The Loire Valley and Its Wines

Oxford: Lennard Publishing, 1989. From the dustwrapper: "The vineyards that border the Loire on its 1000 kilometre journey from the mountains of the Ardeche to the Bay of Biscay produce an almost infinite variety of wines. From Sancerre in the east to Muscadet in the west, practically every style of wine is made from a huge number of grape varieties. Reds, whites and roses abound in endless combinations of flavours and vary from bone dry to a luscious sweetness. Sparkling wines of excellent quality are also produced in Saumur, Vouvray and throughout the whole of Touraine, which may be white or pink or even red, and can also vary from dry to sweet. On the whole, wine production in the Loire valley is part of a polycultural agronomy; that is to say that the majority of growers do not depend entirely on making wine for their livelihood, but are also engaged in other types of agriculture. Vineyards tend to be small - anywhere between one and ten hectares is the norm - and the production is often too small for the grower to undertake commercialization on his own account, particularly on the export market. A large proportion of the region's wine, therefore, is bought and marketed by the large negociants or merchant houses. Many of these firms do an effective job, but the wines that they sell must be blended from the production of many growers, and therefore lose not only individuality but, all too often, their regional characteristics. James Seely, author of Great Bordeaux Wines and a merchant and broker of nearly thirty years experience, has spent over a year travelling the length of this mighty vineyard. He has sought and found the best wine-makers in each appellation, tasted their wines, and recorded his impressions in this book. The work is illustrated throughout with evocative photographs in colour and black and white. This is the first book written by an Englishman to be devoted to the wines of this area, and makes an ideal travelling companion for visitors to the 'Garden of France'. Not only does it give much information of value to the wine lover-what cellars to visit, and where the best wines of each area are made, etc - but Seely has also recorded his personal impressions of many hotels, restaurants and guest houses at all levels, as well as some of the lovely chateaux and other historic monuments. In short, the book deals with all the elements that combine to make this one of the most varied and seductive holiday areas in all France." 168 pages, 8 X 10 inches, Very good book in a very good dustwrapper. . First Edition.