Vouvray (wine) Loire Valley. The cold, steady temperature of these cellars served ideal for the advancement of sparkling wines made according to the traditional "méthode champenoise" that became popular in the 18th and 19th century. In 1936 Vouvray was created as an "Appellation d'origine contrôlée" (AOC). The boundaries of the AOC were defined around the village of Vouvray and seven nearby villages. Included among these villages were Chançay, Nouzilly, Vernou-sur-Brenne and Rochecorbon. Located along the right bank of the Loire river east of the city of Tours, the Vouvray region is situated on top a plateau that is dissected by small streams
French frigate Loire (1796) action. The Royal Navy brought "Venteux" into service as "Eagle", and next year renamed her HMS "Eclipse". On 17 March 1804 "Loire" sighted a strange vessel on the Irish station and made all sail in pursuit. She came up with and captured what proved to be the French privateer "Braave", of 14 guns and 110 men. On 16 August 1804 "Loire" gave chase to a suspicious-looking sail. After a chase of 20 hours, including a running fight of a quarter of an hour, during which the British had one midshipman and five men wounded, and the French lost two men