Current offerings – Loire and Alsace

This seems a great (northern hemisphere) time of year to focus on the crisp, often underrated and under-examined wines of the Loire Valley and the fragrant, mainly white ones of Alsace. Come back next week for Richard's detailed report on his recent trip to the beleaguered Muscadet region, struggling to attract prices that will keep vignerons in business. 

And then, earlier this week, another Loire region was hit by the most terrible natural catastrophe, severe hail that hit Vouvray viciously in particular. François Chidaine, for example, president of the Montlouis appellation, has apparently lost his entire 2013 crop in his...