Definition: Montlouis AOC

Like Vouvray, this Touraine vineyard produces wines that can be dry, semi-dry or sweet, depending on the year. The sweet wines are the best, when they have benefited from conditions conducive to noble rot. Light or fairly full-bodied, these white wines are softer than Vouvray wines. The sweet wines are aged in oak. The grape variety used is Chenin Blanc, and the ageing period can be up to three years for dry wines and up to ten years for sweet wines. Touraine region. Production area located to the east of Tours, on the left bank of the Loire, more precisely within the communes of Lussault-sur-Loire, Montlouis-sur-Loire and Saint-Martin-Le-Beau in the Indre-et-Loire department. Classified as a communal AOC in 1938. White grape variety: Chenin Area under production: nearly 400 hectares, also including sparkling wines. Vinified as: white, either dry, sparkling or semi-sparkling (second fermentation in bottles). The excess pressure of sparkling wine must be at least 3 atmospheres and that of semi-sparkling wine at least 1 atmosphere and no more than 2.5 atmospheres, measured at 20°C. It can be stored: dry wine has good ageing potential, from 10 to 15 years; sparkling wines should be drunk young. Ideal serving temperature: between 8 and 10°C. Pairings: dry wine with river fish, terrine or other fine charcuterie, white meat or pumpkin pie; sparkling or semi-sparkling wine with fruit pastries.