Anjou

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• Two geological units: a Precambrian/Palaeozoic basement (Massif armoricain) to the west, and a Mesozoic/Cenozoic substratum (Bassin parisien) to the east.
• "Anjou noir" (slate schists to the west) vs "Anjou blanc" (tuffeau chalk to the east, Saumur).
• Zone spread across 88 communes: 68 in Maine-et-Loire, 11 in Deux-Sèvres, and 9 in Vienne.
• Poor soils with moderate water retention and good thermal behaviour, derived from the various geological formations.
• Foehn effect created by the Choletais/Mauges relief: approximately 585 mm of rainfall per year, compared with approximately 800 mm in the Choletais.

• Viticulture attested as early as the 1st century, with growing renown in the 12th–13th centuries thanks to the kingdom of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

• Dry white with an intense floral expression (hawthorn, lilac, linden blossom) and fruit character (citrus, pear); round and fresh on the palate.
• Fruity red with light tannins, best enjoyed within 3 years; gamay even fresher and more gulpable, appreciated young.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

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