Vin Mousseux: Domaine Aupy Emoustille Demi Sec Sparkling Red

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.

Vin Mousseux is the French term for fully sparkling wine, covering any sparkling wine made outside the strict rules of named appellations like Champagne or Crémant. It can be produced by various methods, from the traditional bottle fermentation to the cheaper tank (Charmat) method, and from grapes grown anywhere in France. Because it isn't tied to a specific region or production standard, it offers producers considerable flexibility.