Vouvray is Chenin Blanc in every form the grape can take: dry and flinty, gently off-dry, richly sweet or sparkling. Here you will find Vouvray wine from the north bank of the Loire, from the classic single-vineyard wines of Domaine Huet to growers such as Benoît Gautier and Domaine d'Orfeuilles.
Vouvray wine: Chenin Blanc from the Loire's tuffeau slopes
Vouvray lies on the right bank of the Loire just east of Tours, in Touraine, and became an appellation in 1936. It covers the village of Vouvray and its neighbours, including Rochecorbon, Vernou-sur-Brenne and Chançay. Almost every vine here is Chenin Blanc, known locally as Pineau de la Loire.
The bedrock is tuffeau, the soft pale limestone into which growers have cut their cellars and caves. On top sit two main soils: aubuis, a clay-limestone mix, and perruches, clay studded with flint. Together with a cool northern climate they keep the acidity high, and that acidity is what lets good Vouvray age for decades. Across the river lies Montlouis-sur-Loire, which also makes Chenin Blanc but is a separate appellation.
Sec, demi-sec, moelleux and sparkling Vouvray
In Vouvray the vintage decides the style. In cool years more of the crop goes into dry and sparkling wine. In warm autumns, when noble rot sets in, growers pick sweet wines in several passes through the vineyard.
- Sec: dry, with citrus, quince, chamomile and a chalky, mineral finish.
- Demi-sec: a touch of sweetness held in check by bright acidity.
- Moelleux and doux: sweet wines with honey, apricot and candied citrus that can age for generations.
- Sparkling: made by the traditional method, as fully sparkling mousseux (often labelled brut) or the softer pétillant.
Sparkling Vouvray is a big part of the appellation's output and a fine alternative to other sparkling wine. Domaine d'Orfeuilles Vouvray Brut is one to try.
Vouvray producers: Domaine Huet, Breton and Benoît Gautier
Domaine Huet is the name most associated with Vouvray. Victor Huet bought the Le Haut-Lieu vineyard in 1928, and his son Gaston later added Le Mont and Clos du Bourg. The estate farms biodynamically and bottles each vineyard separately, so Le Haut-Lieu Sec and Le Mont Sec show how two neighbouring sites can taste different.
Catherine and Pierre Breton are best known for their Bourgueil, but Catherine grew up in Vouvray, and Pierres Rousses is a dry, textured Chenin from an old-vine parcel there. Benoît Gautier offers two dry wines, Argilex Sec and Clos la Lanterne Sec, while Domaine d'Orfeuilles adds its Dry Vouvray alongside the Brut.
Food pairing with Vouvray
Dry Vouvray suits oysters, river fish with beurre blanc and the local goat's cheese, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine. Demi-sec works with pork and apples, mild curries and Thai dishes with a little heat. Sweet moelleux belongs with foie gras, blue cheese or an apricot tart, and sparkling Vouvray is a natural aperitif.
Vouvray FAQ
What is Vouvray wine?
Vouvray is a white wine appellation in the Loire Valley, near Tours. Its wines are made almost entirely from Chenin Blanc, in styles from dry to sweet and sparkling.
Is Vouvray dry or sweet?
Both. The label tells you: sec is dry, demi-sec is off-dry, and moelleux or doux are sweet. If a still Vouvray carries no style term, check the producer's notes or the back label.
What is Vouvray Brut?
Vouvray Brut is a dry sparkling Chenin Blanc made by the traditional method, with its second fermentation in the bottle, as in Champagne.
What is the difference between Vouvray and Sancerre?
Both are Loire whites, but Sancerre is made from Sauvignon Blanc in the eastern Loire, while Vouvray is Chenin Blanc from Touraine. Vouvray tends to be rounder, with notes of quince and honey, and it is also made sweet and sparkling.
How long can Vouvray age?
Many dry Vouvrays drink well young but gain depth after five to ten years. Top sweet wines from great vintages can develop for many decades.