Loire Bubbles are Rising Stars

Brought to you with support from Vins de Loire

Sparkling white wine from the Loire

Loire wines are prized for their diversity. With numerous microclimates and a wide array of soils, there’s something for all wine lovers and the region is more popular than ever. In 2025, Loire wines were the only French wine region to grow in both export volume and export value to reach their highest level in 25 years. What’s driving this growth? A major factor is the region’s traditional-method sparkling wines, a category that grew 12% in its own right, placing Loire’s high-quality bubbles firmly in the spotlight.

Leading the category, Crémant de Loire is the region’s largest sparkling wine appellation spanning the Anjou-Saumur and Touraine regions. Other important Loire designations for bubbly include Saumur Fines Bulles and Anjou sparkling from the vineyards of Anjou-Saumur; Vouvray sparkling; and Touraine sparkling from the vineyards of Touraine. These wines showcase a wide varietal range from Chenin Blanc to Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Grolleau, and Pinot Noir, offering styles that range from crisp, mineral whites to expressive rosés. Together, this lively lineup has made the Loire France’s second-largest sparkling wine PDO after Champagne.

A patchwork of soils stretches across the region, but the Loire’s signature tuffeau—a soft, chalky limestone—is especially well suited to sparkling-wine grapes, lending the finished wine structure and complexity. Tuffeau also holds cultural significance: many of the region’s châteaux were constructed on the signature white stone, and chalk caves carved out from the soils provide excellent resting places for an estate’s library of bottles. 

Loire sparkling wines are primarily made in the traditional method, meaning second fermentation takes place in the bottle. The process brings texture and toasty notes to the wine. But unlike other regions known for traditional method sparkling, Loire wines differentiate themselves through grape varieties. While the classic sparkling varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are prominent in the Loire, local stars like Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are also vinified to create distinctive cuvées. The Langlois Crémant de Loire Brut Réserve from the Bollinger group, for example, blends Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Franc for a sparkling wine with juicy orchard fruit, brioche notes, and zesty acidity. Prince Alexandre Crémant de Loire Brut utilizes both Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc for an elegant blanc de blancs with a beautiful mousse and texture.

Vouvray vineyard photo credit Depositphotos

In Vouvray, Chenin leads the charge in a range of styles, from dry to sweet. The sparkling wines, especially, show a personality that can’t be replicated. The biodynamically-farmed Domaine Catherine et Pierre Breton ‘La Dilettante’ Vouvray Brut is bone dry with very high acidity, to pair beautifully with creamy foods, like cheeses. Saumur also vinifies Chenin to a brisk acidity balanced by an elegant creamy roundness often described as fines bulles.

Loire wines also show flair with sparkling rosé. The Paul Buisse Crémant de Loire Rosé NV blends Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Pineau d’Aunis, and is aged 12 months on the lees. Bright, and strawberry‑driven, it displays a frothy, whipped‑cream‑like mousse. 

While most Loire sparkling falls into the brut category (under 12 grams of sugar per liter), semi-sweet and demi-sec styles make a perfect pairing with light fruit-based desserts. Beyond offering a stylish range, Loire fits perfectly into the current drinking zeitgeist. The wines are moderate in alcohol, anywhere from 11 to 12.5% ABV, which speaks to the lower-alcohol trend.

As a bonus, Loire sparkling wines are recognized for exceptional quality and value. Made through the labor- and time-intensive process of secondary fermentation in the bottle, they over-deliver on exceptional craftsmanship at a fraction of the price. Underscored by their global popularity, the Loire sparkling secret is out with a style to suit every palate.