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    Loire: alternatives to Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé

    Dec 01, 2021 6 minutes

    The latest edition of The World Atlas of Wine (8th edition, £50 Mitchell Beazley) states that in the eastern part of the Loire valley, Sauvignon Blanc ‘can make better, certainly finer and more complex, wine than anywhere else in the world’. Although perhaps a bold statement, there is no doubt that with the festive season approaching, demand for the crisp, aromatic and food-friendly wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé will leap. But there are a number of other appellations close to Sancerre/Pouilly-Fumé with very similar wine styles, often at significantly lower prices. What are the key names to look out for and what should enthusiasts expect from these Sauvignon Blanc alternatives?

    The style of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé is shaped by the cool, marginal, continental climate, requiring an extended growing season to deliver full ripeness. Soils are another key factor, with the significant presence of the Kimmeridgian – a combination of clay and limestone marl dating back to the Jurassic period. In fact, the eastern Loire shares much of its geology with Chablis and the Côte des Bar to the

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