Join Cornell wine expert Cheryl Stanley as she guides us through a tasting of wine from France’s famous Loire Valley. We’ll dig into some well-known appellations and discover some unsung beauties, too. As always, Cheryl encourages us to broaden our palette and appreciate wine in new, insightful ways — with her trademark good humor and open mind.
The Loire Valley's signature grapes define its wines: melon de Bourgogne (famous for Muscadet), chenin blanc (starring in Vouvray), sauvignon blanc (the magic in Sancerre), and cabernet franc (notable in Chinon). These varieties thrive in the region's diverse terroir of limestone, schist, and flinty clay soils — there’s so much to explore!
This Keynote will guide you in new directions in your own wine journey and help provide a framework for future wine exploration. For those new to Loire Valley wines, this virtual tasting may be a revelation and a game changer in the way you think about wine. For those familiar with the magic of Loire wines, you already know why we’re having this conversation. It’s essential wine education for both the newbie and the connoisseur. Santé!
Wine list:
Crémant de Loire
Muscadet
Sancerre
Menetou-Salon
Vouvray
Rosé d’Anjou
Chinon
