Touraine Noble Joué AOC is a pink (‘pink-gris’) wine from the southern suburban edge of Tours, around Esvres in the Indre Valley in the Touraine district of the Loire Valley. It was created in 2001, or rather re-created, the wine having been known at the court of Valois King Louis XI (reigned 1461–1483). The region reached the height of its fame in the 19th century, local wines being awarded at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900. AOC status was first requested in 1939, but war intervened. The vineyards were partially destroyed, while creeping urbanisation ate away more land until vineyards ceased to exist (Joué le Tours after which the wine is named in now completely urbanised). In 1975, however, wine-growing was relaunched by a group of local growers, including Jean-Jaques Pierru, with assistance from the INAO. The wine is made from 40-100% Pinot Meunier with 0–60% Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Soils: Calcareous soils, clay with limestone and siliceous clay.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 1,130hl from 21ha (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.930).