Jean-Paul Balland's 2012 Grande Cuvée Sancerre is the first Loire wine to win an International Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards, which started in 2004. The Grande Cuvée took the Best Sauvignon Blanc over £15. The Grande Cuvée comes from old vines (more than 45 years old) with 60% coming from Caillottes (limestone) and 40% from Terres Blanches (clay limestone hillsides). 60% is aged in new oak 600 litre barrels for 12 months.
Village of Bué: Jean-Paul Balland's base
A 2013 Sancerre from Michel Thomas et Fils won the Regional Trophy for the best Loire Sauvignon Blanc.
A 2009 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine from Les Vignerons du Pallet also made DWWA history as the first Muscadet to win the Regional Loire White Wine Trophy (Sauvignon Blanc is a separate category).
Château la Varière won the Regional Loire Sweet Wine Trophy over £15 with the 2011 Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru Les Guerches. This is another first as 2011 is the first vintage of Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.
