The Loire needs you

Wine is worth about €1.2 billion to the producers of the Loire valley. Until last year about 70 million bottles were exported – worth €220 million – and a massive 40% of that went to the UK, with Belgium the second most important export market buying about half as much as Britain. However there has recently been a huge drop in exports. Inter-Loire, the trade association for Anjou, Saumur and Touraine, reported a 28% drop in volume and 20% in value between 2008 and 2009. UK imports alone dropped by a staggering 44%.

But the Loire can provide us with...