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Coteaux du Layon and Chaume

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Vignoble de Coteaux du Layon

Coteaux du Layon and Chaume wine region : small villages that produce extraordinary sweet wines.

The Coteaux du Layon AOC/AOP (with which we have included Layon 1er Cru Chaume and Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru) produces exclusively sweet wines from Chenin Blanc grapes that are harvested at (over)maturity. The wine appellation was created in 1950, and amounts to over 400 wineries spread over a vineyard of 1,700 hectares.

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The valley of the Layon river is marked by a unique geological accident, a fault that stretches over more than one hundred kilometers, from the north of Nantes to Doué-en-Anjou. A landscape of hillsides planted with vines, wet meadows and crops often bordered by hedges. The subsoil is mainly composed of volcanic and limestone rocks. In terms of climate, the region enjoys a mild climate, where frosts are rare. Humidity too, with the presence of the river. Wet morning mists and sunny afternoons, all on beautiful limestone soils: the perfect cocktail to produce great sweet wines! For the historical background, traces of wine making in the region date back thousands of years. The peak of the Layon wine trade was in the 1700s when Dutch merchants, after helping to channel the Layon, moved their counter to Chalonnes-sur-Loire, at the confluence with the Loire river. Convenient for transporting wine to the sea … so it can come to you!

Coteaux du Layon and Chaume

: about this wine appellation

Creation: 1950

1700 hectares

The appellation’s vineyard extends from Chalonnes-sur-Loire – south-west of Angers – to the south of the Maine-et-Loire department. It’s simple, just follow the Layon river and enjoy the landscape of vines, planted along its two banks.

The AOC Coteaux du Layon extends over twenty-seven villages. Beyond the generic Coteaux du Layon appellation, six municipalities (and about 70 producers) are authorized to attach their name to the AOC. We then speak of Coteaux du Layon “Villages”. These are Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Faye-d’Anjou, Rablay-sur-Layon, Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné, Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay and Rochefort-sur-Loire. Concerning this last village, the wines produced in the “Chaume” area can benefit from the denomination “Coteaux du Layon 1er cru Chaume” or “Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru”. We are talking here about the top wines produced on the hillsides of the Layon. There ares only around fifty “happy few” wine producers in this area.

Leaving from Angers, make a detour via Savennières (and a first stop) and continue towards Rochefort-sur-Loire, the first of the “Villages” on the Layon wine route. Continue your journey to discover the other villages. Without forgetting Bonnezeaux, a real enclave in the AOC Coteaux du Layon and which has its own appellation, through a hundred hectares of vines planted on 3 particularly well exposed hillsides. From there starts the Anjou AOC vineyard and those of Saumur, a few kilometers further east.

Villages of the appellation

Under the AOP system (formerly AOC), villages produce wines with specific characteristics, ensuring consistent quality while adhering to local traditions.

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430

winemakers

The three Coteaux du Layon wine appellations (including Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru and Coteaux du Layon 1er cru Chaume) comprise around 400 wineries. After your wine tasting, Angers, the capital of Anjou, remains an unmissable visit (unless you started there!). Aubigné-sur-Layon is one of those villages of character that will be worth the detour. As for the other vineyards, Savennières is undoubtedly a must. You will thus pass from great sweet wines to great dry white wines. Further east, fans of sweet wines will continue their tasting in the Coteaux de l’Aubance vineyard.

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Coteaux du Layon and Chaume

: wine characteristics for this appellation

Coteaux-du-Layon wines are sweet wines, you had already understood that. To achieve this result, the grapes are left to ripen for longer on the vines. Botrytis or “noble rot” develops on the grapes, a fungus that will allow the grape berries to concentrate in sugars and develop a beautiful and wide range of flavors.

The result: wines of unparalleled aromatic richness that delight connoisseurs. Aromas of flowers, honey, lemongrass, pear, quince, apricots, exotic fruits, to which may be added notes of candied fruit in more concentrated or mature wines. Like most sweet wines, the Coteaux du Layon have the art of ageing! The best bottles can be kept for several decades in the best vintages.

What to eat with a Coteaux du Layon? Just like in the south-west, we will think of associating it with foie gras as a starter. But it will also go superbly with blue cheeses. Without forgetting that sweet wines and sweets combine perfectly: it’s dessert time! Fruit-based (apple or pear pies) or frangipane based, your take!

Key figures

The wines of the Coteaux du Layon are produced exclusively from Chenin Blanc. All the AOC wines are sweet. Nearly 50% of production comes from the “generic” Coteaux du Layon appellation, a large third of the appellations are Coteaux du Layon “Villages”. This leaves us with around 10% of production in Coteaux du Layon 1er cru Chaume and … less than 5% for Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru.

Wine types

Grape varieties