Loire

The longest river in France is also home to some of its greatest wineries. The clean, elegant Sauvignon Blanc-based whites of Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre are well known, as are the fruit-forward, food-friendly Chenin Blanc of Vouvray and Savennières. Saumur-Champigny and Chinon use the Cabernet Franc varietal to produce ethereal reds reminiscent of great Burgundies while the finest sweet wines of Coteaux de Layon and Bonnezeux offer the same hedonistic pleasure as anything.