Loire Valley (wine) has a long history of winemaking dating back to the 1st century. In the High Middle Ages, the wines of the Loire Valley were the most esteemed wines in England and France, even more prized than those from Bordeaux. Archaeological evidence suggest that the Romans planted the first vineyards in the Loire Valley during their settlement of Gaul in the 1st century AD. By the 5th century, the flourishing viticulture of the area was noted in a publication by the poet Sidonius Apollinaris. In his work the "History of the Franks", Bishop Gregory of Tours wrote of the frequent plundering
French frigate Loire (1796) and was forced to strike after she ran out of ammunition. Out of the 664 men, including three artillery regiments and their "Etat-Major", carried on board "Loire", 48 were killed and 75 wounded. She was also found to be carrying a large store of clothing, weapons, ammunition and tools for her troops' intended operations. "Anson" had two men killed and 13 wounded, while the "Kangaroo" appears to have suffered no casualties. HMS "Loire" was commissioned by Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland at Portsmouth in October 1802. On 27 June 1803 "Loire"s boats captured the French navy brig "Venteux" while she was