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) had no casualties but "Egyptienne" had 8 wounded, one mortally. "Libre" was badly damaged and had lost her masts so "Loire" took her in tow and reached Plymouth with her on 4 January 1806. "Libre" had sailed from Flushing on 14 November in company with a French 48-gun frigate but the two vessels had parted in a gale on 9 November off the coast of Scotland. The Admiralty did not purchase "Libre" into service. On 22 April 1806, "Loire" captured the Spanish privateer "Princess of Peace", 14 guns, 23 men. "Loire" was paid off at Deptford in October 1806. In