Tesco Finest Greco Beneventano, Campania, Italy 2016 (£9, Tesco) With a ripple of fluent acidity, a sprinkling of fresh dill-like herb and fennel and a streak of pithy lemon and orange, this scintillating dry white by the excellent Feudi di San Gregorio is perfect for herb-laden fish dishes or imagining yourself on a Mediterranean restaurant terrace. All photographs Sophia Evans for The ObserverĮxtra Special Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy 2017 (£7.78, Asda) Generally speaking, it’s the reds that get the attention in Tuscany, but this dry white made from the vernaccia grape in picture-postcard Chiantishire hill town San Gimignano has an effortless crisp apple and lemon freshness and subtle nutty savouriness, Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré-two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.White wines best buy: Exquisite Clare Valley Riesling 2017.
These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis.
The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.ĭiversity abounds in the Loire. Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away? As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River.
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