Touraine Wine

Touraine is a huge wine area, just at the centre of the Loire Valley. It is also the place where you can find most of the famous Châteaux de la Loire.

All kind of wines are produced in Touraine.

Red wines from Touraine are predominantly made from Gamay grapes. The other place where we can find Gamay is in Beaujolais where it is the only grape used. Here in Touraine, Gamay is used with Cabernet, from Bordeaux, and Pinot Noir, from Burgundy. It means that red wine from Touraine is a great condensed french wine

However Gamay wines in Touraine do not taste that good. More and more, wine makers use Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir to bring balance to the wine.

The Most Beautiful Villages of the Loire
by Hugh Palmer, Jeff Bentley

275 color illustrations
Over 30 villages of the Loire Valley
Special wine section inside!

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Touraine wine information :

Name:	Appellation Touraine Controlée Appellation Touraine Mesland Controlée Appellation Touraine Azay le Rideau Controlée Appellation Touraine Noble Joué Controlée Appellation Touraine Amboise Controlée
Location:	At the heart of the Loire valley, around the city of Tours and close to the Châteaux de la Loire
Places:	Noyers sur Cher, Meusnes, Saint Georges sur Cher, Pouillé, Chatillon sur Cher, Amboise, Limeray, Cheillé
Soil:	Sand Clay Limestone
Size:	6,000 ha (15,000 acres)
Production:	26 million bottles
Grapes:	Red and rosé: Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Pineau White: Chenin blanc, Sauvignon
Type of wines:	Light and fruity red wine Light and fresh dry white wine Medium rosé Sparkling red, rosé and white wines
Age:	Red: 2 to 7 years White: 1 to 4 years Rosé: drink now and up to 2 years
Vintages: (recommended)	2005, 2003
Aromas:	Red: Red fruits Black fruits Raspberry White: Menthol Vanilla Litchee
Food:	Red: Red meat White: Aperitif
Cheese:	Red: Boursin Camembert Chabichou du Poitou Saint Nectaire Valencay White: Maconnais Cheddar Next: Bourgueil

More pages about Loire Valley : Loire region

Wines from the Loire Valley :
Muscadet - Anjou - Coteaux du Layon - Saumur - Touraine - Bourgueil - Chinon - Vouvray - Pouilly Fumé - Sancerre

About Loire wine region :
Loire wine information - Loire region information - Loire valley wine map - Loire wine history - Wine making in Loire valley - Loire wine and food - Buy wine - Loire valley main page

Other french wine regions :
Alsace - Bordeaux - Bourgogne / Burgundy - Champagne - Corsica - Cotes du Rhone - Languedoc Roussillon - Provence - South West