In love with Loire?

A few comments first:

1. Today you get TWO photos. Great bonus day. (no taxes apply)
2. IF YOU READ THIS AS AN RSS STREAM OR IN AN EMAIL ALERT: I suggest you at least this once go an take a look at the blog. For two reasons:

• The blog has a new design and I'd like you to take a look
• Each "today's wine photo" is followed by a slide show with several more photos IN THE POST. However, you cannot see those slide shows in an RSS reader or an email alert (for technical reasons). I just want to make sure that you are aware of those.

Now, to the core of the matter:



Chateau de Saumur along the river. A romantic couple. Saumur, Loire, France.



Chateau de Saumur along the river. Saumur, Loire, France

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Loire region stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

The Loire is France’s longest river, over 1000 km long. The source is almost down by the Mediterranean, in Ardeche. From a wine perspective the interesting things start happening when you have travelled halfway downstream and arrive at the two cities Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire. From there you pas a string of pearls of wine districts, with a vineyards, orchards and world famous chateaux.

Sancerre, Pouilly, not to forget Menetou-Salon, Quincy and Reuilly are, from a wine perspective, dominated by the white grape variety sauvignon blanc. You also find some pinot noir in the vineyards to make red and rosé and occasionally some chasselas. Floating down river you arrive at the “central” Vallee de la Loire with its chateaux and with its magnificent, but underrated white wines made from chenin blanc. They exist in bone dry to very sweet. There are also some wineries making sparkling. Many a winery here is underground, in caves carved in the soft tuffeau stone. Some winemakers use the red grapes cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, and gamay to make often light but sometimes profound red wines. There are many appellations: Vouvray, Touraine, Anjou, Montlouis, Savennieres, Chinon, Saumur-Champigny, Bourgueil and many more.

When you approach the Atlantic you come to Muscadet country, the wine for shell fish par eminence, made from the grape variety with the same name.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Loire region stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the lower-right up-arrow.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button (next to the little envelope) if you want to see the images in larger size.