The Loire is both a hotbed of winegrowing radicalism and a centre of tradition and conservatism. Our growers tend to the traditional, but must display excellence too - the two don't always go hand in hand. The river Loire is a huge beast, influencing almost a third of France and responsible for the oak forests of Allier as well as the (almost defunct since phylloxera) vineyards of St-Pourçain. Most people tend to think of the East/West stretch of the river from Sancerre to Muscadet, crudely put. In the central vineyards of Sancerre and neighbours Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot reign, more westerly regions rejoice in Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, while towards Nantes the grapes are Melon de Bourgogne (nothing to do with either) and Gros Plant; a grape so acidic doctors still prescribe it for certain infections.