Anjou

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical area spans two major geological units: the Precambrian and Palaeozoic basement of the Massif armoricain to the west, and the Mesozoic and Cenozoic substratum of the Paris Basin to the east.
• The western part, known as the 'Anjou noir', is characterised by the presence of schists, particularly slate-bearing ones, while the eastern part, known as the 'Anjou blanc', features tuffeau chalk around Saumur.
• As of 2023, the geographical area extends across 68 communes of Maine-et-Loire, as well as 11 communes of Deux-Sèvres and 9 communes of Vienne.
• The soils derived from the various geological formations are generally poor, with moderate water-holding capacity and good thermal behaviour.
• The north-west/south-east-oriented relief plays a protective role against moisture-laden westerly winds, and the area receives relatively low rainfall thanks to a foehn effect produced by the higher terrain of the Choletais and the Mauges, with annual precipitation of around 585 millimetres compared with nearly 800 millimetres in the Choletais.
• The temperate oceanic climate, with its small temperature range, is explained by the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, the thermal-regulating role of the Loire and its tributaries, and the positioning of the vineyards on hillside slopes.

• The existence of a vineyard in Anjou is documented as early as the first century AD, with continuous development through the Middle Ages under the stewardship of monasteries along the Loire.
• The flourishing trade with Dutch merchants, who arrived from the sixteenth century onwards, led in the eighteenth century to the canalisation of the Layon river in order to facilitate transport.

• The white wine, generally dry but sometimes off-dry, medium-sweet, or sweet, reveals floral aromas of hawthorn, lilac, linden, verbena, or chamomile, along with fruity notes of citrus, plum, pear, or dried fruits.
• The red wines display an attractive tannic structure with a fairly intense aromatic expression of red fruits; lightness should remain the dominant character, and they are best enjoyed as easy-drinking wines within three years of harvest.
• Red wines bearing the 'gamay' designation are fresh, lively, and easy-drinking, develop aromas that are most often fruity, and are generally best appreciated in their youth.
• The sparkling wines are characterised by finesse, present not only in the effervescence but also in the aromatic expression and the structure on the palate.

• Across the Anjou area as a whole, Chenin blanc expresses its characteristics as a dry white wine, but on sunny slopes with a southerly aspect it displays a more advanced ripeness and complexity that can yield medium-sweet or sweet wines when the late season is favourable.
• Chenin blanc, a late-ripening variety, possesses a freshness and subtle aromatics that give it a particular aptitude for the production of sparkling wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 12 janvier 2024, JORF 21 janvier 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — InterLoire