I was recently on a road warrior tour of the Centre Val de Loire region and got me a bottle of this delicious Vouvray. It made me come back to update this older post on the wonderful wines of this area. I have been to Vouvray an exquisite wine indeed. I like to tell you a bit more on the wines of Vouvray !
The region of Touraine is a sub region of the Loire valley and has a large known production of Pétillant and Sparklers call Mousseux done in red, white ,and rosé as well. The names are Vouvray, Vouvray Mousseux, and Vouvray Pétillant. I like them all ! Vouvray is a white wine of AOC status produced around Vouvray, in the department 37 of Indre-et-Loire in the Centre-Val de Loire region of my belle France.
This vineyard is located on the right bank of the Loire river, in the middle of Touraine, east of the city of Tours. The Vouvray appellation area covers eight towns in the Indre-et-Loire dept 37 such as Vouvray, and the neighboring towns of Chançay, Noizay, Reugny, Rochecorbon, Sainte-Radegonde-en-Touraine (attached to Tours in 1964), Vernou-sur-Brenne , and part of Parçay-Meslay. The Vouvray vineyard was created by the monks of the Marmoutier monastery founded in 372 by Saint. Martin. During the 14C part of the wine-growing terroir of Vouvray belonged to the kings of France who made these wines serve at their table.
The AOC Vouvray was recognized by a decree of the INAO (national body that regulates the wine industry in France) in 1936 . It was a Champagne gentlement, Mr. Maurice Hamm, whose family was a native of the village of Aÿ in the vineyards of Champagne area in the department 51 of the Marne, which, before WWII, brought the Champagne method of winemaking to Vouvray. He made the still white wine from Vouvray, a world-renowned sparkling wine. The use of the Chenin as main varietal and that of Orbois (also called “menu pineau “) in accessory variety. However, it seems that the Orbois intervenes only exceptionally today in the composition of Vouvray wines.
Still white wine can be drunk in its early youth. Preserved for a few years, it will give off aromas of coing and acacia. Vinified in sparkling, the Vouvray expresses the typicality of its terroir by its lightness and finesse. A less advanced foam intake gives a pétillant wine, a local specialty. These effervescent undergo a second fermentation in the bottle. Before being marketed, these wines must lie on slats for at least twelve months The white wines of Vouvray can accompany: appetizers, cold cuts, crustaceans, fried small fish, cheeses, seafood, cakes, fish in sauce or grilled, white meats in sauce, grilled or roasted, poultry in sauce or grilled. There are many family and independent vineyards, the average structure of the farms is 16 hectares.
The best in my opinion over the years of drinking them are the Domaine Huet, L’Échansonne ,Domaine du Clos Naudin, of Philippe Foreau , Domaine des Aubuisières , Caves Rougebec , Jean-Louis Rougebec, and the Cooperative Cave of Vouvray.
The Coop Cave de Vouvray is the cooperative of winegrowers and traditional know-how for 60 years. From this alliance are born the finest fine bubbles Vouvray and the still wines of Vouvray. The guide will accompany you through ther 3 km of cellars’ galleries and will deliver the secrets of the wine making. A commented and convivial tasting will be offered to you and you will be able to discover the shop and let yourself be tempted by the regional products and the cellar items. The Cave des Producteurs de Vouvray is located in the town of Vouvray, about 28 km from Chenonceaux (town) along the D140 road . This agricultural cooperative is made up of 43 AOC Vouvray winegrowers who manage around 350 hectares of vines. Different spaces: boutique space (sale and wine tasting), Cooperage Museum space (exhibition of objects + projection of a film “The four seasons of the vine”), accessible by a staircase or a gently sloping secondary access , cellars dug in the tufa – 2 km (accessible only by guided tour), hangar dedicated to disgorging and dressing of bottles, inaccessible to people in wheelchairs,but compensated by the viewing of a film in the accessible projection room. Here you can buy from all properties at their store. The Coop is very convenient because in addition to their wines you can buy the wines of others in the area and load up home like we do!! The official Coop Cellars of Vouvray: https://cavedevouvray.com/?lang=en
Other helpful webpages to help you understand and enjoy the wines of Vouvray are:
The wines of Vouvray: https://www.vinsdevouvray.com/
The Val de Loire wines on Vouvray: https://www.vinsvaldeloire.fr/en/wine/vouvray
The Montlouis-Vouvray tourist office on wineries: https://www.tourisme-montlouis-vouvray.com/your-stay/food-drink/visits-to-cellars-and-vineyards/
There you go folks, you are now armed and dangerous to be knowledable on the wines of Vouvray and do enjoy them , they are sublime. Especially while in the area tops!
And remember, happy travels ,good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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