Overview
Located in the far east of the region is the Upper Loire, where Pouilly-Sur-Loire and Sancerre are located. This area is most famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, though small amounts of Pinot Noir are also made in Sancerre, Menetou-Salon and Reuilly.
The two main AOCs are Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Both typically use stainless steel for their Sauvignon Blanc fermentation, but Sancerre wines tend to riper fruit notes with herbal flavors, and Pouilly-Fumé has more smokey-minerally nuances, attributed to its flinty soils.
Also in the Upper Loire are Menetou-Salon, Quincy and Reuilly, which all produce wines similar to Sancerre, but are lesser known.