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Find
out about the Wines of our Region
The
fascinating range of wines produced in this region include Saumur rouge
and the more prestigious Saumur-Champigny.
The vineyards for the Saumur Champigny are generally on a chalky plateau
to the east of Saumur town. Saumur Champigny tends to have a bit more
depth, flesh and fruit than Saumur Rouge, and the most important grape
for these two wines is the Cabernet Franc, with or without the addition
of Cabernet Sauvignon.
White wines are abundant in this region and include the bone-dry Saumur
Blanc and rather rare and medium-sweet Coteaux de Saumur, both from the
Chenin Blanc grape. For dry wines, small proportions of Chardonay and
Sauvignon Blanc are also permitted. A rose wine, Cabernet de Saumur is
also produced in this region.
SAUMUR
SPARKLING WINE:- France's most widely produced
sparkling wine, after champagne, is Saumur Brut. This can use ten different
grapes as a base, white as well as red. Another local sparkling wine is
Cremant de Loire, which adheres to stricter rules, resulting in slightly
higher prices.
WINES OF THE ANJOU AREA:- Les Deux Chenes is 17
miles south-west of Saumur and is surrounded by the vineyards of the Anjou
region. Here our local viticulturists produce red 'breton' - full bodied
and keeping the cabernet franc best grapes at harvest time for its 'Anjou
Village' also having to be at least one year old before being sold. The
lighter fruity wine from the gamay grape is also widely available.
Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Anjou white dry and medium from the Chenin grape
are the mainstay of the white wines.
The region is well known for its three rose wines:- Rose de la Loire;
Rose d'Anjou and Cabernet d'Anjou - here there is something to suit eveyones'
taste.
Finally our region has an excellent sweet white wine known as the 'Coteaux
de Layon' or viticulturists outside this appelation have their own version
of this delicious sweet white wine which is made from the noble rot and
hand picked and selected by hand grapes.
WINE TASTING:- Here at Les Deux
Chenes we can arrange for you to visit our local village viticulturist
who speaks English and produces most of these wines; and we can give you
information where to taste the wines of the Saumur area as well as details
on visiting the sparkling wine houses in Saumur where you can see the
whole of the sparkling wine process including the final freezing and removal
of the sediment in the bottle and the final corking of the bottle.
Most of the Saumur sparkling wine houses are now owned by champagne companies.
Whilst staying with us we will offer you a tasting of the local 'tipple'
- Kir Royale. This is Saumur sparkling wine with a small quantity of cassis
(alcoholic blackcurrant juice) added.
Needless to say, regularly on our own evening dinner menu is 'fish and
fizzy'. We just love the sparkling wine of this area and it starts from
approximately £2.50 a bottle.'
Partners
Viv Forrester and David Owen offer B&B (en-suite) in their renovated
Farmhouse or accommodation in their Cottage gite for 2 - 4 persons.
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