Saumur: Domaine Aupy La Butte Rouge

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.

Set in the heart of the Loire, Saumur lies where a continental climate meets a maritime one, giving mild, damp winters and warm springs well suited to growing a range of grape varieties. It produces red, white, and rosé, but is most famous for its sparkling wines, made from Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. A defining feature of the region is its tuffeau, a soft chalk-like stone into which cellars are carved, offering ideal conditions for maturing sparkling wine. Prized for its natural acidity, Chenin Blanc - known locally as Pineau de la Loire - yields wines of varying sweetness that can age and develop beautifully over many years.