Anjou: Domaine Moncourt Roche Noire Chenin Blanc

The Loire is France's longest river, running almost 400km from the Massif Central westwards to the Atlantic, and gives its name to one of the country's most diverse wine regions. Spanning some 57,000 hectares across Loire-Atlantique, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, and the Centre, it produces the full range of styles - fresh, light whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, elegant reds and rosés from Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay, plus sweet and sparkling wines. Its western vineyards enjoy a maritime Atlantic climate, while the more easterly Centre is cooler and continental, and its chalky limestone soils help the wines retain their signature freshness and acidity. Home to 69 appellations, including the famous Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, the Loire offers something to please every palate.

A large and historic appellation in the Loire Valley, spanning over 2,000 hectares across more than 125 communes around the city of Angers, with a winemaking history stretching back over a thousand years. It produces mainly reds, built chiefly on Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Pineau d'Aunis and Gamay, with white wines made from the region's signature Chenin Blanc. Medium-bodied and full of fruity character, the reds are ruby in colour while the whites are a pale, fresh yellow. Versatile at the table, they pair well with stuffed mushrooms or peppers, grilled fish, and, in their sparkling form, make an excellent aperitif.