Loire Valley (wine) a variety of limestone with excellent drainage that is known as tuffeau which is the same material used to build many of the famous Loire Valley Châteaux. The area around Chinon, Bourgueil and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil produces the majority of the Loire Valley's red wine based on the Cabernet franc grape—known in this areas as "Breton". The wines of the Chinon area are the softest and rich expression of the grape while the Bourgueil area produces more tannic and firm wines. The St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil area produces the lightest colored wines. In the 19th century, the wines of the Chinon area were compared favorably
Chaumont-sur-Loire well as the author of "Adolphe", Benjamin Constant. Chaumont-sur-Loire Chaumont-sur-Loire is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department in central France known for its historical defensive walls and its castle. The Chateau was founded by Odo 1 (973-996), Count of Blois. At each epoch of French history the Chateau has been owned, rented or visited by significant persons in French and European history. In the period between the late enlightenment and the romantic period, Germaine de Stael was resident from April to August 1810. Many famous guests visited the lively and politically active Madame de Stael including Madame Recamier, Adelbert Von