This should not be considered a definitive list of wineries in the Loire Valley, but merely as a starting point.  Most wine travelers will proclaim the local "mom-and-pop" operation they discovered in the middle of nowhere as their best wine experience. Always be open to trying a new wine, as flavors and styles vary from vintage to vintage, village to village, and winemaker to winemaker.  The comments on the wines that we have provided should therefore be taken with a grain of salt.

Sancerre

Definitely the most famous wine from the Upper Loire, Sancerre is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, creating a racy, deliciously pungent wine with an herbaceous bouquet with gooseberry or blackcurrant flavors backed with a refreshing acidity.  That being said, with fourteen official communes and at least that many terroirs, there can be a distinct variety of flavors in Sancerre wines.  These whites tend to be lighter than those across the river in Pouilly-Fumé do and should be drunk early.  Sancerre does make legitimate reds and rosés from Pinot Noir, but these wines are more reliant on the conditions of the vintage than the whites (they are definitely worth trying, though). To a degree, Sancerre has been a victim of its own success as some winemakers are capitalizing on the name's demand and not necessarily making a wine to match.

Bue (3 miles WSW of Sancerre)

A marital union of two of the most important winemaking families in Sancerre, their whites (2/3 of their production) are excellent examples of Sancerre, their reds are quite intense and their rosés are light and fragrant.

Their 30 hectares of vineyards are located in some of the best crus in Sancerre.

An excellent producer of Sancerre, Roger makes great Sancerre and Menetou-Salon.

Chavignol (2 miles W of Sancerre)

Menetreol (2 miles SSE of Sancerre)

Web: www.bourgeois-sancerre.com

Previously called Henri Bourgeois, this house makes Sancerre that is very pure in flavor.  They are also a négociant.

They produce their wines to emphasize the qualities of each vineyard, resulting in ten different Sancerres and half as many Pouilly-Fumés.  Barrel fermentation gives their wines an added boost of character, especially the Les Romains and Les Belle Dames.

Saint-Satur (1 mile NW of Sancerre)

Owned by the Bourgeois family in Chavignol, they produce wines made from low-yielding, high-quality old vines.  Their top cuvée is the Domaine du Rochoy.

Sancerre (80 miles upriver from Orleans)

The Mellot family has been making wines in Sancerre since the early 1500's.  Their best wines are the Domaine de la Moussière and Cuvée Edmond.

Best known for their reds, Vacheron is one of the larger in Sancerre.  Their whites and rosés are definitely worth trying.

Verdigny-en-Sancerre (3 miles WNW of Sancerre)

Wines made by the estate are labeled under the Cave des Chaumières.  Négociant wines are from Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Menetou-Salon.