REGION: Loire

The venerable Francois Cotat holds top sites in the Sancerre village of Chavignol, making miniscule quantities of unforgettable and age-able wines. After his father and uncle split the family holdings, Francois kept the originally cellar where he continues to make some of the finest wines in France.

Èmile Giffard created his Menthe liqueur in the scorching French summer of 1885. Five generations and over a century later, the Giffard family continues his distilling legacy, using the finest ingredients and time-tested methods to create the liqueurs for which the brand is known worldwide.

The Clément family have been making wine in Menetou-Salon, a small region only 19 miles west of Sancerre, since 1560. Today this family-owned domaine is known as one of the top producers in the appellation, making traditional Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from the top terroirs in the appellation.

The Garrault family has been growing grapes in Sancerre for over 10 generations. From the village of Verdigny, their vineyards are located on truly privileged terroir. The soils found here are the classic Terres Blanches and Caillotes that bestow laser intense minerality into their stellar wines.

Domaine Pastou is located in the commune of Sury-en-Vaux, a sleepy town located amidst the rolling hills in the Northern section of the Sancerre appellation. Jean-Marc Pastou and his son Romain make this perennial favorite, delivering mineral driven, lacy Sancerre of the highest caliber.

Jerome Choblet is the third generation to make wine at his family estate, in the Cotes de Grandlieu sub-appellation of Muscadet. His "Clos de la Senaigerie" is from vines grown within a true walled clos and is a racy, refreshing Muscadet of mouthwatering brightness and wonderful fruit purity.