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) 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