The Loire Valley ranks number one for sparkling wine production in France LM Archer explores why the region’s fine bulles are so highly in-demand As the drinks business has recently reported, crémant consumption is on the rise, with consumers wising up to the quality of French sparkling options outside of Champagne the Loire Valley is the number one sparkling wine production region in France But why is this region ideal for creating fine fizz the Loire Valley offers a winning trifecta of climate Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000 the Loire Valley spans nearly 200 miles (320 km] along the Loire River in central France Winemaking Romans arrived in the Loire Valley 2,000 years ago and volcanic soils suit a variety of grapes the Loire Valley transformed into “The Royal Valley” an opulent kings and courtiers’ playground of white-stoned chateaux savvy 16th century Dutch immigrant merchants arrived which marks the production of Loire Valley’s first fines bulles Fines bulles describes sparkling wines made in the traditional method with secondary fermentation completed in the bottle Loire Valley fines bulles require a minimum of nine months ageing in bottle most producers opt for longer ageing to induce more complex aromas Crémant de Loire ranks as Loire Valley’s largest fines bulles appellation Crémant de Loire AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) or AOP (European equivalent Protected Origin Appellation) spans the wine regions of Anjou Crémant de Loire AOC does not stipulate grape requirements but most producers tend to employ Chenin Blanc a whopping 25.9 million bottles of Crémant de Loire sold worldwide – up 42% since 2019 “Sparkling wine consumption increased compare to red wine,” confirms Amandine Demersseman Chargée de Projet Fines Bulles et AOC Saumur Fédération Viticole de l’Anjou et de Saumur “Crémant de Loire benefits from this trend its freshness matches with consumers’ expectations.” Other important Loire Valley sparkling designations include Saumur Brut or Saumur Mousseux from Anjou-Saumur; and Vouvray sparkling from Touraine these areas follow less restrictive grape guidelines Saumur sparkling wines typically employ Chenin and Chardonnay Vouvray sparkling requires the sole use of Chenin labeled as Vouvray Pétillant or Vouvray Mousseux the sum of the Loire’s fines bulles parts intensifies the success of its whole and I also think the quality has improved in the last few years,” underscores Loire expert and Master of Wine Beverly Blanning Saumur’s famed tuffeau chalk imparts a distinctive “Terroir plays a heavy role in our wines,” confirms Alexis Brisebarre of Domaine Brisebarre in Vouvray “Our 100% Chenin Blanc vineyard is located on top of coteau overlooking the Loire Valley the vines planted in a shallow layer of clay with calcaire bedrock just underneath Variations in the clay thickness and mixed rocks in that clay make every plot unique.” like mother and daughter vignerons Sylvie and Manon of Moulin de Chauvigné in Anjou’s Rochefort-sur-Loire plant their Chenin on schist “with the aim of having uniform maturity and to properly reveal the minerality during vinification.” But consumers also flock to Loire’s fine fizz for another reason: the region’s commitment to sustainability Dubbed “The Garden of France,” 80% of Loire Valley estates commit to organic and French environmental certifications like HEV (High Environmental Value – Levels 1,2,3) ) “We were already applying the good practices of the HEV3 specifications in our cultivation method several years before Christian’s death in 2017 It was obvious to us that we would have it administratively validated in 2018,” says Sylvie Plessis who took over Moulin de Chauvigné with daughter Manon after her husband’s unexpected death These “good practices” involve voluntary biodiversity “Le Puy-Notre-Dame is just under 200km (124 mi.) east of the Atlantic Ocean,” says winemaker Jean-Louis Bernet of biodynamic Domaine de la Paleine in Saumur’s Le Puy-Notre-Dame “It is a transition zone between the oceanic and the semi-continental climates with rather satisfactory rainfall levels for viticulture despite stronger and more frequent variations Almost half of the wine growers in Le Puy-Notre-Dame are organic or biodynamic “Being the ninth generation of winemakers in the family and to bring improvements to our winery,” says Amélie Neau of Domaine de Nerleux in Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg “Since I have always been concerned about the environmental issues and the demands of organic farming hinder Neau from full conversion of her 60ha estate Other ecolo-minded farmers face similar headwinds “The main challenge for the exploitations in organic agriculture is to find and maintain a labour force,” says fifth-generation Aubin Lecomte of Château de Passavant in Haut Layon The 70ha site adopted organic and biodynamic farming in 2011 “The first two or three years it has to be able to increase drastically its labour force without any compensation When my parents and uncle started to work in organic production there was no market for organic wines in Anjou The first years they even didn’t noticed the organic logo in the bottles these environmentally mindful conversions prove priceless to Loire Valley sparkling producers – and consumers “I truly think that it’s a benefit to have a vineyard [farmed] organic and biodynamic for a long time to be able to cope [with] climate changes,” Lecomte concludes and all the biodiversity around them [helps] protect them by natural regulation of species All these participate in creating authentic The best wines from The Global Chenin Blanc Masters 2024 Your email address will not be published. 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Read one of the UK’s favourite restaurant critics Enjoy wine expert Jancis Robinson’s peerless column of news Enjoy Alice's popular HTSI column about drinks and bar culture Learn what's new and trending according to our our award-winning HTSI food columnist Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times words: In this episode of “Wine 101,” VinePair’s tastings director Keith Beavers dives into Saumur a small winemaking region in France’s Loire Valley Saumur is a unique town with an incredibly rich winemaking history Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Keith Beavers: My name is Keith Beavers and this is how it breaks down: Jiff this is “Wine 101.” My name is Keith Beavers I’m the tastings director of VinePair So I know you’ve seen them on shelves or maybe even on wine lists I’ve mentioned them in other episodes but it’s time to get real nice with tuffeau – I’ll explain OK, wine lovers, so we’re going back to the Loire Valley and we’re going to head towards not the middle of it but there’s a point in the Loire Valley where the Atlantic influence starts to wane and continental influence starts to become prominent And that region really is the region of Vouvray we pass through a little town called Saumur have invested or are investing in this area for sparkling wine The wine region is named after a beautiful little riverside town called Saumur and surrounding this town is another town called Champigny it was known as the vacation for the filthy rich back before the French Revolution So the Loire Valley is peppered with beautiful castles or chateaus very large abbey— actually the largest abbey in Europe — that was actually led by a nun One of the only ones in Europe to be led by a nun Loire riverside town with horses and an abbey and castles and wine The thing is this whole area is on top of what is called a plateau of tuffeau this area is really interesting because it’s not only known for its wine but it’s also known for its mushroom production which is done within these cellar-like labyrinth tunnels but you’re walking almost underground but not really because you can see the sky and you’re just… There’s actually houses built into these tuffeau walls it’s almost like there are two worlds you can look up and see roots coming down through the ceiling of the wine cellars because the tuffeau is like the sub-substrate with clay and other soils on top of it where the vineyards are so you could literally be in a wine cellar underneath a vineyard the wines that were being made here in this place were still red and white wines but it stops along the way in the Loire Valley and stays there for a long time And there’s a region just neighboring Saumur called Chinon that really thrives on Cabernet Franc and that is good for a base wine for sparkling and the first sparkling wine was made in the 19th century by the Ackerman Laurence firm in Saumur primarily from the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc varieties We have sparkling wine coming around the 19th century based primarily on Chenin Blanc sometimes the harvests are a little bit odd and the grapes can be infected with noble rot and us humans think it’s a really cool thing and I go into a little bit of that in the Bordeaux episode So we have ourselves here a fun little bucolic wine region with different styles of wine being made from different varieties — wow The AOC Coteaux de Saumur was created for the lightly sweet high-acid dessert wines that were made from those noble rot grapes we’re talking about Saumur Mousseux was developed for the sparkling wines of the region Cabernet de Saumur was originally developed for the rosé category but that is now since 2006 called just Saumur Rosé So Saumur is on the south bank of the Loire river and just off that town is a town called Champigny and in that town is a large influential co-op and the name is going to be hard for me I believe that’s what it’s called what they did for a long time is encourage vine growers in the area of this particular Champigny area to grow specifically red wine grapes and specifically Cab Franc this grew and grew to the point where the terroir here and the style of wine was undeniable if you can find still red wine from Saumur-Champigny — this is your summer-spring chilled red wine This is the kind of wine you want to chill down a little bit for Thanksgiving So it’s a very unique place. You have a place that has wines that age for quite some time, the sparkling and the dessert wines, and then wine like the white and the red from Chenin Blanc and Cab Franc and sometimes it’s blended with some Cabernet Sauvignon and sometimes a little lively sort of fruity grape called Pinot Donis that is best enjoyed in its youth and it can get a little bit confusing because some of these regions like Saumur and even Vouvray but just have things about them that are changing and we don’t know where they’re going to go The thing is, the AOC Mousseux — which is the sparkling wine — you’re going to see that, and it’s not going to say “Mousseux” on the label, but what’s happening is a lot of sparkling wines from Saumur are being categorized as Crémant de Loire which we talked about in the sparkling wines that are not Champagne episode So it’s going to be a little bit confusing on that front It won’t be that confusing because this is the kind of category that the wine shop merchants need to know about you’re going to ask for the Saumur section and you’re going to see all this small little array of wines But what I find really beautiful and refreshing when it hits right I don’t even care if they call it Saumur Mousseux or Crémant de Loire but sparkling rosé from Saumur that is made from Cab Franc there’s something about it that is very special in the sparkling wine category They sometimes have a little bit of Pinot Donis in them maybe they’ll have some Chenin Blanc juicy sparkling wines with that nice little channel of peppery note just running through it because Cab Fran is peppery It has that pyrazine and when it’s made into a base wine and then gone through the traditional method of making sparkling wine it gets a little fat and it’s just so cool more than anything from Saumur more on the American market you’re going to see sparkling wine and you’re going to see sparkling rosé So it comes down to who you’re talking to You’re going to see some of these Saumur sparkling wines that are owned by Champagne houses but some may have other winemakers from the Saumur that are a little bit smaller I will say that the Saumur-Champigny thing is a really awesome gem for us on the American market because these wines are affordable because they’re made in this cooperative method so that by the time it gets to us So that was a lot on a little region, but it’s so special and so cool it had to be talked about because if we’re going to talk about Vouvray next week, and we’d left Saumur out, it just wouldn’t be right. So go out there, get you some Saumur sparkling. As always, if you’re digging what you’re tasting, hashtag me, tag me, whatever it is, on Instagram, @VinePairKeith @VinePairKeith is my Insta Rate and review this podcast wherever you get your podcasts from at the VinePair headquarters in New York City I want to give a big ol’ shout-out to co-founders Adam Teeter and Josh Malin for creating VinePair for creating the most awesome logo for this podcast And I want to thank the entire VinePair staff for helping me learn something new every day note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity Saumur is a mid-sized town and wine appellation at the heart of France's Loire Valley rosé and red wines and sparkling white and rosés Saumur's most respected wines are its dry reds although its sparkling wines held the limelight for the latter half of the 20th Century and production of this category in the area is considerable The production area for the still wines is concentrated around Saumur (in the department of the Maine-et-Loire) and predominantly confined to the southern bank of the Loire radiating for an area roughly 30km (18 miles) from Saumur town center stretching into the neighboring administrative departments of Vienne and Deux-Sèvres rosé and red production do not completely overlap although Sparkling production takes in a considerably wider zone stretching out around 40km (25 miles) to the west of Saumur town A final subregional designation (officially a "geographically complementary denomination") is the Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame title which covers three distinct areas just southwest and southeast of Saumur town Saumur blanc (white) is based solely around local mainstay Chenin Blanc (sometimes also known as Pineau de la Loire) while Saumur rosé can be produced from Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc is also the principal component of Saumur rouge (red) although Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d'Aunis can figure in minor quantities – no more than 30 percent of any blend Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame is also predominantly Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon permitted up to 15 percent Sparkling wines (both white and rosé) follow the broad guidelines of being predominantly Chenin Blanc (for Saumur mousseux blanc/white) or Cabernet Franc (for Saumur mousseux rosé) These varieties must make up a minimum of 60 percent of their respective category The remaining 40 percent or less of a sparkling blend can encompass a host of local and more distant varieties, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Grolleau Gris, Grolleau, Pineau d’Aunis and Pinot Noir The only stipulation is that Sauvignon Blanc cannot comprise more than 10 percent of any sparkling wine The classic Saumur rouge (red), for which the region is now better-known, has floral and fruity aromas of violets and slightly under-ripe plums, brought down to earth with herbal, peppery notes and a hint of pencil shavings. Although relatively light-bodied, they often marked by prominent tannins, due to the fact that they are made largely from Cabernet Franc These bright, fragrant, refreshing wines are very similar in style to those of Chinon and Bourgueil This cluster of red-wine appellations produces the Loire Valley's finest and most highly regarded red wines The wines in the broader Saumur category, however, should not be confused with those of Saumur-Champigny This is a specific appellation based on eight villages near the city of Saumur which was established as a denomination for the best wines made in the wider Saumur region The wines are again based on Cabernet Franc with the same supporting varieties as for Saumur but are considered a step above those of Saumur rouge and is now owned by German sparkling wine giant White and rosé Saumur wines account for just a tiny proportion of the area's annual production Often highly cropped (coming as a fall-back option from the production of sparkling wines) these have traditionally been quite low on character and flavor The current wave of interest in good quality Chenin Blanc has, however, led to patchy increases in quality. The appellation for rosé wines Cabernet de Saumur is reserved for off-dry wines with at least 10 grams per liter residual sugar The tiny quantity of sweet wine produced around Saumur is sold under the Côteaux de Saumur appellation. Its output is negligible in terms of quantity, and in terms of quality it falls short of the highly regarded sweet wines produced just to the west in the Côteaux du Layon zone. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to go to France Grape cultivation and wine festivals constitute the tangible part of the French lifestyle Save Visited Rate Review ShareSaumur winefields Clos MontmartreCollongette Each region is famous for its own kind of wine Harvest season may start as early as August but it peaks in the months of September and October and continues into mid-November (the season differs and depends on the region) Fall might not be the best for a wine tour as the cellars are going to be overcrowded this is a perfect season to have an authentic experience of the harvest process and attend one of the grape-picking festivals The Grape Harvest Proclamation is held in Saint Emilion in mid-September The third weekend of September is marked by The Wine Pressing Festival hosted by the village of Chenôve in the Côte d’Or region you're invited to France's most famous Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival Banyuls sur Mer Grape Harvest Festival is an alternative for the south-west The Fete du Vin Bourru takes place in Nuits-Saint-Georges in late October November has a nice celebration for the belated—you can celebrate new wine at Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Festival held on the third Thursday of every November in the village of Beaujeu the Grape Harvest Festival takes place at a magnificent Château de Saumur a fortified stronghold of the past and a tourist attraction of the present The structure has been surrounded by vineyards even back in the 14th century increasing the historical significance of this celebration the château is filled to the brim with entertainment for all ages and wine tastings which marks the beginning of grape harvest goes up on the King's tower and announces the harvest start The custom dates back far back to the Roman rule when the vineyard owners were prohibited from grape picking at their discretion and had to rely on the public's decision This was done to ensure the quality of the harvest with farmers choosing to start grape picking when they see fit hidden from the public eye and closed for most of the year the Parisians celebrate the harvest of their city's only vinery by throwing a grandiose outdoor bash all over the streets of Montmartre The district is bustling with street performances You may encounter some peculiar French customs such as couli dripping showcase or a Cérémonie de non-mariage where couples can express their appreciation for not being married a commune of Nuits-Saint-Georges hosts a unique celebration of bourru wine Somewhat in between grape juice and fully matured wine the bourru wine still contains yeast and is quite cloudy due to an ongoing fermentation process The festivities unfold at Les Halles de Nuits-Saint-Georges and feature grape pressing and an option to taste freshly pressed juice Wine producers from all over France gather at the festival to treat attendees to some of their best wine varieties you'll have a chance to listen to some local French music and browse the vendor section where numerous art pieces and souvenirs are sold Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll bagged a brace on Saturday to secure a first win of the season for Bordeaux. Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee The Republic of Albania is a small country which borders the eastern side of the southern Adriatic Sea and looks towards Puglia It has one of the oldest winemaking histories in the world landlocked country at the southern end of the Eurasian Caucasus – the mountainous region between Europe and Asia Austria is enjoying a renaissance as a modern wine producing nation Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are the flag bearers Azerbaijan is a small country located in the Eurasian Caucasus As in neighboring Georgia winemaking here appears to date back thousands of years Better known for its vodka and grain spirit-based production than wine Belarus is a landlocked country in the north of Eastern Europe Belgium is better known for its traditional abbey-brewed beers than its wines but this small northern European country does produce a small quantity of wine each vintage Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country in the east of southern Europe also referred to as Bosnia and Herzegovina It does not produce a significant quantity of wine although it does have a few thousand acres of productive vineyards Bulgaria has a long history of viticulture and its modern wine industry is introducing regions The Crimea is a peninsula in Eastern Europe almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov dating back at least to the classical Greek period Croatia has been making wine for well over two thousand years the last three decades have seen a steady rise in quality The Mediterranean island of Cyprus lies 50 miles off the coast of Turkey In wine terms it is best known for the dessert wine Commandaria a wider range of styles and grape varieties are coming to the fore the western half of the former Czechoslovakia is better known for its beer than its wine though the latter is also produced in reasonable quantities Denmark is one of the three northern European countries which make up Scandinavia The brewing of beer dominates production of alcoholic beverages Estonia is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe far north of the latitudes in which grapes can reliably ripen and the nation is better known for its beers and vodkas Finland is a northern European country located on the eastern side of the Scandinavian Peninsular The majority of alcoholic beverages produced in Finland are beers and spirits distilled from grain France is arguably the wine world's most important country and home to famed regions such as Bordeaux For centuries it has produced wine in a wide variety of styles in greater quantity than any other country Georgia is one of the world’s oldest winemaking countries The red grape Saperavi and the white grape Rkatsiteli are the key varieties grown here Germany's best Rieslings are some of the greatest whites in the world while fine wines are also made from a number of other red and white grape varieties Beer brewing is also a key part of the culture here Greece has been home to a winemaking industry for at least three thousand years Nowadays it combines tradition with modernity using both native and international grape varieties Hungary's wine industry is best known for Tokaj and Bull's Blood But its wine portfolio is much broader in terms of wine styles Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean located around 900 kilometers (550 miles) north of Scotland's Orkney Islands There is little chance of successful viticulture being carried out on the volcanic island Ireland is an island off the west coast of Britain The following description majors on the beverages produced in the Republic of Ireland It has a rich and diverse wine heritage and a bewildering diversity of both grape varieties and wine styles Kosovo is a region of south-eastern Europe once an autonomous province within the former Yugoslavia Kosovo had a substantial acreage of productive wine-bearing vineyards Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe The country once held the Guinness World Record as the world's most northerly commercial open-air vineyard known as Vina kalns ('wine hill') Liechtenstein is a tiny country hidden away among the Alps the country's most noteworthy vineyard is terraced into a rocky outcrop topped by the 1000-year-old Schloss Gutenberg Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe between Belarus and the Baltic Sea bordered by Latvia to the north and Poland to the south The country's best known alcoholic produce is its vodka Luxembourg (officially the 'Grand Duchy of Luxembourg') is a small nation in northern Europe covering just over 2,500 square kilometers (960sq miles) Only 1 percent of this is given over to viticulture Malta is a small island (25 miles / 40m long) in the central Mediterranean Ocean just 80km (50 miles) south of Sicily Viniculture here dates back to the early 16th Century when the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem arrived on the island bringing with them centuries of winemaking tradition Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe and one of several former Soviet states in this region Moldova ranks among the most significant wine regions of Eastern Europe Montenegro is a small country on the western side of the Balkan Peninsula The wine industry here is best known for its intense deeply colored red wine made from the Vranac grape variety The Netherlands is a country in northern Europe The latter is the name of the ancient county in the western Netherlands Norway is a Nordic country located on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula but it also borders Finland and Russia at its far-northern edges is a new and perhaps surprising addition to the list of wine-producing nations Although viniculture is very much in its infancy here and has yet to make any mark on international markets But in the last decade or two it has gained acclaim for its new wave of rich with reds from the Douro Valley particularly prominent Romania lies at the crossroads between Central Europe and South-eastern Europe Its wine industry makes use of a broad portfolio of indigenous and international red and white grape varieties Russia is the largest country in the world covering over 17 million square kilometers (6.5 million square miles) although only the country's southernmost lands are capable of supporting quality viticulture is geographically the largest of the former Yugoslav states Serbian wine is not often seen on international markets although there is no question that the country has the potential to produce world-class wines Slovakia's vineyards are mostly clustered around Bratislava and scattered eastwards along the border with Hungary The eastern fringe of the Tokaj wine region lies in Slovakia Slovenia is a small European country with a long history of wine production Despite the cultural and political turmoil that has besieged the Balkan states over the past century one which has been particularly successful since the country gained independence from former Yugoslavia Spain is home to more hectares of vineyards than any other country and has a national wine output exceeded only by France and Italy Though a wide range of wine styles are made Tempranillo is by far the dominant grape variety Sweden is a country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe Winemaking here is very much in its infancy making up a fraction of one percent of the nation's total alcohol production Switzerland is not widely known as a wine-producing nation largely because the Swiss keep much of their output to themselves The white Chasselas grape is the specialty here Turkey may well be where wine production first began Today the country grows more grapes than almost any country on earth The United Kingdom is best known for its beer It also has a small wine industry which has undergone recent expansion particularly with respect to sparkling wine production Ukraine is a large Eastern European country with a long but potted history of wine production although the country is more readily associated to the production of grain-based spirits (horilka) Canada is famous for its high-quality ice wines but powerful Cabernet blends and aromatic dry Rieslings are also key features in the country's wine portfolio But wine has been made here for longer than anywhere else in the Americas The Vitis vinifera vine came to Mexico with the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century The United States is home to many quality wine regions though its global reputation still rides on the success of California and the Napa Valley in particular Whiskey distilling and beer brewing are both integral parts of American culture Argentina is the largest producer of wine in South America its principal grape variety; in recent decades they have together risen to global prominence Bolivia has an extreme high-altitude wine industry in which around 75 percent of production is devoted to red wine its winemaking origins date back to the 16th Century arrival of the Spanish Brazil has a burgeoning wine industry led by its sparkling wines though Cachaça is still its best known export beverage Chile occupies a thin strip down the western coast South America and is home to an enviable variety of wine terroirs and styles it is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Colombia is situated at the north-western corner of South America though the country's rum has a higher profile Ecuador lies on the Pacific coast of northern South America There are only a few hundred hectares of vineyards; rum and beer are produced in much greater volumes Guyana is a country located on the Atlantic coast of northern South America It is well-known for its production of rum and cultivation of sugarcane Spanish-speaking country in central South America The country is more famous for its rum than its wines alhough it does produce more than seven million liters (1.85 million US gallons) of wine each year Peru is a Spanish-speaking nation in western South America Suriname is a country on the north-eastern coast of South America but a small amount of winemaking does in fact take place Uruguay is the fourth-largest wine-producing country in South America Wine grapes have been grown here for more than 250 years although commercial vineyards were first established in the second half of the 19th Century in terms of production of alcoholic beverages The bottlings from Diplomático and Ron Santa Teresa have gained particular acclaim around the world Belize is a small country on the eastern (Mediterranean) coast of Central America The Caribbean is not known for its wines (grape vines do not thrive in the tropical climate) though the region is the undisputed home of rum Costa Rica is a country in Central America and sits on the isthmus between Panama (to the south) and Nicaragua (to the north) The country's key alcoholic beverages are beer and rum Guatemala is a small country in Central America Although it is far from competing with Jamaica sugarcane and the rum produced from it are some of Guatemala's main exports Given Nicaragua's location at the western edge of the Caribbean it is hardly surprising that its key alcohol production comes from sugar famous as the land link between North America and South America It is also home to one of the world's largest tropical rainforests Australia is a leading wine producing country its climatic and geographical range offers versatility Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay lead the way Fiji is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean There are over 330 islands (110 are inhabited) plus many hundreds more islets New Zealand is known globally for its aromatic Sauvignon Blanc whites but it also makes a range of acclaimed cool-climate wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Bordeaux blends and Syrah Norfolk Island is a tiny island located in the Pacific Ocean located almost exactly half-way between New Caledonia and the northern tip of New Zealand Although technically part of the Commonwealth of Australia (Sydney lies 1050 miles / 1700km to the south-west) the island has a high level of self-governance is one of the world's least-known wine regions grape wine is made on this tropical island China vies with several countries as the world's sixth largest producer of wine by volume Its best producers are gaining international recognition India is a rapidly emerging wine economy in terms of both production and consumption with the potential to become a significant player Whisky and spirits distillation has a longer history Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country made up of 33 provinces spread across more than 13,000 individual islands there are wines made in Indonesia: not from imported must or juice but from grapes grown in the island's small number of vineyards though its modern industry has mostly developed in the last few decades The Judean Foothills and Galilee are the largest regions though grape wine has been made there for several centuries Beer and whisky production have also become established in the last hundred years Jordan is a country in the Middle East (or Western Asia as it is officially labeled by the UN) bordered by Iraq and Iran to the east The country takes its name from the Jordan river which since biblical times has been a vital source of water in this desert area Kazakhstan is a large trans-continental country: the vast majority of it lies in Asia but its western extremities cross over into eastern Europe Though it has a very long history of wine production vodka is the principal alcohlic beverage here Lebanon has an ancient wine culture and a modern industry dating from the 19th century Its vineyards are concentrated mostly in the Bekaa Valley The Republic of Myanmar (or Burma) produces a minute quantity of wine unlikely as that might seem to the outsider in this hot has been home to tiny plantings of wine-producing vines since the late 20th Century The high-altitude Himalayan climate is not particularly suited to Vitis vinifera vines so local wines are made from a combination of honey The Philippines is a complex group of islands in Southeast Asia indigenous wines are produced from a variety of fermented crops including fruit South Korea is a country at the far eastern extremity of East Asia situated on a large peninsula which juts southwards from north-eastern China Sri Lanka is an island off the southern tip of India Syria is a mid-sized country in the western Middle East (also known as the Near East) situated between the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea and the deserts of Iraq is located at the centre of the Indochina Peninsula there are also a number of rum producers with the wine industry beginning to gain international notice Vietnam is one of a number of East Asian countries which have appeared on the wine radar since the turn of the century Although its growth is far from rapid and nowhere near as dramatic as that of neighboring China Vietnam's wine production is steadily increasing Algeria is a large country in the Maghreb geographical region of north-west Africa Though an Islamic nation it has a remarkably extensive area under vine Though today much of this focuses on table grape production it is still the second largest wine producer in Africa Cape Verde (officially Cabo Verde) is a small archipelago nation off the coast of West Africa originally colonized by settlers from Portugal in the 15th Century and has a long history of wine production Egypt is home to some of the oldest winemaking traditions on Earth Madagascar is a large island off the south-east coast of Africa it lies almost entirely within the southern tropics creating an ideal climate for sugarcane cultivation and rum maturation Mauritius is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean about 2000 kilometers off the south-east coast of Africa the country has a long history of rum production Morocco's wine industry retains a strong French influence over six decades from independence bordered by the southern Atlantic Ocean to the west South Africa to the south and Botswana to the east produces only very small quantities of grape wine Wines made from pineapples or palm sap are more common in this tropical nation Pinotage and Chenin Blanc have been its signatures Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are also widely planted despite not having an international reputation as a wine producer is actually home to the second largest wine producing region in Sub-Saharan Africa (after South Africa) The history of wine production in the country is relatively recent and roughly grew in tandem with the independence of Tanganyika and its merger with Zanzibar in the 1960s Tunisia is a North African country with a long (if not consistent) history of wine production Despite being a predominantly Muslim country the wine industry here makes over 40 million liters of wine per year and there is no cultural tradition of winemaking have at least one producer making wine from hibiscus flowers Zimbabwe is rarely cited as a wine region of note the southern African nation's wine industry has been gradually growing and evolving This page is currently under development as we change its function Read about the best known regional styles and find the most popular signature style wines Last year’s acquisition of Hubert Brochard made Bollinger-owned Loire Valley winery Langlois-Chateau a serious player in Sancerre Now that deal has prompted a refocusing of the business – prioritising Crémant de Loire and Sancerre – and a change of name It has to be one of the more confusing winery names you are Château Langlois?’ And we say: ‘No we’re not…’” You can perhaps forgive the weary tone from François-Régis Fougeroux the name derives from the couple who took over the business back in 1912: Edouard Langlois and Jeanne Chateau Fougeroux won’t have to explain the distinction for much longer Langlois-Chateau will become simply Langlois as part of a drive to give the business a sharper focus on its key activities: making wine in Saumur (chiefly Crémant) and in Sancerre There’s a neatness to the timing of the change coming as it does 50 years after the company was acquired by the Bollinger Group in 1973 The move has been prompted by last year’s acquisition of Hubert Brochard in Sancerre That deal made Langlois a serious force in the appellation – elevating it into the top five producers – thanks to Brochard’s 60 hectares of vineyard Fifty hectares are located in Sancerre in a range of locations and terroirs 5ha in Pouilly-Fumé and 5ha classified IGP Val de Loire Langlois has been active in Sancerre for nearly 40 years – it has produced wine at Château Fontaine-Audon since 1986 But these were smaller properties: Fontaine-Audon 6ha originally “Our vision is to invest a lot in Sancerre,” explains Fougeroux we didn’t have a huge engagement with the appellation We were far away and we had only a small team “Now we have become one of the key players in Sancerre … With the three domaines we now have – Château Fontaine-Audon Château de Thauvenay and Hubert Brochard – it changes a little bit our vision of the way we have to work with the Langlois-Chateau wines.” the company is abandoning its négociant activities were insignificant – less than 50,000 bottles out of a company total of 1.3 million The new plan for Langlois is centred on Crémant de Loire and Sancerre with a little still wine from the company’s Saumur vineyards – both dry and sweet – to be sold from the winery boutique and in a few selected markets “We have decided to be really more focused in the way we present the Langlois-Chateau wines,” says Fougeroux “Our perception to the consumer was not clear enough I think we will have more focus on the two main parts of the Loire “Our vision is to be refocused on Crémant de Loire and to keep a few high-quality vineyards focused on Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc We have at least 50% Chenin Blanc in our blends so Chenin Blanc is clearly the identity of our Crémant and it was important to keep this identity.” Langlois’ Crémant emphasises value over volume – the house claims to be the smallest sparkling wine producer in Saumur and its wines spend a minimum of two years on the lees The consequent higher pricing keeps them out of the margin-eroding Fougeroux sees clear opportunities for Crémant around the world and credits the Prosecco boom for helping to democratise sparkling wine “That’s quite good for us because it drives consumers to look to drink sparkling wine outside Champagne,” he says “We have this kind of consumer who wants to drink a true and there’s definitely more space in that market now.” Only 26% of the region’s wines are exported the most significant are Sweden (via the Systembolaget monopoly) UK and a number of others (Belgium and Japan are highlights) “Our vision is not to extend the number of countries but to be more focused on Crémant and Sancerre,” says Fougeroux “We want to grow in terms of quality and perception and vision for the two brands Langlois and Brochard.” because the Langlois name will no longer be directly associated with Sancerre The company’s combined domaines in the appellation will be consolidated under the Hubert Brochard name gravity-fed winery to be built at Brochard’s Chavignol base in time for the 2024 harvest Wines will still be made under the Fontaine-Audon and de Thauvenay names supplemented by Brochard’s range of Sancerre bottlings – including a to-be-expanded set of parcellaire wines from “crazy” blocks says Fougeroux – and Brochard’s Pouilly-Fumé plus Sancerre Rosé and Sancerre Rouge from 10ha of Pinot Noir who joined Langlois/Brochard at the end of last year previously in charge of the Fontaine-Audon and de Thauvenay vineyards completes what Fougeroux calls a “nice team really engaged to create a high-quality brand in Sancerre” That new team will aim to create wines that express the diverse terroir of Sancerre from Fontaine-Audon’s flint-rich soils and chiselled elegance in the north of the appellation; to de Thauvenay’s expressive Sauvignons from chalk/clay in the south; and Brochard’s power and complexity from its base on the Chavignol coteau the quality of the 2023 growing season hangs in the balance with a good crop coming under disease pressure thanks to untimely rain and humidity and the harvest likely to begin – once again – before the end of August and about growing conditions in the Loire more generally “Our harvest used to be six weeks from mid-September to the end of October,” he recalls “But it used to be that every three years there were green flavours in Cabernet Franc Now we have a good balance and we can pick at the right maturity The wines of Langlois-Chateau are imported into the UK by Mentzendorff We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again words: The underappreciated Chenin Blanc grape is a big hit in this gorgeous $20 wine from the Loire Valley demonstrating that the French region is unparalleled when it comes to the white variety While Vouvray is the most familiar appellation for Chenin Blanc, the grape is grown throughout the so-called Middle Loire. In Saumur it is mainly used in the sparkling Crémant wines for which the appellation is best known One to try is the 2020 Saumur Blanc from Château de Villeneuve, a 25-acre property that farms organically and also produces red wines from Cabernet Franc under the Saumur-Champigny appellation This white Saumur showcases everything there is to love about Loire Chenin Blanc — vibrant fruit combined with chalky minerality The latter comes from the limestone soils that give the wine a texture and depth well beyond Chenins from most other regions This is a lovely dry wine that rivals far more expensive Chenins from Vouvray and other prestigious Loire appellations, including Montlouis and even the revered Savennières and pineapple are followed by bursts of orange and candied lemon on the long finish where that mineral component adds a slightly saline and almost chewy quality The wine spends a few months in large oak barrels Food pairings include all kinds of fish — from broiled and grilled to those in richer sauces The wine will also enhance chicken and veal dishes and is wonderful on its own as an aperitif When considering the Loire Valley, most people think first of the Sauvignon Blanc wines, with their lively acidity, from such storied appellations as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in the eastern Loire The region’s Chenin Blancs are crisp but less aggressive and are well worth exploring in their many styles that range from dry and off-dry to sweet and sparkling Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Paris head to this charming chateau-topped town just two hours from Paris Maps and directions are all easily available locally – Saumur is a town that owes its prosperity to tourism and you'll find the locals both friendly and helpful Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterpinterestinstagramAbout us Contact us This article was published more than 6 months ago proximity to shops and services and an impressively manicured lawn were among the features that drew Alain Saumur and Neil Modi in.Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd When Alain Saumur first laid eyes upon the Victorian home in Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighbourhood “Eighties Spectacular” was the theme that came to mind Saumur and Neil Modi were looking for more storage in what would be their second Cabbagetown home Despite the somewhat outdated interior decor proximity to shops and services and an impressively manicured lawn were among the features that drew them in “We didn’t quite know exactly what the history of the house was but it did have some nice features to it that we learned more about later like a really large spiralling staircase that went right through the middle of it,” Mr Modi said its raucous history has increasingly come to light through his own research and the memories of visitors Saumur’s visited and recounted a time when she was younger and had been invited to a wild party at the home which featured liberal substance-use and themes of sexual freedom That once prominent spiral staircase has now vanished from the home’s interior “It was actually a lot less costly to gut the whole thing and start new and get even more out of the house,” Mr “We felt comfortable doing that since there was really nothing left of historical value inside.” is now up for sale with agent Andres Rivadeneira of Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. with an asking price of $3,898,000.Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd Working with architectural designer David R the homeowners completely reimagined the home in a renovation that they estimate cost more than $1.5-million the house was little but a few walls standing with some joists and bracing inside While their efforts inside the home were focused on modernization restoring the home’s Victorian façade was important to Mr They refurbished the front porch and sought neighbourly opinions on the particular colour of brick they should use “We tried different colour combinations and left them out front for passersby to give us their two cents,” Mr “This is Cabbagetown and if you put anything on display people will make it their business to tell you what they think.” the home was recognized by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association and given the Peggy Kurtin Award for Excellence in Restoration the home’s suitability for hosting big soirees has persisted “This house is designed for people that like to entertain and have catered parties,” Mr a suite of Fisher and Paykel appliances include a convection steam oven and a Thermador range There’s another fully equipped kitchen in the lower level that features a wall oven guests or tenants can take an exterior staircase to get to the home’s secluded backyard where ample seating awaits them enveloped by rows of mature growth cedars on either side meaning the backyard is especially spacious “It feels like you’re sitting in a park or a little forest you have no idea that you’re right smack downtown,” he said During one of Toronto’s torrential downpours this summer Modi said he was exercising in his garage when he looked up and was stunned to see his entire rear yard had been taken over by red robins seeking refuge from the storm “But it was really interesting to see that they had mistook it for some sort of forest.” In the home’s principal bedroom on the third floor Modi said he often wakes up to birdsong in the warmer months He describes the floor’s layout as akin to a European palace where all the rooms flow into one another and there’s a clear view from one side of the house to the other “You have to walk through each space to get to the next That was very intentional because the ceiling height is insane even though we were going for something modern,” Mr Little luxurious focal points sprinkled throughout the home offer guests a sense of wonderment as they walk through One feature he’s particularly proud of is the butler bar tucked away on the first floor which he said he sought inspiration for from a “fancy handbag.” metallic tile’ and with the lights on the shelves lit it really comes across like a bejewelled piece of jewellery.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following \n\nAfter completing The Globe’s summer reporting program Pippa has written for a number of The Globe’s newsletters She has also been a regular contributor to a personal finance series about the great wealth transfer Pippa was lead editor for The Tyee's What Works series on sustainable enterprises She also reported breaking news for CityNews Vancouver freelanced for Canada’s National Observer and worked as a research associate for the Climate Disaster project She published her findings on the lack of climate change attribution in Ottawa media in J-Source Pippa has reported from The Globe's Vancouver and Toronto bureaus Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions writes DeanAs you head west from the town of Saumur with the River Loire flowing to your right you start entering the historic St-Hilaire St-Florent district where all the sparkling wine houses are located Every colossal building either side of the road is a either a mansion working winery or derelict warehouse that have all been built in the name of Crémant de Loire and Saumur Brut – or Saumur Champagne as it used to be called until the Champenoise got a little bit uppity In 1892 you were no longer allowed to call it Saumur Champagne and from 1984 not allowed to say méthode champenoise Actually you might think it looks a little like Avenue de Champagne in Epernay with less money behind it, but that is not strictly the case. Langlois-Chateau (established 1855) is owned by Bollinger while next door neighbours Ackerman (established 1811) is owned by Orchidées Maisons de Vin the number one exporter of Loire Valley wines and market leader of AOP Crémant de Loire the French agri-food cooperative that has a €4.9 billion annual turnover The reason for this particular geographical location is that it is absolutely perfect for a pre-industrial winemaking region if you were to set about designing one from scratch chances are you would end up with a location exactly the same as St-Hilaire St-Florent The reason is that the Loire’s South Bank is made up of a 50 metre high plateau that the river has cut into a type of limestone that is perfect for vines to dig their roots into and is also jolly good for building chateaux out of As the rock was excavated during France’s Renaissance period in the Sixteenth Century so the quarries left giant caves that were just great for later housing wineries and also wine storage On top of the plateau is arable land where vines were planted and in one of the earliest examples of gravity-fed wineries fruit transported down into the wineries below where wines were made and stored in perfect Once finished the wines had gravity again on their side to make it to the 4km wide lazy Loire (which also raises the average diurnal temperature all year round) that could take the wines to sea or most likely through the canal network up to the Seine and Paris Laurent Onillon commercial manager in the caves of Langlois-Chateau: they are so extensive road names are used to stop workers losing their bearings How us Brits are drinking way more Crémant de Loire As sales of Crémant de Loire start packing some punchy numbers again houses like Ackerman and Langlois-Chateau are keen to remind the wine world that Champagne didn’t always have things its own way Sparkling Loire Valley wines have a strong presence and a rich heritage Latest figures from trade body InterLoire show that in the past 12 months sales of mousseux to the UK (Crémant de Loire Saumur and Vouvray) have increased by 71% with Crémant largely responsible having almost doubled its sales year on year to the UK The overall category of Loire fizz has been recapturing a bit of sparkle – since 2015 sales have trebled Saumur Brut has shown marginal growth in that time frame with a 10% dip last year while Crémant de Loire has gone from strength to strength with 400% growth over four years In the past 12 months over 12,000 hectolitres has been exported to the UK alone Julien Goudeau PR manager for Orchidées Maisons de Vin and François Reverdy thinks that the discrepancy between stagnating sales of Saumur Brut and the massive increase in Crémant could be down to something as simple as the name “Saumur is still important from the early Nineteenth Century but Crémant is the growing category With Crémant de Loire people know what the Loire is but not necessarily Saumur,” he says Traditional cuvées still have great potential – Ackerman produces 1811 the Saumur Brut that is their largest seller by far and retails in France for about €5.50 a bottle – and its Touraine AOP Blanc Cuvée JM Brut Monmousseau which has been aged for 36 months is clearly of premium quality The latest product lines that the company are developing are all Crémant de Loire and not Saumur Brut Langlois-Chateau does not produce any Saumur Brut – only Crémant de Loire “After Prosecco some importers are clearly looking for the next big thing and Crémant is our focus – Crémant and the development of our export sales are the heart of our strategy,” Reverdy says when your doctor would prescribe Saumur Brut Even though Ackerman had a royal warrant and supplied the British army the company is without an importer in the UK having last been sold through Hayward Brothers and M&S Soon to be launched: the excellent Grand Royal Extra Brut Reverdy is in the process of rectifying that keen to show me an impressive range of premium cremant from new lines such as an organic sparkling the sulphite-free Nouvelle Espirit through to the soon-to-be-launched Grand Royal Xtra Brut (60% Chardonnay 30% Chenin and 10% Cabernet Franc) which spends up to three years on the lees and was very fine The similarity of high end Crémant to Champagne and its comparatively ‘better value’ is something all Crémant producers are keen to point out As an industry we set up a body of producers and have invested in marketing and communications after all it is such a good price and value compared to Champagne.” tourism plays an important role in the Loire Valley In 2017 there were 1.6 million visitors to the 1,000 or so wineries open to the public the Brits being the third largest in number InterLoire has a Caves Touristiques system to make it easier for tourists to locate wineries that are open to visitors and cellar door sales Unlike large de-centralised wine regions such as Bordeaux the Loire’s geography means that it is far easier to navigate and make sense of the Loire Valley The caves of the Saumur region are an attraction in their own right – with or without wine – the region is studded with troglodyte dwellings where houses appear to emerge out of the rock As for the caves of the Saumur Brut and Crémant houses – they are a major attraction The caves at Langlois-Chateau are still operational with these giant sets of riddlers Langlois-Chateau has many kilometres of caves a network so big that there are street names and workers move around on motorised vehicles; the estate still produces Crémant in their caves with sets of riddling machines that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film Modern cave ‘painting’ – the extraordinary string/ black light installation in the Ackerman cellars The seven kilometres of caves of Ackerman next door have vaulted church-like ceilings (carved so high to let light in) and since they moved the 10 million bottles they used to store there into a more modern facility events and gallery space where stunning installations are housed Over 40,000 visitors visit the caves each year Educating the consumer: Langlois-Chateau’s visit actually begins in a classroom so that consumers get to be taught the basics particularly at the premium end that some consumers are tiring of Prosecco and are looking for an alternative to that and Champagne So long as Crémant keeps sourcing good quality grapes and emphasises ‘premium’ and pushing price points upwards then it has a very healthy future indeed in the UK The latest sales figures are already confirming that Sommeliers might have to do a bit of hand-holding but with the Crémant trade body’s education and marketing programme already in place – things are all moving in the right direction The Buyer TVClick below to watch The Buyer's library of online debates, videos and webinars. Saumur© Les MénestrelsThings to do in Saumur • Restaurants and cafésIn Saumur's hostelries fine wine and fine cooking come together with great results If you're looking for lunch while touring the wineries in Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, consider stepping into Veuve Amiot where absurdly generous meals are served in an original underground cave kitted out with long trestle tables and accompanied by fresh local bread One of Saumur and Loire Valley’s leading sparkling wine producers – as well as one of its oldest – Bouvet-Ladubay is best known for its traditional method sparkling wines many of which are made with a dash of Chenin Blanc to reflect the minerality of the terroir Its vineyards consist of over 1500 hectares located on the left bank of the Loire River and the left bank of the Thouet River – a region of clay and limestone soil over tuffeau stone which lends a distinctive acidity and minerality to its wines The company was founded in 1851 by 23-year old Etienne Bouvet and his wife Celestine Ladubay in St Hilaire St Florent when they bought the cellars located right under the St Florent Abbey ruins where the wines are cellared until a new facility was built in 2008 Following Bouvet’s death in 1908 and the turbulence of the first world war and economic slump in the early 20th century the estate was bought by Justin-Marcel Monmousseau in 1932 who restored the reputation and quality of its wines in order to open new horizons for the company it was sold to Champagne Taittinger in 1974 although with Monmousseau’s grandson it continued to enjoy considerable independence This allowed the winery to preserve its family spirit when a controlling stake of the business was sold to Vijay Mallya in 2005 and subsequently passed to Diageo in 2014 Patrice Monmousseau and his daughter Juliette together with new investment partners bought back 100% of the shares of the company the decision was buy back the estate lay in establishing stability for its employees and the continued development of its business And while she says that while not a lot has changed in terms of the production of the wines the family ownership has “absolutely strengthened” Bouvet Ladubay position in the region as an independent company and the main producer and exporter of Loire sparkling wines “It has strengthened the relations with many of our partners: the winegrowers we work with our various supplier and our customer and of course the whole Bouvet Ladubay team as it is not only my family who has been here for generations many of us share this history having relatives who worked here too,” she explains Monmousseau credits her father Patrice with the continuity of the house style pointing out that only four people have been involved in the winemaking in the last thirty years – her father head of production Grégory Fournier and Vincent Herbreteau who handles the cellar It was also Patrice who championed  oak barrel aged cuvées vintage cuvées weren’t a thing in Loire Valley for sparkling wines,” she points out “My father started oak barrel aging close to 30 years ago – back then only a few houses in Champagne would use oak to age the wine – in order to reach evermore sophistication for the Chenin and the Chardonnay.” “Chenin is THE grape for Loire Valley whites from sparkling to late harvest,” Monmousseau notes adding that it is the 100% Chenin Saumur Brut Bouvet Saumur Brut NV – a wine that that is aged for a minimum of 12 months on the lees after 2nd fermentation – that showcases the terroir of Saumur in particular The portfolio comprises three types of wines produced via the traditional method – a méthode traditionnelle without AOP Saumur Brut AOP and Crémant de Loire AOP – and 12 different cuvées of varietal wines whites and rosés and with different amounts of aging “We are the main house producing Saumur brut Sparkling wines our beloved AOP that we consider like a grand cru of Loire Sparkling wine,” she says – but it is the Saphir Saumur Brut Vintage 2019 that is “the heart of the Bouvet Ladubay Collection” Another highlight of the portfolio is the Trésor Saumur Brut 2018 Chenin bland that has been aged on the lees for 24 months after its second fermentation a limited cuvée zero dosage selection from the blend of Trésor The house also produces a Saumur Rosé Bouvet Saumur Brut Rosé NV a 100% Cabernet Franc in the traditional method “Cabernet Franc is the red grape of Loire Valley the unique varietal from Touraine to the end of Anjou including Saumur giving birth to still rosés also in the off dry style like Cabernet d’Anjou to muscular and full bodied in the Chinon area for example,” Monmousseau says “Our Bouvet Saumur Brut Rosé is a mosaïc of the Anjou-Saumur terroir we aim at offering fruit forward yet balanced sparkling wine with a Brut dosage.” A wonderful example of fine traditional method fizz with a hint of oak-influence this vintage expression sees its base wine – a blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay – aged in barrels to bring added richness and complexity The result is a generous yet refreshing glass of sparkling and mouth-filling flavours of honey and pastry which are then followed by notes bitter lemon and chalk crisp finish to this powerfully-flavoured Saumur Brut Could this be the best value blanc de blancs on the market today For a around £15 (UK retail) one can snap up this pure Chardonnay single harvest traditional-method sparkling wine of depth and finesse Yes there’s the zesty freshness that makes blanc de blancs so appealing to sip but also the mouth-filling characters of fine fizz ripe apple and even a touch of pineapple to bring some richness to this palate-cleansing crémant this Saumur Brut delivers hallmark bottle-fermented fizz flavours for not much more than a tenner chalky taste and texture to the finish too This pale-onion-skin pink fizz is yet another good-value drop from Bouvet-Ladubay along with refreshing notes of chalk and citrus there’s lots of character to this pretty wine Another great-value fizz from Bouvet-Ladubay this is a textured sparkling wine with some creamy vanilla characters with no sugar added when it’s disgorged Anjou-Saumur offers wines in a wide range of styles the greatest being reds from Cabernet Franc and sweet whites from Chenin Blanc JIM BUDD looks at the best producers and the great vintages They were told to stop picking when the mustometer reading for my Chenin Blanc reached 16.5% potential alcohol,’ says Jean-Pierre Chevallier of Château de Villeneuve makers of Saumur Blanc and Saumur-Champigny ‘There was no way I could make dry white wine when the grapes were so rich we have made commercial quantities of sweet Coteaux de Saumur.’ This is just one tale from the extraordinary but far from easy 2003 vintage in Anjou-Saumur and for many the earliest harvest since 1893 But producers had to be careful as physiological ripeness lagged behind potential alcohol levels so Cabernet Franc that would normally ripen to around 12.5% had to be left until 13.5–14% resulting in some atypical wines for the region https://www.decanter.com/features/wines-of-the-loire-valley-249456/ The climate of Anjou-Saumur is not usually given to great extremes of temperature or drought and the landscape is gently rolling Between la Pommeraye and Montsoreau a wide range of wines are made there is virtually every style of wine possible From ultra-dry whites to unctuously sweet; dry rosés to sweet versions that have the capacity to age; from light reds for early drinking to more full bodied and structured reds that need time to mature; plus sparkling wines in all three colours geologically they are two distinct regions The sedimentary rocks of Saumur are an extension of the Paris basin whereas Anjou is an extension of the igneous rocks of the Brittany peninsula The different rocks produce different wines – Saumur whites have a higher degree of acidity while the reds are softer There are also few cellars in Anjou as the rock is too hard whereas the Saumur area is riddled with caves both around the town of Saumur and further south around Le Puy-Notre-Dame This is one reason why it became a sparkling wine area In both Saumur and Anjou Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc are the leading grape varieties The earlier ripening Cabernet Franc is better suited to the Loire climate than Cabernet Sauvignon which accounts for only 15% of Cabernet planted in the Valley https://www.decanter.com/premium/top-dry-loire-chenin-blanc-353130/ More Cabernet Sauvignon is planted in Anjou than anywhere else in the Loire but it is often planted in the wrong place and for the wrong reason It was thought to be a good idea to plant in frost-prone zones as it buds later than the Franc It may escape the frost but it only ripens in well-exposed or warm-soiled plots such as the Lebreton family’s Croix de la Mission in St-Jean de Mauvets or Vincent Ogereau’s Côte de la Houssaye at St-Lambert du Lattay Anjou is the birthplace of the highly versatile Chenin Blanc which is the basis for all the region’s white wines although Chardonnay and Sauvignon can be used as small proportions of the blend Chenin is the oldest known Loire grape and the first historical record dates from the ninth century at Bouchemaine near the present day appellation of Savennières minerally whites made entirely from Chenin Savennières is the sole appellation located north of the Loire river in Anjou-Saumur In the Coteaux du Layon and the Coteaux de l’Aubance there was a renaissance of sweet wine which started around 1985 and continued through the 1990s Magnificent though many of these wines are it is difficult to sell quantities of sweet wine year after year Even lovers of sweet wines drink relatively few bottles a year in comparison to dry whites or reds Thanks to a combination of climate and the resilience of Chenin Blanc it is possible to make some sweet wine every year in the Coteaux du Layon and the smaller and more northerly appellation of Coteaux de l’Aubance and yet there is now a commercially imposed move away from sweet whites the amount of sweet wine now being made has been drastically reduced in favour of dry white a leader of the super-concentration movement in the 1990s ‘Five years ago we made 75% sweet wine to 25% dry These days it’s the other way round,’ he says Many of the producers in the Anjou-Saumur region come from families that have been wine producers for generations The Daviau family (Domaine de Bablut) have been in Brissac since 1546 and the Richou family (Domaine Richou) started making wine four years later in nearby Mozé-sur-Louet Actor Gérard Depardieu bought Château de Tigné in the 1980s Bernard Germain added 100ha (hectares) in the Loire to his 200ha in Bordeaux first by buying Domaine des Roche Neuves (Saumur-Champigny) in 1991 followed by Châteaux de Fesles (Bonnezeaux) la Guimonière and Château de Varennes (Savennières) More recently Frédéric Etienne and his wife Fatima bought a vineyard at Martigné-Briand in the Layon Valley Etienne gave up his career as an agricultural engineer and 2003 is their second vintage at Domaine du Regain It seems likely that a good number of wine drinkers will discover the reds of Saumur and Anjou through the atypical 2003 vintage Lovers of sweet wines should also be making space in the cellar Low quantity due to mid-April frost and the heat of the summer The few reds I have so far tasted were higher in alcohol than is customary but have structure and good acidity Pretty dreary summer saved by a remarkably fine September and October produced fine Coteaux du Layon and Coteaux de l’Aubance Heroically a tiny quantity of decent sweet wine was made An attractive vintage for dry whites and sweets as well as reds Only rigorous producers made reasonable reds Very appealing red wines and some especially fine sweet wines Overall probably the best vintage of the 1990s The first decent vintage after 1990 and the first of a run of three fine vintages Attractive wines but without the ageing potential of 1989 One of the great vintages of the 20th century and is an expert on the wines of the Loire the sole Armenian in international equestrian sport rode Saumur to victory on a career high score at the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix Special Saturday for the second victory in the competition The score of 70.979% for Carrie and the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding was the first of at least 70% for the 64-year-old American-born rider in 15 years of international dressage on four different horses in Europe and Florida The 64-year-old Carrie won the Grand Prix Thursday on 69.087% “It is exciting,” she said after the ride when he goes into the show ring and does what he did so then your feeling is that you’re on the right track Florida on Cavalia was second on 70.149% with Codi Harrison of Wellington on Katholt’s Bossco third on 68.872% is the only Armenian known to have ever competed in international dressage A review of records for all international equestrian disciplines found no other Armenian participants Carrie has competed on the Wellington winter circuit for the past seven years and her results fulfill qualifying requirements to compete at the world championships in Herning The pair rode at the 2019 European Championships Carrie and Saumur won an Intermediate II at Wellington four years ago She was born in the United States to her parents who had fled the former Soviet state of Armenia to escape genocide She later moved to Germany and while there sought Armenian citizenship She began riding for the nation of fewer than three million people in 2018 Saumur© Time Out / EHThings to do in Saumur • HotelsFind Time Out’s favourite accommodation in Saumur Le MercureThe Saumur branch of this reliable international chain has a happy situation on the opposite bank of the Loire from the town on the Ile d'Offard next to the campsite and almost directly opposite the castle It also has the perk of a fitness centre with Jacuzzi CampingCamping L'Ile d'OffardEquipped to host the summer influx of visitors In a gorgeous location on the Ile d'Offard opposite the main town it has dramatic views across the river to the castle and a stunning range of services including a shop and offers lodges as well as tent pitches and parking for mobile homes At least if we end up trapped here overnight Like so many of the cellars (if that isn't too small a word for them) here these tunnels were originally quarried for the white sedimentary rock used to construct the region's beautiful pale chateaux and houses These were occupied by the Germans during the second world war and are now earning their keep storing wine – rather a lot of it and judging by the black mould on every surface around us then bottle it and leave it lying somewhere along those long pitch-black tunnels to settle and recover until an order is placed "This is our basic white blend," the export manager tells me "We sell it under several different labels." victoriaxmoore@gmail.com The 2017 Loire Valley vintage was good despite some major setbacks Good conditions early in the growing season prompted budbreak and other key events to occur early frosts which also provoked an outbreak of mildew devastating many of the vines Vineyards protected by wind machines generally fared better than those that weren't This weekend the highly anticipated FEI Vaulting World Cup™ final will be held for the first time in Saumur will provide the perfect backdrop as the world’s best vaulters bid for FEI World Cup™ glory Germany will look to replicate last year’s clean sweep of successes, with Kristina Boe, Jannis Drewell and Theresa-Sophie Bresch & Torben Jacobs returning to defend their titles, Drewell looking for a hat-trick of consecutive FEI World Cup™ wins in front of the FEI TV cameras A heavyweight bout has been announced in the individual female competition with Germany and Switzerland each fielding three powerhouse vaulters Once again we will witness the return of the Büttiker/ Boe rivalry which has kept us on the edge of our seats throughout the past two seasons Double FEI World Equestrian Games™ gold medallist and returning champion Kristina Boe has been thrilling audiences throughout the qualification period by bringing back old favourite freestyle reincarnations.  It will be enthralling to see which themes Boe decides to interpret for the final in what is her final event before retirement After missing out on top honours at both the Leipzig and Offenburg qualifiers Kristina will be looking to recreate the magic from the Dortmund final last year Executing a fairy-tale qualifying campaign after taking top honours at Paris Nadja Büttiker heads to Saumur as the one to beat After narrowly missing out on the title to Kristina Boe last year following a slip off the croup of Keep Cool III in her final freestyle Nadja has positioned herself in good stead to go one better in Saumur Janika Derks’ (GER) winning round video from Leipzig has been shared around the world The FEI World Equestrian Games™ silver medallist could deliver the knockout blow in Saumur to take the top step on the podium Ilona Hannich (SUI) and Marina Mohar (SUI) all have title winning characteristics Despite a difficult qualification campaign defending champion Jannis Drewell (GER).  Renowned for rising to the occasion a defining factor in his quest to retain the title could be which horse he decides to partner Momentum currently lies with his fellow countryman Jannik Heiland who heads to Saumur with maximum qualifying points after back-to-back wins at Leipzig & Offenburg harmony and showcase the many strings to his bow; strength all whilst embodying his theme of ‘The Pianist’.  It may be the battle of the Brüsewitz brothers as ‘honorary’ brother Heiland lines up against both Thomas and Viktor Brüsewitz Prepare for a wave of noise as last year’s runner-up and the sole French representative Can the home support elevate Taillez to World Cup glory Whilst Paris winner Lukas Heppler and Salzburg champion Lorenzo Lupacchini both look to convert qualifying triumph into final victory 19-year-old Juan Martin Clavijo from Colombia will be the youngest individual competitor in the final.  In his debut FEI World Cup™ season finishing on the podium at all three qualifiers he attended Kristian Roberts (USA) will compete in his first ever individual FEI Vaulting World Cup™ final Returning champions Theresa-Sophie Bresch & Torben Jacobs will be favourites to defend their title.  Their eye-catching ‘matador’ freestyle and difficult lifts coupled with their wealth of competition experience will prove tough to beat the USA’s Haley Smith & Daniel Janes will hope to capitalise on an incredible run of form whilst last year’s runners-up Syra Schmid & Zoe Maruccio (SUI) will look to turn silver into gold Looking back on the highlights of a thrilling Vaulting season.. Colombia’s Juan Martin Clavijo and Theresa-Sophie Bresch & Torben Jacobs (GER) were crowned FEI Vaulting World Cup™ champions after a thrilling and historic night of action in Saumur.. Always a fan favourite and not to be missed shocked and amazed as Vaulting returns to the FEI World Equestrian Games™.. German stars Janika Derks and Jannik Heiland thrilled the home crowd by taking first place in the Individual Female and Individual Male competitions at the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ qualifying event in Leipzig.. Jannik Heiland and Nadja Büttiker confirmed maximum points from the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ qualifying campaign with wins in Offenburg.. who also has an unexpected talent (see point 1!) is "building" something special ahead of the new World Cup season Ahead of next week's FEI World Cup™ Vaulting Final FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 medallist and current FEI TV commentator Hannah Eccles tells us about why Vaulting is such an important part of her life.. France scoop the first gold medal of the FEI Vaulting™ European Championships in Ermelo winning the Nations Team Competition.. Lukas Heppler and Syra Schmid & Zoe Maruccio gave Switzerland a clean sweep of wins in the opening qualifier of the 2018/2019 FEI Vaulting World Cup™ in Paris We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies Nady Foucault and his brother Charly make wines from their 20 hectares of vines that have acquired cult status it is the latter which has become most prized While some vintages can be enjoyed in their youth top years are best cellared for 10 years or more to reveal their aromatic complexity In 1993 a bottle of Le Bourg 1990 was surreptitiously included in a blind tasting of top 1990 Pomerols the eighth generation of their family to farm in Saumur-Champigny stood out thanks to their regular use of barriques to age their wines at a time when many of their neighbours were ageing their Cabernet Franc in large casks or stainless steel tanks so as to produce a less structured wine The very concentrated Le Bourg is far from the stereotype of Saumur-Champigny as a light wine to quaff in bars and bistros Some rain towards the end of summer proved beneficial and allowed the grapes to ripen fully although in some generously cropped vineyards this caused dilution The best wines are proving to be long-lived Yields are kept very low to ensure that the wines have sufficient concentration to withstand and benefit from prolonged barrel ageing the grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with either punchdowns or pumpovers Le Bourg goes through its malolactic fermentation in air-dried new barrels in which it remains for between 18 and 24 months and spends a further year in bottle before release Antoine Gerbelle of La Revue du Vins de France noted: ‘On opening The aromas of damp mushroom vanished after 10 minutes The nose opened to reveal a bouquet of cooked red fruits weight and a Pinot-like tone that reminded me of a Volnay with more body: again California-based winemaker and sommelier Rajat Parr tasted the 1990 Bourg in mid-2014 ‘The nose reminded me of a great Cheval Blanc The wine seemed very young and has 20 or more years of ageing potential.’ Richard Bernard, sommelier at the renowned Bordeaux restaurant Le St-James said in a 2014 interview with Decanter that it was the best wine he had ever drunk 2015–Stephan Koeberle on Darjeeling won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special Sunday the third victory for the German combination this year Stephan and the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (De Niro x Kennedy) scored 70.784 per cent for the win Anna Louise Ross of Great Britain on Die Callas was second on 70.529 per cent and Susan Dutta of the United States on Currency DC third on 69.254 per cent Florida on Currency was the highest score and placing during their European circuit this year based with trainer Christoph Koschel at Hagen Sweden as well as at other major competitions Saumur Grand-Prix-Special-result A walk on the premises usually begins with an appointment - an email or a telephone call to ask if a Eurodressage reporter is welcome to have a stroll on the property As Silke Rottermann recently did an in-depth article on Colonel Christian Carde in Saumur it seemed obvious to kill two birds with one stone and show the readers the work and facilities of the Cadre Noir The Cadre Noir is one of few remaining academic dressage schools in Europe but unlike the Spanish Riding School (SRS) it has a military background Here is Silke's report of her walk on the premises of the Cadre Noir Driving from Paris to Saumur early Wednesday morning I had to think back to my childhood days when I found the horses with these pink and golden or black and white bridles very fascinating but didn't have a clue what it was all about Twenty-three years later I was on my way visiting them It was funny to think back on that memory and 3 hours on an empty motorway gave enough time for that In older books one can see the horses of the Cadre Noir show the airs above the ground in front of a picturesque historical building or giving displays in the historical Manège des Écuyers in Saumur Though one may suppose an academic school with that tradition has to be located in such appropriate buildings Since 1984 France’s most prestigious riding group isn’t housed in Saumur itself but some kilometres outside at Terrefort where there is one of the largest properties for equitation in the world the French National School of Equitation (ENE) It was founded in 1972 and the Cadre Noir Finally Colonel Carde arrived punctually to the minute and we followed his car to a parking opposite of the administrative building He wished us a good morning and we followed the Colonel through the entrance He still seemed to be the familiar face there as he had been the Cadre Noir's leader for 9 years Carde led us to the big indoor school where the main rehearsal took place Joy and I took a seat in the “Grand Manège” The modern and huge indoor arena has several rows of comfortable seats on three sides The illumination and surface are so light that we had the feeling we were virutally outside The school does not resemble the palatial Hofburg in Vienna and the modern facilities seem to deny  the Cadre Noir's long tradition It is one of four still remaining academic schools of dressage in Europe and many of France’s Olympic riders in all three discipline have been trained and have ridden here in the past or still do nowadays Its history goes back to 18th century post-French Revolution After the Napoleonic Wars the mounted troops in France had to be rebuilt and Saumur was chosen as the location of the new cavalry school Riding masters began training cavalry officers until they themselves had the skills to teach the next officers which members of the Cadre Noir still wear today came into existence to distinguish the masters from the pupils who wore blue uniforms Today this uniform is the hallmark of France’s most famous riding group but at the same time has always practised academic equitation After the disappearance of the cavalry in France the tradition was upheld via a new challenge: the Cadre Noir increased its number of public appearances to demonstrate academic riding At the beginning  of the 1970s the recent location was established some kilometres outside Saumur and the National School of Equitation was founded by the French Ministry of Youth and Sport to organise riding instructor courses The Cadre Noir changed from a military to a civilian organisation and its new task is to train riding instructors and horses to compete in the Olympic disciplines up to Olympic Games and to give several displays in France and abroad The impressive Grand Manège is 83 metres long and 32 metres wide It provides a seating capacity for 1500 people and is the largest indoor arena for riding in Europe It is part of a complex called “Prestige” which was built between 1982 and 1986 to house the horses of the Cadre Noir The music played in the background was appropriately dramatic another bay with a big white blaze and a beautiful liver chestnut were each accompanied by two écuyers on every side and one behind Unlike in Vienna the sauteurs performing in hand do not wear side-reins Both executed the airs above the ground  Saumur-style: courbette croupade and capriole which are a heritage of the School of Versailles It was impressive to watch indeed and different from Vienna halted his horse and welcomed us in his “living- room” Joy mentioned in French that he is riding the reincarnation of Milton which caused a smile I wondered if Milton had ever jumped such fences in his life Both greys tackled the narrow white chair as well as the wide table and the extremely narrow post with confidence and jumped them nicely in a round frame especially because both horses were rewarded by some ecuyers feeding them treats next to the table they had jumped earlier First the stallion seemed to be a bit fast in his movements forcing his female companion to make some effort to follow but then he settled down and it became the most beautiful display A display in long reins is always a bit crucial as it easily reveals misunderstandings I remembered the long rein displays I had seen in Vienna and those from the Royal Andalusian School when they visited Germany years ago this Alter Real in Saumur should not hide behind them I enjoyed every minute of his wonderful elevated and proud movements and I was sure he would be a crowd pleaser wherever the Cadre Noir appears in the public The chief riders at the Cadre Noir have been influenced by the most famous French riding masters The latter stamped the famous words: “Calm droit”) which still is invaluable advice for schooling horses The quadrille started with the riders on the centreline parting to left and ride in half-pass Though nowadays the gesture is meant to greet the crowds in the past it used to be there for honouring military authorities A quadrille is fascinating in the way the riders part and come together in different difficult figures and in different advanced movements up to passage I had to admit it was one of the most interesting quadrilles I have seen for a long time The rehearsal was over and Joy and I were wondering if we should wait or head back to the office It is easier visiting a single rider than a huge institution like this wo we decided to wait a little bit and shortly after Colonel Faure appeared and asked us to follow him to his office in the building nearby In Conversation with Faure & Godelle About a Remarkable School Back at the administrative building we entered the stylish office of the ecuyer en chef but beautifully furnished with many framed black and white photographs of former members of the Cadre Noir on the walls We sat down on two chairs opposite Colonel Faure He has already competed internationally in dressage and represented France at the 2005 World Championships for young dressage horses in Verden I had two very competent interview partners in front of me but unfortunately they spoke as little English as I do French and Joy had to translate all the time Though horses are bought for different purposes it is possible that a young horse might change discipline if it offers talent for the other division than the one intended Young horses are assigned to a rider for at least one year Every year the development of the horses is assessed and  the more experienced horses are chosen for the public appearances of the Cadre Noir I wondered whether there is a tradition to keep an Iberian horse in the pack as well because I remembered the fantastic Lusitano greys which once belonged to the Cadre Noir and more recently the bay we saw in the main rehearsal but of course they are great dressage horses and a welcome addition The bay I liked so much was a gift from Felipe Graciosa the ecuyer en chef of the Portuguese Academy in Lisbon If somebody is one of the few lucky chosen ones he has to undergo a probationary year After they become “trainee riding masters”  they are allowed to wear the treasured black uniform The following three years they spend on  becoming a “riding master” and work on the training of the "sauteurs." Unlike in former times most of the members of the Cadre Noir are civilians and only a few still belong to the French military Usually the croupade is the first jump taught as the weight is more forward The horse leaps vertically in the air and kicks out with its hind legs at the same time To be able to do so it has to built up enormous energy in a kind of a rocking canter called “terre à terre” When I inquire about the programme the Cadre Noir shows to an increasing public (“We had more visitors in 2010!”) they said that it varies from year to year “We want to develop and so we are flexible in the programme but we also try to present something new every year,” Colonel Faure explained The most important questions were answered and we thanked both charming men for spending their lunch break talking to us I asked to do a photo of both in front of the impressive wall of photographs for our readers and after that Godelle offered to guide us around the property which we appreciated very much Godelle opened the tack room opposite his office and we admired the beautiful traditional saddles for the horses the show bridles and looked at the impressive framed photographs by in-house photographer Alain Laurioux I especially admired the beautiful curbs which have an engraved sun like King Louis XIV.'s emblem Article by Silke Rottermann for Eurodressage.com écuyer of the Cadre Noir and Giulia Prestini for their kind support Stalls for Rent at Durondeau Dressage in Peer, Belgium Exceptionally Well Located Equestrian Facility in Wellington, Florida Well-built Equestrian Estate With Multiple Business Opportunities in Sweden Stable Units for Rent at Lotje Schoots' Equestrian Center in Houten (NED) For Rent: Several Apartments and Stable Wing at High-End Equestrian Facility Stable Wing Available at Reiterhof Wensing on Dutch/German border Real Estate: Well-Appointed Country House with Extensive Equestrian Facility in the U.K. Rémi Blot By: Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. | February 27 A beautiful day of competition on Saturday of week 7 of the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington culminated in the feature class of the day Armenia’s Carrie Schopf and Saumur made it two for two this week following their win in the qualifier on Thursday with a victory in the Special while the circuit continues through March 27 Twelve competitors entered the stadium to strut their stuff Jessica Howington (USA) and her 15-year-old KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall I x Gribaldi shot to the top of the leaderboard with a 70.149% Just after her was Carrie Schopf and Saumur (Sancisco OLD x Tanzmeister I) who rode to a personal best of 70.979% to just edge out Howington for the blue ribbon especially when the scores were as close as they were today,” reflected Schopf “But it’s really gratifying to have your work and your thought process rewarded.” Schopf is an amateur rider who does have grooms who help her with her horses “He’s so grumpy in the barn,” admitted Schopf “By being grumpy it makes him feel much bigger,” she continued with a laugh “I don’t think he would go if I wasn’t taking care of him I don’t think he would be as happy about things if he was just sort of handed over Their partnership was on full display today as Schopf utilized the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding’s technical prowess in combination with her own enjoyment of the test to excel in the extensions “This is a very forward test in the trot work especially and it’s forward that if you swing with them so I just stepped on the gas pedal and went!” Despite their enormously successful week sprinkled with wins and personal bests Schopf is staying level-headed about the prospect of attending the World Championships in August “The single most important thing to me is that he stays happy and healthy If it works out in August that he’s still all of those things Beatrice Boucher (CAN) topped the Intermediate 1 CDI1* with Summerwood’s Limei Beatrice Boucher (CAN) continued her successful week with Summerwood’s Limei after besting the field of 14 competitors in the Intermediate I CDI1* class This marks Boucher’s second international win in as many days with Monica von Glahn’s nine-year-old Hanoverian mare by Londonderry x Weltmeyer The pair earned particularly strong marks in the flying changes with 7.5s and 8s propelling them to a personal best score of 70.912% a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz x Negro Colombia’s María Alejandra Aponte González closed out the class and rounded out the top three with her own Lord of the Dance She and the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Londontime x Gelria earned a final score of 68.324% Luuk Mourits (NED) rode Harmony’s Don’t Stop the Feeling to a win with a score of 68.235% The 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Primus x Noble Roi xx owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation bookended the performance with strong passes down the centerline and shined throughout both the extended and collected trot work Second place went to Switzerland’s Barbara Bertschinger who rode Sonnenberg’s Solisco CH the 15-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding by Sancisco x Brentano II that she both bred and owns with their consistent test resulting in a score of 65.323% Tomorrow’s competition is highlighted by the Summit Farm Prix St Georges Future Challenge and the Lövsta Future Challenge to close out an exciting week AGDF picks back up March 2-6 for the Palm Beach Derby week her own 14yo Oldenburg gelding by Sancisco OLD: he own 15yo KWPN mare by Sir Donnerhall I: 67.766 his own 15yo Dutch Warmblood gelding by Blue Hors Don Schufro: 68.404 his own 10yo KWPN gelding by Glock’s Johnson TN: 65.745 Sarah Bushong-Weeks’s 15yo Lusitano gelding by Solar Pinhais: 68.085 Hampton Green Farm’s 11yo PRE gelding by Grandioso: 66.064 Chiemi Katayama’s 17yo Hanoverian gelding by Stedinger: 65.426 Flying Otter Farms’s 12yo KWPN gelding by Apache: 64.681 Jennifer Quirk & John Gerlt’s 15yo Hanoverian gelding by Sir Donnerhall I: 65.106 Laurence Blais Tetreault’s 12yo KWPN gelding by Glock’s Johnson TN: 62.553 Deer Ridge Equestrian’s 18yo KWPN gelding by Harmony’s Rousseau: 62.340 For over 50 years Horse Sport has been the voice of equestrian competition in Canada and breeders who are highly involved in the equine marketplace Developed by The Web Developer LLC The chenin blanc grape variety is behind many of the Loire’s best wines The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Bouvet Ladubay Saumur Brut, Loire, France NV (£13.99, or £9.99 as part of a mixed case of six, majestic.co.uk) If you’re a producer of chenin blanc in France’s Loire Valley You have to accept that the grape variety you’re working with is currently better known around the world for its contribution to the recent proliferation of superb dry white wines from South Africa And you know very well that the white grape variety for which your home region is most famous has for some years now been sauvignon blanc Chenin blanc grown in the Loire Valley has a kind of super-power shared by very few other grape varieties (riesling is the only other one I can think of): you can use it to make any style of wine at the very highest quality level from golden sweet dessert wines to crisply apple-scented incisive champagne-alike sparkling wines such as Bouvet Ladubay’s reliably fresh and tangy fizz from Saumur The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. has the same mix of fruit-depth and struck-bell resonance of flavour as the Triple Zéro and which you can also find in the silkily elegant Patrimoine from Domaine la Rouletière in Vouvray Domaine des Forges Coteaux du Layon Chaume 1er Cru, Loire, France 2016 (£18.56, gauntleys.com) The very best Loire chenin is certainly a match for the best chardonnay from Burgundy But the combination of grape and region is also responsible for some charming wines at more accessible prices: I’m thinking of reliable staples such as Waitrose’s Les Andides Saumur Blanc (currently on offer for £7.49) and Yapp Bros’ never-less-than-fun tangy-racy and drinkable Saumur Blanc (£11.49) For sheer gastronomic pleasure from chenin brown sugar and crystallized apple with that resounding Cox’s apple acidity you find in the dry and sparkling wines A wine such as Domaine des Forges’ lingeringly lovely Chaume 1er Cru is the closest thing the wine world has to the experience of eating a perfectly made tarte tatin Follow David Williams on Twitter @Daveydaibach This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media the only international dressage rider for the former Soviet state of Armenia on Thursday won the Global Dressage Festival CDI3* Grand Prix for the Special the first Big Tour victory in the career of the 64-year-old rider The 64-year-old rider is the only Armenian known to have ever competed in international dressage Germany but was an American by birth and has competed on the Wellington winter circuit for the past seven years received a personal best score of 69.087% on the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding The score was the second to fulfill requirements to compete at the world championships in Herning Carrie and Saumur won an Intermediate II at Wellington exactly four years ago to the day Codi Harrison of Wellington on Katholt’s Bossco placed second on 67.652% with Jessica Howington of Ocala was born in the United States to her parents who had fled Armenia to escape genocide She moved to Germany and while living there sought Armenian citizenship and began riding for the nation of fewer than three million people in 2018 “I’m very pleased with my horse,” said the rider who teaches herself “because I’ve just made my goal to try to reach him somehow in the show ring And sometimes he just makes himself very tense because he wants to do more than maybe I want him to do “So my goal was just to have a test that flowed and where he felt comfortable and wanted to do his job but my goal was just simply to be a team with him; to come together with him and be a team.” “Urban Encounters and the Religious Divide: Catholic-Protestant Coexistence in Saumur 1589-1665.” As historians of early modern Europe shifted their gaze from episodes of religious violence to expressions of religious tolerance the mechanics of coexistence in everyday life—how men and women of different confessional allegiances managed to live and worship peacefully in close proximity—have become a focus of research Marr’s dissertation contributes to this new scholarship by examining relations between Catholics and Protestants in the French city of Saumur in the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries The social and economic structures of urban life he notes “provided the context for coexistence and the citizens of Saumur shared a commitment to the same civic ideals View all posts FEI stewards officiating at the 2016 CDIO Saumur on 28 April - 1 May 2016 have given a yellow card to French Grand Prix rider Marc Boblet The FEI stipulated that the yellow card was given on 1 May 2016 for "Abuse of Horse Non-Compliance with Protective Headgear Rules and Non-Compliance with applicable Sport Rules." The chief steward in Saumur was Belgian steward Ariane Boelens Appeal committee member Marc-Andre Morin spotted Boblet training his horse on Sunday 1 May 2016 at 8h45 in the arena without a helmet As the steward drove by the arena in his car he noticed the horse standing on its hind legs in the right corner of the ring The arena had been dragged and prepared as warm up ring for competition ring D The arena was not open to the riders and closed off with a chain which should have prevented them from entering "The actual schooling ring for competition horses as well as those just in training was the Grand Manege which was open from 8h till 14h," said Morin told Eurodressage Boblet explained to Eurodressage that he received the yellow card for not wearing a helmet riding in an unauthorized arena and for voilence on a horse So I did indeed take it off for the last 10 minutes of my ride," Boblet told Eurodressage "The arena I was riding in with a training horse was not closed The horse was very hot in this new environment I calmed him down but I never infringed the rules of equestrian sport At the 2016 CDIO Saumur Boblet competed his 19-year old Belgian warmblood Whitni Star (by Pik Solo x Latano x Osiris xx) in the Grand Prix and Kur to Music the Hanoverian stallion Soliman de Hus (by Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) The 40th-annual Frère Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet was held at Hersey Lake on Thursday with only one thing missing — the legendary man who championed the sport in Timmins and the meet that bears his name had not been staged since his death due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is understandable that organizers had mixed emotions when the starter’s pistol sent runners off onto the trails at Hersey Lake for the day’s first race “He was a mentor to me and my coach when I was running in high school,” said Joel Ruel one of the organizers of the annual event and a cross-country coach at École secondaire catholique Thériault “It’s a sad day because it’s the first time we are holding this meet (since his passing) but on the other hand I know he would be happy the tradition will keep on going.” To say Saumur was a driving force in the world of cross-country running would be a bit of an understatement Catch up on all the latest news happening throughout Timmins and area with our newsletter you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of The Daily Press will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. “The last few years he was with us, that was his pleasure to come and see all the kids run and have fun, enjoying a healthy lifestyle,” Ruel said. “He might not be with us anymore, but I am sure he is looking down on us and smiling because the tradition is continuing.” Ruel noted significant changes were made to this year’s event, with Grade 3 and Grade 4 runners being dropped to keep the numbers manageable. “So, attendance wise, the numbers are where we thought they would be, with 550 runners,” he said. “That’s about half of what we had before, but post-COVID-19 we wanted to start smaller and we will go from there.” Weather conditions for Thursday’s even ranged from scattered snowflakes — yes, snowflakes — in the morning, to light rain, drizzle, gusts of wind and sunshine. “For the runners, it was great, for the spectators, maybe not so great,” Ruel said. Like Ruel, Sabrina Sullivan has participated in her share of Frère Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meets over the years, in a variety of capacities. “I ran in the event four times in high school and in Grade 7 and Grade 8, as well, so six times,” she said. “I started coaching in 2010, at (École catholique) Anicet-Morin and then at O’Gorman Intermediate (Catholic School) and finally got to come back to Thériault. “There is a lot of history in this event and I am proud to help carry on the legacy of Frere Saumur. “My mother, Carmen Lefort, was a coach before me, so really proud to be able to carry on her coaching prowess, as well.” With people like Saumur, Ruel, Lefort and Sullivan on the sidelines, Thériault has been a powerhouse in the world of cross-country running over the years and based on Thursday’s results, that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. “I think all of our teams won, as teams, and we had individual winners in just about every race. “All of our kids are really proud of their performances and you could really see it in their smiles and as long as they are proud of their efforts, we are proud of them.” Maxime Morin was one of the Thériault runners who turned in a solid result on Thursday, winning the Senior Boys 6,130-metre race in a time of 21:09. “I was hoping to finish under 22 minutes and I was able to do 21:09,” he said. That time saw Morin, who has been taking part in the event since he was in Grade 2 — other than the COVID-19 years — finish 1:07 ahead of teammate Nathan Lemire. “I wanted to push myself really hard today,” he said. Morin felt the weather conditions neither helped nor hindered his performance. “It wasn’t too bad, not too warm, not too cold,” he said. “There was a bit of rain, but that’s not terrible when you go for a run.” The lone record set on the day saw Maren Kasunich, of M’Chigeeng Secondary School on Manitoulin Island, break Maxime Dupuis’ standard of 24:45, by posting a time of 23:46. Setting records in the event is nothing new for Kasunich, as she still holds the Grade 8 record (10:50) for the meet. She found the conditions on Thursday less than ideal, but she persevered. “It was really cold on the arms and legs, but you just had to keep moving,” she said. “It is a really beautiful course, with lots of scenery.” transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy 2015–Denmark’s Anders Dahl on Wie Atlantico claimed victory while Spain’s Morgan Barbançon debuted Girasol for a close second place in the Saumur CDI3* Grand Prix Friday Anders and the 16-year-old Hanoverian scored 70.920 per cent that was the second highest Grand Prix result on the horse he began riding two years ago The gelding had been partnered by his wife Fiona Bigwood on Great Britain’s silver medal team at the 2010 World Games and was ridden by Juan Matute Florida on the Spanish team at the 2007 European Championships Morgan Barbançon’s first international competition on Girasol earned the pair 70.880 per cent just seven weeks after taking over the ride on the 14-year-old Baden-Württemberg mare from German Olympian Nadine Capellmann Nadine had competed Girasol for five years hoping the mare would be a successor to her 2008 Olympic team gold medal mount Elvis but it did not work out and she decided to give another rider a chance The 23-year-old Morgan took over the ride just weeks before the European Championships where she competed Painted Black for the last time but to lead the Spanish team to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro Germany’s Bernadette Brune on Spirit of the Age OLD was third on 69.800 per cent Saumur Grand-Prix-result