Touraine
Cool maritime
The historic heart of the middle Loire around Tours, home of Cabernet Franc reds from Chinon and Bourgueil and Chenin Blanc from Vouvray and Montlouis.
Overview
About Touraine
Touraine centres on the city of Tours in the historic province once called the 'Garden of France'. It is a region of red Cabernet Franc — from the neighbouring appellations of Chinon and Bourgueil — and of Chenin Blanc, made in styles from dry to sweet and sparkling in Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire, which face each other across the river.
The broad Touraine AOC covers Sauvignon Blanc, which is its most commonly seen wine, alongside light reds from Gamay and Cabernet Franc.
Hover a marker to see what's grown there, and click it to open that place. On a touch screen, tap once to preview and again to open. Bigger markers have more grapes linked to them.
France
Shaded: Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Cool maritime
A cool, oceanic climate with mild winters. South-facing slopes above the river trap warmth, but ripeness is vintage-dependent, and the best years bring Cabernet Franc to full maturity while cooler ones give a fresher, greener style.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Soft chalky tuffeau limestone lies beneath clay-and-flint (silex) on the plateaus, with sand and gravel terraces along the Loire and the Vienne. The tuffeau cellars carved into the hillsides keep wine at a steady cool temperature.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Touraine has a regional appellation, with prestigious village appellations set within its boundaries.
Village appellations
Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil for Cabernet Franc reds, and Vouvray and Montlouis-sur-Loire for Chenin Blanc.
Touraine AOC
The regional appellation, best known for Sauvignon Blanc and also making Gamay and Cabernet Franc reds.
Touraine sub-appellations
Names such as Touraine-Amboise and Touraine-Azay-le-Rideau add a local place to the regional label.
Within Touraine
Appellations
Bourgueil
Cabernet Franc reds from the Loire's north bank, typically a little firmer and more structured than neighbouring Chinon.
Chinon
Cabernet Franc's most celebrated Loire home: perfumed, fresh reds from the banks of the Vienne, in the shadow of the town's medieval castle.
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to Touraine or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.