Touraine

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Varieties of interest

Terroir

• The Touraine geographical area forms a gently undulating plateau in the south-west of the Paris Basin, corresponding to a confluence where the Cher, the Indre, and the Vienne join the Loire.
• The Touraine vineyard is organised along the valleys over nearly one hundred kilometres, except in the viticultural Sologne, to the east, where it sits on a plateau between the Cher and the Loire.
• Certain parcels feature soils derived from clay-with-flints mixed with Miocene sands, locally known as "bournais perrucheux".
• Other parcels rest on stony clay-limestone soils derived from limestone, locally known as "aubuis" — warm, permeable soils situated on the first slopes of the valleys.
• The oceanic climate noticeably moderates towards the eastern part of the Touraine zone at the meridian of Tours, with rainfall ranging from approximately 550 millimetres in the west to 650 millimetres in the east and a more pronounced temperature range in the east.
• The general elevation of the Touraine zone rarely exceeds 100 to 120 metres across the communes that make up the geographical area.

• Remains of an old winepress discovered at Cheillé, near Azay-le-Rideau, attest to vine cultivation in Touraine as early as the 2nd century.
• The controlled designation of origin "Coteaux de Touraine" was recognised in 1939, and the name "Touraine" was definitively adopted in 1953.
• Jules Guyot noted in 1860 that the breton — that is, Cabernet franc — had its principal heartland in Bourgueil and disappeared as one moved eastward, where côts, chardenets, Pinots noirs, beurots, and Meunier predominated.

• The white wines display a frequently pale-gold appearance with an aromatic profile of citrus or exotic fruits and white flowers, retaining a sensation of freshness on the finish.
• The red wines produced from blends or from Cabernet franc alone, made west of the Tours meridian, are elegant and powerful with good tannic structure, combining red and black fruits, with colours ranging from deep ruby to profound garnet.
• The red wines produced from Gamay, carrying the designation "gamay" or the mention "primeur" or "nouveau", frequently display a cherry-red appearance with warm aromas of small red fruits on silky tannins, combining lightness and finesse.
• The white and rosé sparkling wines are built on a predominantly acid-driven structure that brings freshness and finesse, with fruity notes and a brioche nuance that may become more pronounced with time.

• The Tours meridian marks the natural climatic boundary that explains the presence of Chenin and Cabernet franc to the west and of Sauvignon, Côt, and Gamay to the east.
• The abundant flints on the surface of the clay-with-flint soils play an important role during the ripening period by increasing the rate of heat exchange in the soil.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Touraine Amboise AOC (PDO)
• Touraine Azay-le-Rideau AOC (PDO)
• Touraine Chenonceaux AOC (PDO)
• Touraine Mesland AOC (PDO)
• Touraine Oisly AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 1er septembre 2025, JORF 5 septembre 2025
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — InterLoire