A River Runs Through It

France’s Loire Valley offers an array of styles defined by their terroir

Sarah Hwang samples a white wine from a barrel at Domaine Huet
An American team, Sarah Hwang and her brother Hugo, have taken over operations at Domaine Huet, which produces benchmark Chenin Blanc in Vouvray.

With more than 141,000 acres of vineyards, the Loire produces some of France’s top whites, with bottlings made from the aromatic Sauvignon Blanc as well as the chameleon of white grape, Chenin Blanc. The region’s red wines, particularly those made from Cabernet Franc, also deserve serious attention for their complexity, savory edge and ability to reveal distinctive terroir. Get Wine Spectator’s recent tasting report and scores for top wines from Vouvray, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Chinon and other appellations.

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