Sancerre completes the top three for dry whites in France, John Mariani of Bloomberg believes, competing with Burgundy and Champagne as being the best of the French 'de vin blanc sec'.

There are usually only two wines that come to the mind when thinking of the best dry whites in France, but after several years of outstanding vintages, Sancerre is placing itself up at the top with Burgundy and Champagne.

Mr Mariani wrote in Bloomberg: "Sancerre, the enchanting sauvignon blanc-based glory of the Loire Valley deserves to take the bronze.

"For me, good Sancerre (and there is a lot that isn’t) gives more sheer happiness than the rest of those fine white bottlings. Unlike them, it can be drunk with just about anything shy of charcoal-grilled steak or lamb."

Because it has an abundance of brisk and mineral flavours, it accompanies just about any seafood dish, with most appetisers, foie gras and chicken  complimented well by the Loire valley great. If you want a change from the traditional sparkling first drink, Sancerre also works wonderfully well because it can be easily carried to the dinner table. Indeed, you could introduce a bottle at any point in the night.

One big attraction of the region is the consistency in taste. Regions such as New Zealand and California range so widely in style that it’s hard to say anything definitive at all. However, Sancerre is a wine that is accessible and consistent.

The newly found love of Sancerre among fine wine circles was reflected at the ninth Concours des Vins de Bourges, where it won a total of 12 gold medals. Over 300 samples of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou-Salon, Quincy, Reuilly, Coteaux du Giennois, Châteaumeillant and Pouilly-sur-Loire were tasted by a panel of 40 wine professionals and enthusiasts, with 12 of the 30 gold medals being handed to the region.