Loire Valley (wine) "Appellation d'origine contrôlée" (AOC), "Vin Délimité de Qualité Superieure" (VDQS) and "Vin de pays" systems. While the majority of production is white wine from the Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Melon de Bourgogne grapes, there are red wines made (especially around the Chinon region) from Cabernet franc. In addition to still wines, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines are also produced. With "Crémant" production throughout the Loire, it is the second largest sparkling wine producer in France after Champagne. Among these different wine styles, Loire wines tend to exhibit characteristic fruitiness with fresh, crisp flavors-especially in their youth. The Loire Valley
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