Wine 101: Loire Valley wine region

The Loire Valley is France's third largest wine region, second largest (behind Champagne) Sparkling wine region and number one region for wines ordered in restaurants. It is known as the "Garden of France."

Its natural beauty, gorgeous towns and, of course, great wine selection make the Loire Valley a popular tourist destination. The valley surrounds France's longest river, the Loire. Running 630 miles, it is Europe's last wild river.

The Loire Valley has almost 125,000 acres of vineyards and boasts wines for every season and occasion. The region includes about 90 appellations under the Appellation d'origine contrôlée or AOC.

Within the Loire Valley, there are three main sections: the Upper Loire, Middle Loire and Lower Loire. The Upper Loire is home to Sancerre, one of the most famour sub-sections in the Loire Valley. Sacnerre is known for its 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc wines. In the Middle Loire, a dozen grapes are used to make wines of every description: red, white, rose, sweet and sparkling wines. The Lower Loire is situated where the mouth of the Liore River meets the Atlantic ocean. The most prominent sub-region in the Lower Loire is Muscadet which is notorious for its wines of the Melon de Bourgogne grape.

Many Loire Valley wines share the characteristic of high acidity which highlights the fresh, crisp flavors of their youth. When wines are between two to five years of age, they go through a phase where the flavors of the wine are toned down. Better made wines will come out of this phase and can continue to age well into 20 years.