📜 Vouvray

Vouvray is a French appellation (PDO) in Touraine in the Loire Valley, not far from the city of Tours. White wines from the Chenin Blanc grape are made here. The vineyards lie on slopes above the Loire, on soils of limestone and clay with tuffeau. Cellars are dug into the limestone slopes, where wine is kept at an even cool temperature.

Vouvray's distinction is the variety of styles from one grape. Wines can be dry (sec), off-dry (demi-sec), sweet (moelleux) and sparkling. Which ones depends on the weather of the year: in warm years the grapes are picked late and sweet wines result. Chenin Blanc gives high acidity, with aromas of quince, apple and honey. Thanks to the acidity, wines can keep for decades.

Vouvray belongs to Touraine, to white, still, sparkling and sweet wines. Dry wine is served with fish, poultry and goat cheese, and sweet with desserts. The label states how sweet the wine is, so the buyer can choose the style. It is one of the best-known white appellations of the Loire.