Vouvray (wine)

A sparkling Vouvray made from Chenin blanc

Vouvray (French pronunciation: [vuvʁɛ] ⓘ) is a French wine region in the Loire Valley located in the Touraine district just east of the city of Tours in the commune of Vouvray. The Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) is dedicated almost exclusively to Chenin blanc; the obscure and minor grape Arbois is permitted but rarely used.[1]

Wine production in this area is highly variable and dependent on climate conditions. Cooler years promote the production of dry (sec) and sparkling Vouvray, while a warmer, more favorable vintage encourages the production of sweet moelleux or liquoreux styles produced by noble rot in a manner similar to the sweet dessert wines of Sauternes. With the naturally high acidity of Chenin blanc, Vouvrays from favorable vintages have immense aging potential. A few wines drink well into 100 years of age, but it is more common to find a well aged Vouvray peaking at the 40 year mark.[2] Across the Loire River from Vouvray is the Montlouis AOC, which produces Chenin blanc-based wines like Vouvray that tend to have less acidity and concentration of flavor.[3]

  1. ^ T. Stevenson The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia pg 210 Dorling Kindersley 2005 ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
  2. ^ Jancis Robinson (ed), The Oxford Companion to Wine Third Edition pg 759 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0-19-860990-6
  3. ^ Karen MacNeil, The Wine Bible pg 269-271 Workman Publishing 2001 ISBN 1-56305-434-5