Overview
The Pays Nantais is located along the Atlantic and is known for crisp, dry wine called Muscadet, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.
Muscadet is an archaic name for the Melon de Bourgogne, which was brought to the Loire centuries grape from Burgundy, where it is no longer grown. After the worst winter in history (1709), known for bursting barrels in the cellar and freezing the coastal waters, the Melon was one of only two varieties to survive and has dominated the region ever since.
Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine (an area between two smaller tributaries named Sevre and Maine) is considered to be the best area for Muscadet. Some Muscadets also have the distinction of being “sur lie,” which means it was bottled straight from the fermentation vat unracked (i.e.-directly from the lees).