 This year’s Flower Show at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey (6th – 11th July 2004) offers visitors the opportunity to indulge in a little wine tasting, with a floral theme.
The Flower Show’s Festival of Roses, consisting of at least sixteen displays by both UK and international rose growers, has developed the idea that some of the world’s most appealing wines have distinctly floral flavours and aromas.
Loire Valley Wines have also come up with an inspirational garden display for the 2004 Flower Show that perfectly illustrates the link between the various wines of the region and the delightful light, floral, fruity flavours and aromas, characteristic of the different styles of Loire wines.
Vibrant, fresh and elegant, Loire wines make such ideal summer drinking that it’s a bit of a mystery why they are not more widely appreciated, outside France. The Loire Valley Wines exhibition aims to set the record straight by inviting visitors to look afresh at some of the classy new generation wines to emerge from one of the classic wine producing regions of France. The wines have been specifically selected for their distinct flavours and aromas of flowers, fruits and plants.
The main grape varieties of the Loire Valley are green, tangy Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, the grape used to make subtle flavoured Muscadet wines, and light, fruity red Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gamay.
Fresh, dry white Sauvignons, refreshing rosés, and light, vibrant, fruity, floral flavoured red Loire Valley wines (with a definite hint of undergrowth and floribunda), to check out include:
Anjou
Famous for its rosés, the Anjou region also produces some delightful light, fruity reds. Forget the ubiquitous and cloying Rosé d’Anjou that used to grace our dinner party tables, many years ago; for this old style rosé has largely been replaced by the delicately scented, off-dry Cabernet d’Anjou Rosé – altogether a different beast, with huge appeal to the modern palate. Arguably, however, the best floral Anjou wines are white and produced from the characterful Chenin Blanc grape variety. Anjou whites range from the distinctly sweet to tangy and dry.
Touraine
The province of Tourraine has been likened to a market garden with vines growing alongside other crops. Touraine’s crisp, Sauvignon whites ooze flavours and aromas of gooseberries, green grass, nettles and asparagus.
Muscadet
The subtle floral-scented flavours of Loire Muscadet, produced from the white Melon de Bourgogne grape variety, pair perfectly with seafood and summer salads. The best Muscadets are concentrated around the vineyards of Vertou, in the central region of Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine.
Sancerre
The original Sauvignon Blanc wines, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are from the Loire Valley. New technology Loire Sancerre is distinguished by its refreshing, light, fruity flavours; Sancerre makes a great summertime aperitif.
Saumur
Saumur is renowned for its highly respectable, sparkling white wines, produced predominantly from the Chenin Blanc grape variety. Trendy, red Saumur-Champigny, is one to watch out for, with its light, fruity, floral flavours, it really does evoke the delicate scents of summertime.
All in all a panoply of floral, fruity flavours and aromas reminiscent of sunshine and a well stocked garden
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