Top Vineyards in Chinon
Chinon : our pick of great vineyards in the area
Chinon : what about the wines?
The Loire Valley offers a wide variety of quality wines thanks to its diversity of terroirs and grape varieties, ranging from dry white wines to light and fruity red wines, as well as dry rosé wines and sparkling wines.
Chinon : what are the appellations (AOC/AOP)?
Many wineries own vineyards across multiple appellations (also known as PDO or Protected Designation of Origin), which always leaves a wide range of possibilities. In France, appellations are usually referred to as AOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) or AOP (Appellation of Protected Origin). The difference? None really, it lies in the fact that AOP is a newer and broader European appellation, which includes French AOCs as well as other European appellations.
The Bourgueil AOC appellation mainly produces red wines (and a very small amount of rosé wines). Two styles of wine coexist in the Bourgueil appellation : on one side the fruity and lighter red wines produced on the gravel along the banks of the Loire, and on the other, what is referred to as "tufa wines", more tannic, complex and full-bodied. The latter are usually produced from the vines located on the hillsides of Bourgueil. The Bourgueil AOC appellation (by the way, AOC and AOP are synonyms) was created in 1937, and today brings together more than 120 wineries spread over a vineyard of 1,400 hectares.
The Chinon AOC mainly produces red wines, a little bit of rosé... and a very small part of white wines, but often of very high quality. The appellation was created in 1937, and regroups today more than 250 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,300 hectares.
The Saumur AOC (or AOP) produces wines in a very wide range of styles and colors: red wines, rosé wines, white wines, sparkling and sweet wines! The appellation was created in 1936, and comprises today more than 450 wineries spread over a vineyard of 2,300 hectares.
The wines of Saumur Champigny are 100% red only. They come in two styles: light and fruity, with fine and velvety tannins, or more rich and complex, ready for ageing. The appellation (aka AOC or AOP) was created in 1957, and today brings together more than 130 winegrowers spread over a vineyard of 1,550 hectares.