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Touraine AOC |
Description to Touraine AOC
The regional appellation in the eastern area of the middle Loire is named after the city and episcopal see of Tours. It joins the Anjou-Saumur area to the east. Both the city and viticulture date back to Roman times. According to legend, pruning was invented here in the 4th century when the donkey of Martin of Tours, later canonised, ate young vine shoots. The name derives from the Gallic tribe of Turons. The area was early called the Garden of France and was the favourite residence of French kings in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Its numerous châteaux, such as Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Loches and Villandry, are well known. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) lived in the Château Clos Lucé (part of the Château Amboise complex) for three years until his death.
By Lieven Smits - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The vineyards cover 5,500 hectares of vines on steep slopes on both sides of the Loire and its tributaries the Cher, Indre and Vienne rivers. Under the simple AOC Touraine, wines tend to be produced to be drunk young. The white wines are blended from Sauvignon Bl anc with portions of Chenin Blanc (here Pineau de la Loire), Arbois and Chardonnay. The red and rosé wines are made from Gamay (60% of the stock), Cabernet Franc (here Breton), Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec (Cot), Grolleau Noir and Pineau d'Aunis.
There are also three communal appellations with stricter regulations. The AOC Touraine-Amboise with 160 hectares in the commune of Amboise with seven surrounding communes applies to white, red and rosé wines. The AOC Touraine-Azay-le-Rideau with 150 hectares in eight communes on both banks of the Indre applies to white and rosé wines. The AOC Touraine-Mesland with 200 hectares in the commune of Mesland with five surrounding communes applies to white, red and rosé wines. The AOC Touraine Noble-Joué, which was only classified in 2001, with 21 hectares of vineyards, is for vin gris (rosé wine) from mainly Pinot Gris, as well as Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Such a wine from the area around the city of Tours was already drunk at the court of the French king Louis XI. (1423-1483). The two AOCs Touraine Mousseux and Touraine Pétillant are for sparkling and semi-sparkling wines respectively.
Well-known producers are Bouvet-Ladubay, Château de Chenonceau, Château Gaillard, Château de la Presle, Domaine des Corbillières, Domaine Gibault, Domaine Henri Marionnet, Domaine Jacky Marteau, Domaine Michaud, Domaine du Pre Baron and Domaine du Vieux Pressoir. Other communal appellations are Bourgueil, Chinon, Cheverny, Coteaux du Loir, Coteaux du Vendômois, Jasnières, Montlouis-sur-Loire and Vouvray.
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