REGIJA / REGION
Regija Loire stvorena je u 20. stoljeću kao posljedica sve veće zone utjecaja grada Nantes-a. Ona se sastoji od različitih dijelova drugih regija poput Bretanje, Anjou, Maine, Poitou, Perche i Touraine. Regija je dobila ime po rijeci Loire koja teče kroz regiju i koja je također najduža rijeka u Francuskoj. Regiju Loire nazivaju i Kolijevkom Francuske i Vrtom Francuske zbog obilja vinograda, voćnjaka i polja artičoka i šparoga koje ocrtavaju obale mnogih rijeka koje prolaze kroz regiju.
Dolina rijeke Loire je kao vinska regija jedna od najpoznatijih u svijetu. Kao i u većini Francuske, vinogradarstvo i vinarstvo na ovom području započeli su Rimljani. Tijekom srednjeg vijeka za vinograde i vina u dolini rijeke Loire brinuli su se katolički redovnici.1935. godine počeo sistem kvalifikacije po AOP-u, i vina doline rijeke Loire bila su prepoznata po svojoj kvaliteti. Danas regija ima 69 AOP-a, što čini 75% proizvodnje vina regije.
Dolina rijeke Loire ima oko 4000 vinarija koje proizvode velik raspon elegantnih i kvalitetnih vina. To su snažna bijela vina, svježi rosei, voćna crna vina, te raskošna slatka i pjenušava vina koja su u rangu susjedne regije Champagne. Upravo u ovom vrtu Francuske mogu se otkriti prekrasni dvorci i neka od najcjenjenijih francuskih vina. Vina iz regije Loire imaju tendeciju biti voćna s izraženom svježinom i jedrim okusima. Regija je podijeljena na tri vinogradarske regije: Donja Loire (Pays, Nantais), Srednja Loire (Anjou, Saumur, Touraine) i Gornja Loire (Centre). Većina vinograda se nalazi u dolinama na južnim obalama rijeka Loire, Sevre i Maine.
The Loire region was created in the 20th century as a result of the growing zone of influence of the city of Nantes. It consists of different parts of other regions such as Brittany, Anjou, Maine, Poitou, Perche and Touraine. The region is named after the Loire River which flows through the region and which is also the longest river in France. The Loire region is also called the Cradle of France and the Garden of France because of the abundance of vineyards, orchards and artichoke and asparagus fields that delineate the banks of the many rivers that pass through the region.
As a wine region, the Loire Valley is one of the most famous in the world. As in most of France, viticulture and winemaking in this area were started by the Romans. During the Middle Ages, vineyards and wines in the Loire Valley were cared for by Catholic monks.1935. The AOP qualification system began in 2006, and the wines of the Loire Valley were recognized for their quality. Today, the region has 69 AOPs, accounting for 75% of the region’s wine production.
The Loire Valley has about 4,000 wineries that produce a wide range of elegant and quality wines. These are strong white wines, fresh rosés, fruity red wines, and sumptuous sweet and sparkling wines that are in the range of the neighboring Champagne region. It is in this garden of France that beautiful castles and some of the most prized French wines can be discovered. Wines from the Loire region tend to be fruity with pronounced freshness and pungent flavors. The region is divided into three wine-growing regions: Lower Loire (Pays, Nantais), Middle Loire (Anjou, Saumur, Touraine) and Upper Loire (Center). Most of the vineyards are located in the valleys on the southern banks of the Loire, Sevres and Maine rivers.
