Noblesse oblige, the history of the Loire and its wines is intermingled with the history of France itself.
The vineyards in the Pays Nantais (Nantes area) were planted by the Romans 2,000 years ago, but viticulture, or winegrowing, in the Loire Valley appears to have begun around the fifth century, and it owes the development of its vineyards to enterprising princes and prelates.

In the Middle Ages

The influence of the Augustine and Benedictine turned out to be a predominant factor in the development of the various vineyards. After the Romans, they developed the vineyards and and knew how to judiciously use the numerous ways available in the Pays Nantais. The Sèvre and Maine rivers as well as the swamps of Goulaine offered an ideal access to the Loire and complemented the Roman ways already built. During the Middle Ages, the reputation of certain wines gradually began to spread - the wines of Saint Pourçain, an initiative of the Abbot of Cluny in the 10th century, the wines of Angers, and also those of Sancerre and Orleans, made from the Auvergnat grape variety.

First reference to the existence of the Touraine vineyards was made in 582 by Grégoire de Tours, although Pliny the Elder had already made general mention of vineyards on the banks of the Loire. The creation of the vineyard around the Château de Chalonnes seems to have been the combined work of the Count of Anjou and the Catholic authorities.

During the 9th century, Richelieu who had vines in his Bishopric of Vendée, made a gift of his vineyards to the poor. These vineyards, called Fiefs du Cardinal, became at that time the Fiefs Vendéens. Then well-known figures such as Rabelais and Voltaire introduced people to the wines of this region.