Located upstream from Tours in the northern Loire region, the Vouvray vineyard is planted on clay-siliceous or clay-limestone topsoils over "tuffeau" chalk. Production here is split between still (dry, semi-dry or sweet depending on the years and sun) and sparkling wines, produced using traditional methods of a second fermentation process when bottled. The mellow wines feature the word "moelleux" on their labels, and are produced when the weather conditions are right (sunny autumn periods). Over-ripe grapes affected by noble rot are harvested via sorting. With age, these rich, mellow wines acquire complex aromas on par with great fortified wines: ripe quince, acacia, almonds and honey. They can be aged for up to a century.