The best vines in Sancerre tend to be planted on south-facing slopes, at elevations of 655 to 1300 feet. This results in short and very hot summers and long, cold winters, often with risk of frost in the spring. This results in several similarities in terroir, which ultimately translates into similarities in wine style as well. A significant distance of over 300 miles between Sancerre and the Atlantic Coast gives the former a continental climate rather than the more maritime climate enjoyed by the other Loire Valley appellations. The vineyards included in the Sancerre appellation are actually closer to Burgundy's Cote d'Or area than to other Loire appellations, like Touraine and Anjou. The surrounding viticultural area, which has adapted its name from the town, extends over 15 miles of hills on the Left Bank of the river, right across from the Pouilly Fumé appellation, towards the eastern edge of the Loire Valley wine region. Perched atop a bean-shaped hill overlooking the Loire River is the historical town of Sancerre. The Geography and Terroir of Sancerre Wine Find the crisp Sauvignon Blanc and smooth Pinot Noir wines of Sancerre, the perfect complement to the famous goat cheeses also hailing from this region. The appellation has also recently experienced a red revolution, with several winemakers preferring to produce Pinot Noir in the Burgundy style. The producers of this area pride themselves on the unique soil types into which their vines stretch their long roots: a combination of chalk, limestone-gravel and flint, responsible for that certain smoky gun-flint aroma in a classic bottle of Sancerre white. Situated in the heart of the Loire Valley right in the center of France, the appellation of Sancerre has become well known for its slightly savory, flinty, highly aromatic Sauvignon Blanc wines. How much should it cost? Somewhere between $10-20.Īny producers you suggest? There are countless small producers crafting delicious juice in the Loire Valley.Sancerre wine. Don’t feel nervous, it’s literally what they are there for! Or, head over to your favorite French restaurant of choice and see if they have any on the menu. Your best best may be to head to a specialty wine shop and ask them to help you pick out a great bottle. Most grocery stores with cool wine programs have dedicated wine buyers, and they can help you find what you want. Where should I look for these other Sauvignon Blancs? This likely isn’t your typical grocery store wine-unless your grocery store is fucking cool-but I bet you could find something to fit the bill at a Whole Foods or Co-Op situation. Random Tuesdays-in my house, at least-are made for a more price-approachable bottle. However, you may not want to drink it on a random Tuesday. So, should I not drink Sancerre? Oh hell no! Sancerre is delicious singular and beautiful. And decades later, the greater population doesn't know exactly why they are paying $30 for a bottle of Sancerre, only that they should if they want to be a Good Wine Drinker™. And then it got good reviews from important publications. And then someone put it in their restaurant in Paris. Sancerre is more well known because someone at one point liked Sancerre. That signature Sancerre chalky-flinty soil, the cold temperatures of central France, the influence of the Loire river-they all help craft Sancerre. Then why is Sancerre more well known? A Good Wine Professional™ would say it’s because of terroir-the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced. All of these places craft zippy versions of Sauvignon Blanc that a Sancerre drinker would enjoy. If you check out this map, Pouilly-Fume sits across the river from Sancerre, Reuilly a little southwest, and Touraine due west. Sancerre demands a big price tag because it is the most famous Sauvignon Blanc region in France-arguably in all of Europe-but these other neighboring regions produce very similar juice. What are all those wines? Pouilly-Fume, Reuilly, etc, are all regions that produce Sauvignon Blanc-just like Sancerre. So, if you like Sancerre-but don’t want to spend the money-you’ll probably like Pouilly-Fume, Reuilly, Quincy, Touraine and other Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Sancerre has become increasingly popular in the US, and it can cost a pretty penny for white wine. If you ever see a bottle labeled “Sancerre” then you know it’s zippy, green, bright Sauvignon Blanc. Sancerre is a region on the Loire Valley of France that makes Sauvignon Blanc. Are Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc the same thing? Yes and no.
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