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The Loire wine region of France is dominated by the River Loire itself. The longest river in France has its source in the centre of the country and flows through the five major wine producing areas of the Loire before entering the Atlantic Ocean just north of Nantes. The five sub-regions are: Pays Nantais, Anjou, Saumur, Touraine and right up near the mighty rivers source is the Upper Loire. All five areas producing very different styles of wine.

Pays Nantais is very well-known for its coastal seafood and its close friend Muscadet. Basic Muscadet is bone dry and combined with its high acid content can be an acquired taste, locals who drink it every day would think of it as the norm. A large proportion of Muscadet produced will support the words "sur lie" on its label. This signals a big step-up from the basic Muscadet and refers to a vinification process which allows the fermented wine to be left on its lees (sediment). This technique nutures a wine that displays a lot more fruit and depth of flavours.

Anjou, a region famous for its Chenin Blanc wines is located just south of Angers. The three wines most recognised by UK consumers are first Coteaux du Layon, a delicious dessert wine of high repute providing a little more acidity than its cousins in Bordeaux, also a perfect wine for long term cellering. Next this region produces a top quality bone dry white wine from the Chenin Blanc grapes, a wine with a lot of followers around the World. Third would be its most easily recognised wine, the easy everyday drinking Anjou Rose.

Saumur is famed for its fruity red wines and its well respected sparkling wines. The red wines such as Saumur-Champigny are permitted only to use one grape variety, Cabernet Franc. Some will say the style of wine is similar to Beaujolais (Gamay grape), light, fruity and very refreshing. Saumur is a major producer of quality sparkling wines. The wine making process being similar to that of champagne and many will argue its warmer climate produces wines of equal stature or in some cases even better.

Touraine like Saumur specialises in producing fine Cabernet Franc red wines, such as, Chinon and Bourgueil. The regions other claim to fame being Vouvray and its three Chenin Blanc styles e.g. Dry, sweet and sparkling and all with a good name for fine quality.

The Upper Loire at the far eastern end of the river is Sauvignon Blanc country. Most of the Worlds Sauvignon Blanc wines produced are bench-marked against the wines of this area e.g. Sancerre. Pouilly Fume and Menetou-Salon to name just a few. If there were a league table for best Loire wine region, the Upper Loire would wine every year and likewise they would be World Champions for the outstanding Sauvignon Blanc wines they produce. Many of the growers in this region also produce excellent red and rose wines under their district labels, such as Sancerre Rouge and Sancerre Rose.