“The Loire is the longest river in France, rising from its source in the Massif Central in the centre of the country and travelling for 1040 kilometres to its mouth on the Atlantic coast at the port of Nantes.” There you go. 5 easy marks. They equate to 2% towards your overall score in the International Baccalaureate.

It means something in real terms too. The fact that it is a very long river is obvious. No marks just for that. But you would get lots of extra marks if you were to say about how it starts in a mountainous region with what they call a Continental climate. One with long hot summers and very cold winters. Then it goes all the way to the coast which has what they call a Maritime climate. One with the edge taken off the summer and milder winters.

The Loire is counted as one wine region but in climate terms and, therefore, in terms of what grapes will thrive and what wine style can be made, it is really about three regions.

Furthest inland the main wines are made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape making steely, grassy classics like Sancerre. These vineyards are closer to those of neighbouring Burgundy than those of the rest of the Loire and it shows in their style.

In the centre you will find stalky red wines made from Cabernet Franc, the classic rosés of Anjou, Sparkling wines made from Chenin Blanc around Saumur, most of France’s architecturally classic Chateaux and a lot of tourists on camping holidays.

Then at the mouth of the river you will find fishing, commerce, mists from the sea and a classic bone dry white wine called Muscadet which is perfection itself with the local fish simply because it doesn’t taste of too much. It just does its job by delivering a wisp of acidity to the shellfish and refreshment to the drinker.