Level 5 · Lesson 5

The Loire: One River, Many Wine Styles

15:42C37

Before you press play

Choose your preparation track

You do not need to buy every comparison wine. Choose the track that matches your time, budget, and interest.

Essential

Wine purchase, drinking and advance reading are optional. The full lesson and quiz can be followed alcohol-free.

Optional comparison

Optional open-label flight: 6 distinct wines. Keep labels visible, use small pours, provide water, food and spit cups, and use the pauses across more than one sitting if helpful.
A — Chéreau-Carré Château de Chasseloir (Muscadet). Grape/style: Melon; Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie. Atlantic end of the river journey. Reference edition: Producer range reference; match actual vintage and market edition before service. Substitution: Dry Muscadet with exact producer/cuvée and sur lie claim verified.
B — Joseph Mellot Les Éclats de Silex 2024 (Touraine). Grape/style: Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon in a central Loire setting. Reference edition: Producer 2024 page; actual bottle edition must match. Substitution: Dry Loire AOP Sauvignon; change locator and exact origin if substituting Sancerre or another area.
C — Domaine Huet Le Haut-Lieu Sec (Vouvray). Grape/style: Dry Chenin Blanc. Dry Chenin anchor. Reference edition: Producer range reference; match actual vintage and market edition before service. Substitution: Vouvray sec with producer confirmation; preserve a useful Chenin comparison.
D — Domaine Huet Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec (Vouvray). Grape/style: Off-dry Chenin Blanc. Same grape and place, different sweetness. Serve after the dry examples. Reference edition: Producer range reference; match actual vintage and market edition before service. Substitution: Documented demi-sec Vouvray, preferably matching C producer/site/year where available.
E — Bernard Baudry Les Granges (Chinon). Grape/style: Cabernet Franc red. Add the river’s red-wine conversation. Reference edition: Producer range reference; match actual vintage and market edition before service. Substitution: Chinon Cabernet Franc with producer-confirmed cuvée and vintage.
F — Domaine Huet Pétillant (Vouvray). Grape/style: Chenin-led sparkling. Production choice beyond still Chenin. Reference edition: Producer range reference; match actual vintage and market edition before service. Substitution: Documented Chenin-led Loire sparkling with its actual method confirmed; match sweetness and revise origin card if outside Vouvray.
Match actual producer, cuvée and vintage before applying a technical sheet. Check local availability before buying; use the described role when substituting.

Observe / alcohol-free

Use the visible labels, maps and documented production choices to follow each comparison. You do not need to invent a tasting note.

Taste responsibly: small pours, water, food, and spit cups are sensible equipment. Never build transport plans after the bottles are open.

Wine references for this class

Labels, technical sheets and source material

Use the named producer, wine and edition. A historical sheet or range page cannot establish the contents of another vintage.