Imposing ancient Chateaux perched atop mountainous pinnacles overlooking a river meandering through the vineyard dotted valley far below sounds almost like a picture on some travel poster. And it probably is. The Loire Valley is one of the most picturesque vineyard sites in France. The region has traditionally been known mostly for its white wines. The cool climate found on the valley floor, hugging the banks along the Loire river, the longest river in France, is ideal for growing melon de bourgone (muscadet), sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc.

The Valley has four distinctive viticultural appellations in three sections. The Muscadet region begins in the Lower Loire at the western most edge of the valley, along the Atlantic coast, where the wines have a lovely yeasty-yet-fresh quality. Just inland from Muscadet, in the Middle Loire, is Anjou, where everything from ros? and dry red wines to crisp whites and stunning dessert wines can be found. East of Anjou is Vouvray, where wines are made predominately from chenin blanc and favor flavors of lemon, tropical fruits and wet stones.