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Pronunciation guide

How to pronounce Loire wine names

The Loire Valley is home to Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, two of the most ordered white wines in the world and two of the most mangled names. This page covers the river, its main appellations and the two white grapes behind them.

7 terms. Each has native audio, IPA, an easy respelling and the meaning on its own page.

Loire is a single syllable, “lwahr”. Sancerre is sahn-SAIR with a nasal first syllable. Pouilly-Fumé is poo-yee foo-MAY: the “ll” is a y, and “Fumé” (smoked) ends on an open ay. Do not confuse it with Pouilly-Fuissé, the Chardonnay from Burgundy. Vouvray is voo-VRAY, Touraine is too-RAIN.

Chenin Blanc, the grape of Vouvray, is SHEN-in BLAHNG with a nasal final syllable; Sauvignon Blanc is so-vin-yawn BLAHNG.

  1. Loire LWAHR French · France's longest river and one of its most diverse wine regions, stretching over 600 miles from central France to the Atlantic coast. The Loire Valley produces an enormous range of wines including Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, and Cabernet Franc from Chinon.
  2. Sancerre sahn-SAIR /sɑ̃ˈsɛr/ French · An appellation in Loire Valley known for Sauvignon Blanc wines with citrus and mineral notes.
  3. Pouilly-Fumé poo-yee foo-MAY /puˈji fyˈme/ French · An appellation in Loire Valley known for Sauvignon Blanc wines with flinty mineral notes.
  4. Vouvray voo-VRAY /vuˈvrɛ/ French · An appellation in Loire Valley known for Chenin Blanc wines ranging from dry to sweet including sparkling.
  5. Touraine too-RAIN French · A large appellation in the central Loire Valley, France, centered around the city of Tours. It produces a diverse range of affordable wines, with Sauvignon Blanc whites and light, fruity Gamay and Cabernet Franc reds, and encompasses prestigious sub-appellations like Vouvray and Chinon.
  6. Sauvignon Blanc so-vin-yawn BLAHNG /soviɲɔ̃ ˈblɑ̃/ French · A white grape variety known for producing crisp wines with high acidity and flavors of gooseberry and grass.
  7. Chenin Blanc SHEN-in BLAHNG /ʃənɛ̃ ˈblɑ̃/ French · A white grape variety producing versatile wines ranging from dry to sweet with high acidity.

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