Vouvray, the picturesque french wine region on the northern bank of the Loire River, is known the world-over for its elegant, eponymous white wines made from Chenin Blanc grapes. The wines’ aromas are incredible, evoking blooming orchards alongside stony brooks, with notes of acacia flowers, citrus, and ripe apricots, balanced by high acidity and a long mineral finish.

Vouvrays不仅闻到春天的气味和味道，而且还与本季节的农产品和烹饪搭配。它们的多功能性可以补充从豌豆，芦笋，羊水到鸡蛋菜，新鲜草药，奶油调味料，小牛肉，羊肉和家禽。因此，如果您正在寻找新的与春季票价配对的东西，并且喜欢芳香的白人，例如长相思，格鲁纳·维尔特林纳（GrünerVeltliner）和雷司令（Riesling），Vouvray值得一提。

石灰石风土制作葡萄酒

The Vouvray region’s excellent track record with Chenin Blanc is due in part to塔菲, the porous, chalky limestone that dominates the terroir of the Loire Valley, and from which the area’s fairy tale castles are built. With regard to viticulture, tuffeau beneficially retains water, encourages vines to dig deep into the earth, and imbues grapes with signature mineral undertones.

Vouvray的质量完全取决于用于制造它的Chenin Blanc的质量。这些葡萄酒是在葡萄园制作的，而不是酒窖。有些人甚至称它们为“裸”葡萄酒，因为葡萄被采摘后几乎没有操纵。难怪该地区最好的酿酒师是其最谨慎和专心的农民。

Look for quality producers and vintages

A giant chasm exists between the style and character of high-quality and commercial Vouvrays. High-quality Vouvray is an essay in clarity, complexity, and liveliness; commercial Vouvray often tastes like confectioners’ sugar stirred into old apple juice. So be sure to look for winemakers who consistently produce outstanding Vouvrays, such as Huet, Foreau, Champalou, Domaine des Aubuisières, Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, and Chidaine.

Vintage also matters when buying Vouvray because the wines are so dependent on the quality and character of the Chenin Blanc harvest. Over the past decade, the 2002, 2005, and 2010 vintages were the best, followed closely in quality by the 2003, 2006, and 2009 vintages. Look for Vouvray bottled during any of those years and you won’t be disappointed.

Vouvray can be sparkling, dry, or sweet

虽然所有vouvrays都是由100％Chenin Blanc制成的，但葡萄酒绝非同质。它们具有多种风格：火花（pétillant), dry (sec），休假（demisec）， 甜美 （moelleux). With so many different options coming from the same grape, you could easily prepare a four-course meal and offer a different and distinctive Vouvray with each item on the menu.

Sparkling Vouvrays are the ideal apéritif. Produced in the same manner as Champagne, they have gentle bubbles that go well with briny oysters, creamy deviled eggs, and most hors d’oeuvres.

“ sec” vouvrays是干的，几乎是白垩，柠檬，木瓜和蜂蜜。这些葡萄酒非常适合第一菜或较轻的饭菜，例如山羊奶酪沙拉或烤溪鳟鱼。

“ Demi-Sec” vouvrays确实令人着迷。这些淡干的葡萄酒具有更深，更浓缩的杏仁和松露的口味，通常有一点残留的糖，这给它们留下了略带甜蜜的印象。他们令人信服的甜味和咸味的平衡实际上是乞求具有相似复杂性和深度的鲜味富裕的食物，例如带有奶油和fines herbes, and roasted veal loin.

Sweet “moelleux” Vouvrays are made with ripe grapes affected by the botrytis fungus (also known as noble rot), which causes the grapes to shrivel, thereby concentrating their flavors and sugars. Like Sauternes, another iconic dessert wine, these Vouvrays are a perfect match for rich cheeses and creamor fruit-based desserts because the wines’ earthy sweetness and acidity complements and brightens rich, sugary foods.
通过这六个瓶子探索Vouvray的各种样式。

Drink it now, or later

仿佛Vouvray的天然酸度，强烈的品种特征，各种样式和负担能力（即使是最好的瓶子也可以以低于40美元的价格购买）还不够，它们也是收藏家的梦想，因为它们的年龄很高。特别是，脱衣和甜美的样式可以在瓶子中演变数十年，一直保持新鲜和充满活力。时间会柔和它们的酸度，并将其柑橘，草药和蜂蜜风味转化为杏仁，焦糖苹果和异国情调的水果。简而言之，如果您在几年到几十年的时间里老化一瓶好的Vouvray，您将有一天喝一块宝藏。