Sancerre

Lovers of crisp Sauvignon Blanc will be familiar with France's Sancerre appellation. One of the jewels of the Loire Valley region, Sancerre sits on the western banks of the Loire River in central France. Benefitting from a favorable hilltop position and complex limestone soils, the vines here get extra warmth as sunlight reflects off the water. This develops ripeness in the grapes, helping to bring out Sauvignon Blanc's intense gooseberry, nettle and mineral characters. Sancerre is not only known for its Sauvignon Blancs, however. Bright, thirst-quenching Pinot Noir thrives throughout the region. AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) is the most prestige of the quality tiers within France’s wine classification system. AOC-designated wines must follow multiple different rules on a broad range of topics. Wines are regulated on the appellation, varietal inclusion, production methods, alcohol levels, vineyard planting density and age of the vineyard.