Loire

The Loire Valley is one of France's largest vineyards, stretching over 57,000 hectares along the Loire River, from the Auvergne to the Pays Nantais. Thanks to the influence of the river and its tributaries, the region benefits from a variety of microclimates, favoring the production of a wide variety of natural wines.
At the mouth of the Loire, in the Muscadet region, lies one of the emblematic areas of the Pays Nantais. This 9,000-hectare appellation area lies on alluvial soils of the Armorican massif, notably granite and mica schist, which give the wines a remarkable minerality and salinity. The only grape variety authorized in this appellation is Melon de Bourgogne.
It's here that Domaine de l’Ecu, run by Claire and Fred Niger, has made its mark on the history of natural Muscadet wines. The estate is renowned for its lively, expressive cuvées, which reveal the typicity of terroirs through dry, taut wines, carried by pronounced acidity and a slightly bitter finish. Domaine de l'Ecu wines are distinguished by their freshness and complexity, often paired with oysters and seafood, while representing the very essence of biodynamic viticulture in the region.
Further east, in other Loire sub-regions such as Anjou, Touraine and Centre Loire, other grape varieties and terroirs are developing, offering a fascinating diversity of natural wines.
For a wider selection of natural Loire wines, visit Marée Haute.