Sancerre.

Sancerre stands on a steep hill above the Loire river, its narrow streets circling a ridge lined with pale stone houses. The town gives its name to one of France's best-known white wines, a dry Sauvignon Blanc grown on chalky slopes that catch the afternoon sun. Pinot Noir grows on the same hillsides, producing red wine under the same appellation. Cellars throughout the town open for tastings. From the highest point, the view opens over a patchwork of vines, the Loire valley below, and on clear days the hills of the Sancerrois stretching toward Chavignol, source of the goat cheese that shares the region's reputation. Small bistros and wine shops line the old center, built from the same stone as the surrounding cellars. The rhythm of the town follows the vineyard calendar, from spring budding to the autumn harvest.