Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

In contrast to the other American Wine Society chapters in the Northern Virginia area, the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) chapter meets at the home of one of the members and the tasting is always followed by a pot-luck dinner. 

The April 2024 tasting took place at our home in McLean, Virginia, and Annette was the presenter. In terms of the pot-luck dinner, Annette and I contributed an 12-pound American Salmon, which we bought at Wegman's in Tyson's Corner.

Annette poured 8 wines, 4 white and 4 red, with 3 of the wines from producers we will visit on the forthcoming Loire tour.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Announcement

Jennifer Crafts, NoLoCo Chapter Chair: Annette Schiller will present on the topic of Wines from the Loire Valley. As a leader of wine tours through the various wine regions of France, she is an expert on these wines. She and Christian will host at their house in McLean. Attendance will be capped at 22. If needed, I will keep a waitlist.

Annette Schiller - Loire Valley

Annette Schiller: The Loire belongs to France's Crown Jewels. For centuries, French kings have spent their summers on the banks of the lovely Loire River and drank the wonderful wines that grow in the region. Still today their magnificent Châteaux and the fantastic wines are attractions for every visitor.

The Loire Valley is a vast wine region stretching for about 600 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains. There are five main, distinctively different wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style.T

The Loire Valley wine region is a complex region: there is no varietal or style to associate with, which makes it difficult to clearly put a mark on the region. That's why this incredibly beautiful region is so very interesting to discover and to explore. The Loire Valley wines also provide the best value in terms of drinking pleasure / price. 

Christian and I travelled to the Loire Valley in February to tie last strings for the upcoming wine tour to the Loire in June. We were smitten with the quality of the wines across the board.

 

Presentation: Wines from the Loire Valley

The Wines

Dinner

American Salmon

Bye-bye

 

LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 

 

Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 

  

   

 

Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours

 

This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.

 

A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

 

Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Dinner at the Kitchen Counter of Les Petits Prés, Angers, Loire Valley, France, with Star Chef Samuel Albert (February 2024)

 

Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024

 

Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 

 

Menu Dégustation at La Dariole (Bib Gourmand Michelin) in Orléans with Chef Nicolas Hervé and Domaine Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Pinot Noir (February 2024)

 

Dinner at L' Alchemiste in Saumur at Michelin-star Level with Chef François Deplagne (February 2024)

 

Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)

 

Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)

 

A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer

 

Meeting Jean-Marie Bourgeois and Jean-Christoph Bourgeois of Domaine Henri Bourgeois at their Domaine in Chavignol/ Sancerre, Loire Valley, France 

 

Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)

 

Announcement: A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, Washington DC, led by Annette Schiller, Tuesday, March 26 at 7.45 pm

 

A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

 

Wine and Goat Cheese in the Loire Valley: Crottin de Chavignol (Cheese), Sancerre (Wine) and Pouilly-Fumé (Wine)

 

German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA

 

Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn (Greater Baltimore Area) with Chef Dan Wecker