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Chinon is an official AOC appellation in the Touraine sub-region of Loire Valley, France.
The vineyards stretch across 19 communes including the town of Chinon, on both sides of the Vienne river, up to its junction with Loire river.
edit Tasting
Chinon is one of the rare appellations in the world where Cabernet Franc is used as a single or predominant varietal. This is one of the reasons why red wines from Chinon, as well as the neighboring appellations of Bourgueil and Saumur, are so easy to recognize on first taste.
Like other Cabernet Francs from the region, red Chinon wines are known for their very bright, grapey, black-cherry flavors, with a distinguished violet aroma. They can deliver their strong aromas at a very early age, when they're better served cool, or up to 10 or 20 years depending of the soils of production. Cabernet Sauvignon is often added for extra structure.
Red Chinons can be served alone or with any kind of French cuisine, especially poultry and charcuterie. Served cool, a young Chinon can be very refreshing on a hot summer evening.
Chinon vintners also produce rosé variations of the Cabernet Franc. These wines are usually offer a bright strawberry taste with a long finish. Their balance of fruit and acidity makes them a good match for charcuterie and fish plates.
White Chinons give strong floral aromas with a crisp acidity and honeyed melon flavours. Predominantly made of Chenin Blanc, they have great cellar aging potential and can outlive many other white varietals. They can be served alone or with grilled meat or Asian cuisine. However, they are very hard to find outside of France since they represent only 2% of Chinon wine production.
edit Facts and figures
- Winegrowing area: 2,100 ha (5,200 acres)
- Annual production average: 11.5 million liters, among which 4% rosé and only 2% white.
- Red varietals: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
- White varietals: Chenin Blanc
- Max. yield: 5500 liters/ha
- Density: 5000 plants/ha
edit History
Wine has been produced in Chinon for many centuries, starting with the rise of local Plantagenet nobility in the 1100s.
Birthplace of the famed French author Rabelais, the town of Chinon is best known for its medieval castle where in 1429, Charles VII famously received Joan of Arc who convinced him to raise an army to win back the kingdom of France. The whole town is an open-air museum of Renaissance times, with unique architecture and landscapes.
edit Geography
Soils of Chinon are made of gravel and sand on the banks of Vienne, yellow limestone on hillsides, and sandy clay on hilltops.
edit Climate
Chinon enjoys the cooling influence of the Atlantic through the Loire and Vienne river valleys. The East-West orientation of hillside vineyards brings a large amount of sunshine. These are ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc, similar to those found in the neighboring Bourgueil appellation.
edit Viticulture
edit See also
