Coteaux du Loir AOC is located in the Touraine district of the Loire Valley. It is one of only two wine regions in the Sarthe department, Jasnières AOC being the other. The region was developed by Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages. The wines were celebrated by Henry IV of France (13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610, reigned 1589 to 1610) and the region was carefully mapped under Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’ (5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715; reigned 14 May 1643 until his death). In the early 1990s the vineyard area suffered a severe, almost fatal decline. See also Jasnières AOC which forms an enclave of better exposed vineyards within the Coteaux du Loir AOC.

Terroir: On slopes (‘coteaux’) overlooking the Loir (sic) river. Soils comprise flintyclay (‘argile à silex’) covering a tuffeau base.

Wines

Coteaux du Loir Blanc AOC: Dry white wines from Chenin Blanc (‘Pineau de la Loire’, but red wines predominate. Sweeter styles suit ‘figues farcies à la chair de poularde, un munster,’ says Eric Nicolas of Domaine de la Bellivière.

Coteaux du Loir Rosé AOC:

Coteaux du Loir Rouge AOC: