Events

The Loire honours Russia
"Vinnaya Karta" №3 (73) March 2006

The twentieth wine exhibition Salon des Vins de Loire took place in Angers.

The major regional Loire event gathers about 600 exhibitors and 9,000 professional visitors annually. The Loire Valley is the third French winemaking region for sales after Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley. It produces over 3 mln hectoliters of wine in the origin controlled zones.

By tradition each exhibition has two countries of honour. This year they were Russia and Japan. Russian importers buy mainly white wines from the appellations of Muscadet, Sancerre and Anjou-Saumur-Tourraine which have 70 percent of all shipments. The second most popular category is rose wines, they account for 18 percent of the total Loire imports. Between 2004 and 2005 the growth of imports was about 50 percent, although in real terms the volumes are still low. Just over a thousand hectoliters of the Loire wines came to Moscow between January-August 2005.

Development of the winemaking industry in the Loire Valley confirms new European trend. Aperitif drinking gradually replaces the tradition of having wine as part of daily diet. It is confirmed by the increased demand for sparkling wines (about 10 percent) on the background of steady sales of the white and decreased market of the red Loire wines (minus 6 percent). Fashion for rose wines continues — sales in this category have increased by 9 percent.

The Salon featured wines of 2005 millesime, which according to many producers was outstanding. Domaine Huet, one of the best in Vouvray and the Loire was able to create its rare Cuvee Constance (last wines were made in 1995 and 1989). Alphonse Mellot, owner of a 500-year old family vineyard and a recognized producer of the Sancerre, showed two new wines — Les Penitents Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with amazing mineral base. One of the most interesting tastings was held at the joint stand of seven leading producers from various Loire regions — Domaine Deletang (Montlouis), Pierre-Jacque Druet (Bourgueil/Chinon), Huet (Vouvray), Pierre Luneau-Papin (Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine), Henry Marionnet (Touraine), Michel Redde et Fils (Pouilly-Fume), Taluau-Foltzenlogel (St Nicolas de Bourgueil).