Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc: exploring Loire Valley whites

2018 Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc, Cheverny AOC, Loire Valley, France

Wine of the Week with Annette Tomei

For five generations – since 1898 – the Delaille family has made the wines of Domaine du Salvard. The domaine is located in the Touraine region of the Central Loire Valley, in the relatively new Cheverny AOC (founded in 1993). Prior to receiving the appellation designation, the wines of Cheverny were considered to be some of the best VDQS wines of the Loire.

The region produces red, rosé, and white wines. The whites are typically blends of “Sauvignons” (Blanc and/or Gris), with other white grapes including Chenin Blanc, Arbois, and Chardonnay. The region’s terroir, in addition to this common blending practice, distinguishes its white wines from those of the leading appellations of the eastern Loire. The wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume have more prominent acidity and more mineral characteristics than those of Cheverny.

The Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc is a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc with 15% Chardonnay. This common but not frequently discussed blend plays on the strengths of each grape variety. The Chardonnay lends a roundness and softness to Sauvignon Blanc’s racy and sometimes sharp acidity.

About this wine

This wine is pleasantly aromatic with notes of refreshing green apple and delicate white flowers. On the palate, the Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc is juicy with gooseberries melon, and orchard fruits, and a hint of green herbs and lime zest. It is medium bodied with a lingering almost savory herbal finish.

Lately, I’ve had a chance to play with a lot of different cuisines and flavors with the wines I taste. This wine was just as comfortable with homemade shrimp tacos as it was with Cuban-style braised pork with sour orange onion sauce. If you want to go more traditional, try it with pan-seared freshwater fish with lemon butter sauce.

The verdict

As a longtime lover of Loire Valley wines, I’m always excited to try something new and different from that region. The Domaine du Salvard Cheverny Blanc was a great treat, and a great value at under $20/bottle.

Kermit Lynch has imported this wine since 1992 before Cheverny earned its AOC status. You can purchase Domaine du Salvard wines on their site.

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Annette Tomei

Chef, Wine Educator & Culinary Consultant at Wander, Eat and Tell

Annette Tomei is a chef, educator, writer, and cultural tourism consultant. She has a Master’s of Arts in Gastronomy and extensive education in wine and spirits including Italian Wine Scholar with Highest Honors. She is a classically trained chef and former restaurant owner. As a sought-after cooking instructor, she has created popular Port to Table cooking classes for Holland America and has contributed to several food books including Culinary Careers for Dummies. She currently works as a food, wine and spirits educator and consultant though her company, Wander, Eat and Tell.

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