Saturday was a gorgeous sunny day and spontaneously we headed out to the Loire Valley on a wine scouting expedition. It is beautiful countryside and after the spring rains, everything would be lush. Plus, we had an idea for a new destination: I’d just heard about the Domaine de Veilloux winery close to Cheverny, a town that is one of my traditional haunts.

Domaine de Veilloux winery

The Domaine de Veilloux winery caught my attention because of its fully organic approach to agriculture. They even have one brand of wine without additional sulfites, designed to be drunk young. Sulfite supplements are generally considered essential for protecting wine that is to be laid down.

The wines proved to be delightful. The whites are sauvignon-based blends, which include a new variety for me called menu pineau (a local Loire variety) and other grapes. The reds are pinot noir-based, blended with côt malbec and other varieties. Red or white, most of the wines are fresh and light, with nice fruit out front, just right for the approaching summer.  We also appreciated the wines labelled Les Veilleurs, which come from older vines and which were a bit more complex and subtle.

Domaine de Veilloux wines are mostly sold in France, but are also exported to Japan, other parts of Europe and the US. Recommended!