08/22/05 Monday question - Vouvray

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and this week we are devoting the entire week to answering email questions about wine. A listener wrote to say that Vouvray is her favorite wine and she wants to know why American wine makers don't make Vouvray? I have known many people who just love a white wine called Vouvray  it is from France - and they can't understand why American winemakers don't make Vouvray. Well it is always fun to see their faces when I tell them that American winemakers do make Vouvray they just can't call it Vouvray. As so many new wine lovers will attest to, when it comes to understanding European wines they really don't speak the language. To begin with Vouvray is the name of a place in the Loire Valley of France where they make particularly lovely wines from the grape Chenin Blanc. The wines are made in varying styles from dry to very sweet and also sparkling. So when you are looking for an American wine you must search out the varietal name Chenin Blanc. When you are looking for a domestic wine it's important to remember whether the Vouvray that you enjoyed so much was dry, semi-dry or sweet. That way you can go hunting for some of the nicer Chenin Blanc that is made in the style that most appeals to you. To me Chenin Blanc is a wine that is great with a simple plate of fruit and cheese. So American winemakers do make Vouvray but since it's not from the Vouvray region of France they name it for the grape that it is made from  Chenin Blanc. Join us tomorrow as we answer more of your wine questions and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.