Vouvray (wine) blanc grape, known locally as "Pineau de la Loire", is believed to have originated in the Anjou wine region sometime in the 9th century and from there eventually migrated to Vouvray. In the 16th and 17th century, Dutch merchants oversaw the plantings of many vineyards in the area to be used for wine trade with markets in London, Paris and Rotterdam. Grapes from all over Touraine were brought together in a mass blending labeled simply as "Vouvray". Wine cellars were built in the region from caves created from the excavation of tuffeau rocks used to build the Châteaux of the
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