France | Pays Nantais, Loire

The Pays Nantais is a wine making region in the Loire Valley. Situated on the Atlantic coast of Brittany, near the city of Nantes, the Pays Nantais region has been producing wine since the Roman era.

The region is best known for its crisp, light white wine styles the most famous of which is unquestionably Muscadet, (made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape and not related in any way to Muscat).

Muscadet wines are produced under several different appellations, of which the most famous (and most prolific) is Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine.

Melon de Bourgogne is the key grape variety in the Pays Nantais vineyards. It is not a particularly flavourful variety and so to obtain as much flavour and character from the grape must as possible, many wines are left sur lie ('on the lees') for weeks or even months. Wines made using this winemaking technique are perhaps best exemplified by Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie.