Our Terroirs
The vineyards of the Centre-Loire are situated on plateaus and hillsides dating mainly from the Secondary Era, with some from the Tertiary Era. Abandoned by the sea around 70 million years ago, these soils now consist of a wide variety of limestone and clay sediments, on which winegrowers have chosen to plant a carefully selected range of quality grape varieties.
Although the Centre-Loire region is geologically very diverse, its main soil types can be grouped into four: Kimmeridgian, Portlandian, Oxfordian, and Albian.
CALCAREOUS CLAY MARL
This calcareous sedimentary rock originates from the sea and is rich in fossilised oysters. It forms the bedrock of the Centre-Loire’s wine regions.
Locally, this soil is also known as terres blanches (white earth).
For tasting: Clay-limestone marls give full-bodies, even opulent wines that need a little time to develop.
LIMESTONE
This calcareous soil is locally known as “caillottes”, or as “griottes” when the stones are smaller.
For tasting: Limestone soil produces fruit-driven, aromatic wines, full of flavour even when very young.
FLINT CLAY
Sauvignon Blanc thrives on this soil, which is warmed at the surface by the flint and often lends the wine its characteristic mineral notes. In Centre-Loire vineyards, this soil is also known as chailloux.
For tasting: Flint gives the wines integrity and elegance, adding a hint of minerality to the intense varietal aromas.
GRAVEL AND SAND
This soil occurs as alluvium (sediment deposited by rivers) along the banks of the Loire, the Cher, and the Arnon, and is particularly common in the Quincy wine region.
For tasting: Sand and gravel provide fruit and freshness.
CLIMATE IN CENTRE-LOIRE
The climate here is temperate with continental influences, featuring a wide range of temperatures from around -1°C in winter to +26°C in summer. Annual rainfall varies between 600 and 800 mm, although it can differ significantly across appellations, resulting in variations in ripening.
In this highly diverse natural region, from Champagne Berrichonne to the Val de Loire, via southern Boischaut and the Pays Fort, vines thrive on hillsides and plateaus shaped by the Loire and the Cher, at altitudes of 100 to 380 metres. The undulating topography, combined with varying exposures, creates a multitude of microclimates, giving rise to remarkable diversity in wine expression, even within a single appellation.