, Ballard Canyon, and Los Olivos District.

Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Created in 2001, this AVA was known as Santa Rita Hills up until 2006, when the name was changed to Sta. Rita Hills because a Chilean wine producer called Viña Santa Rita objected to the original spelling. This is the westernmost AVA and has direct access to the cool ocean breeze. The hills act as narrow corridors and the breeze blows through them, creating a cool climate in this wine-growing area.

There are about 20 cool-climate wine grapes planted here. The majority of the plantings are Pinot Noir and a good portion is Chardonnay. The sites in Sta. Rita Hills make a distinct difference in the flavor profiles of these two grapes. In Chardonnay, expect mineral, smoke, or flint characteristic. For Pinot Noir wines, most are rich and concentrated with red fruit accent. There tends to be more stem inclusion used in the vinification of Pinot Noir here, which can lend interesting flavors and tannins to the wines. Pinot Noirs, especially the single-vineyard bottlings, that bear the Sta. Rita Hills AVA are said to perform better after five years of barrel and bottle aging.

Total Area: Over 30,000 acres
Planted Area: ~2,700 acres
Notable Vineyards: Acin, Ampelos, Babcock, Cargasacchi, Clos Pepe, El Jabali, Fe Ciega, Fiddlestix, Hapgood, John Sebastiano, Kessler-Haak, La Encantada, La Rinconada, Lafond, Machado, Melville, Mt. Carmel, Rita’s Crown, Sanford and Benedict, Sea Smoke, Sweeney Canyon, Zotovich

Happy Canyon AVA

This is the most inland AVA and because of that, it is significantly warmer than the other AVAs. It is at the far eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA and has shown promise with Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Syrah is also planted here. The wines from the Happy Canyon AVA can be exciting, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon blends which tend to express ripe fruit notes without being overbearing. The soil types are made up of a mixture of loam and clay loam with red and yellow chert and serpentine cobbles.

Total Area: ~24,000 acres
Planted Area: ~500 acres
Notable Vineyards: Grassini, Happy Canyon, Star Lane, Vogelzang

Ballard Canyon AVA

Located near the town of Buellton, this is the smallest AVA of the region. The Ballard Canyon AVA is known for producing Rhône-style wines. The majority of the plantings here are Syrah. Other varieties planted include Grenache, Sangiovese, Roussanne, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah, and small amounts of Chardonnay. The vines are planted in clay or sand. In the northern part of the AVA, limestone substrate lies under clay topsoil. The reds from this area tend to be aromatic, fruit-forward, rich, and slightly earthy, with approachable tannins.

Total Area: ~7,700 acres
Planted Area: ~300 acres
Notable Vineyards: Beckmen, Harrison Clarke, Jonata, Larner, Stolpman, Tierra Alta

Los Olivos District AVA

Established in January 2016, this is the newest AVA of the county. It sits within a triangle created by the towns of Solvang, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos. From a geological perspective, it is fairly uniform and produces a handful of interesting wines from Bordeaux and Rhône varieties. Italian and Spanish varieties can also be found here. The soils consist of moderate to well-drained sandy loam and clay loam. The terrain slopes gently from north to south towards the water. As the Los Olivos District AVA is largely flat, machines and other automated support can be used here, as opposed to the neighboring wine-growing areas with steep, rugged terrains.

Total Area: 22,820 acres
Planted Area: 1,121 acres
Notable Vineyards: Baehner Fournier, Sunstone, Tensley

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Planning a trip to Santa Barbara County?
Want to learn more about the wines of Santa Barbara?

Our visitor-friendly guide to the wines and tasting rooms of Santa Barbara is available now!
Check out Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers for more information.

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Check the availability of Santa Barbara County wines globally at Wine Searcher.

You May Also Enjoy:

• A Vinous Dream: Wine Tasting in Los Olivos
• Sipping Buellton: Wines and Other Gastronomic Delights
• Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail: Highlights and Tips
• Slumming It at the Lompoc Wine Ghetto
• 10 Wines to Try in Santa Barbara
• 8 Tips for Visiting Santa Barbara Wine Country

– Cover image by Mark Weber: Sunset at The Rock Garden and White Mountain high in the Santa Ynez Mountains above the city of Santa Barbara in southern California.
-We have referenced data from sources believed to be the most reliable or up to date. However, data can quickly become outdated. It is recommended that careful attention is paid to the usage or reference of any data in this article.
– The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Santa Barbara County: Appellations and Wine Region’s Layout appeared first on Wine Travel.