Touraine
Summary
Located just west of the Central Vineyards in the Loire Valley, this area covers a wide range of wine styles including red, white, rosé, sparkling. Viticulture is concentrated on the banks of the Loire river and its tributary Cher. Climate and soil types are deeply varied, with definite continental influences to the east, and Atlantic maritime influences in the west. Famous Tuffeau soils were quarried extensively to build château near and far, leaving caves which have been used for winemaking and wine maturation. Distinctively, within the basic AOC, bottles may be varietally labelled.