Les Ponts-de-Cé
Les Ponts-de-Cé
Wines and vineyards of Anjou
14 nov. 2024
Anjou wines are world-renowned: from Coteaux du Layon to Crémant de Loire, from Cabernet d'Anjou to Saumur-Champigny!
Where are the Anjou vineyards located?
The vineyards of Angers stretch from the Saumur region to the west of Angers, essentially south of the Loire.
To the east, around Saumur, they extend southwards to around Thouars in the Deux Sèvres region, while to the west they extend very little beyond the banks of the Loire.
Saumur, Saumur Champigny, Puy-Notre-Dame and Coteaux de Saumur wines are produced in an area stretching from the town of Saumur to the communes of Montreuil-Bellay and Doué-la-Fontaine. Around the Layon, a southern tributary of the Loire whose course runs parallel to the river, are the Coteaux du Layon vineyards and the tiny Bonnezeaux vineyard.
Below the city of Angers, around the Aubance river and its confluence with the Loire, the Coteaux de l'Aubance wines are produced.
On both banks of the Loire west of Angers, around Chalonnes-sur-Loire, are the Anjou-Coteaux-de-la-Loire vineyards.
Discover the wines of the Loire Valley.
Introduction to Anjou vineyards
The vineyards of Anjou cover 21,000 hectares, mainly south of the Loire between Ancenis and Saumur. They include 19 Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée or Protected Designations of Origin, 8 denominations, and one Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). These vineyards bring together over 2,000 estates and 5 wine cooperatives. They benefit from a temperate oceanic climate in the Ancenis and Angers areas, with a continental influence in the Saumurois due to its proximity to Touraine. The vineyards of Anjou are characterized by their soils and subsoils rich in sandstone and slate schists. The most widely grown grape varieties are Cabernet Franc, for red and rosé wines, and Chenin, for white wines.
AOC Anjou
The vineyards of Anjou originated in the Middle Ages with the monasteries: each religious establishment had its own vineyard, and wines from the banks of the Loire were served at the tables of the Plantagenets.
The kings of France and England contributed to the development and reputation of Loire Valley wines.
In the Middle Ages, vine-growing was concentrated around Angers and Saumur, as well as on a hillside along the Loire.
Vineyards then spread to the banks of the Loire's tributaries, such as the Aubance, Layon and Thouet rivers.
The Anjou appellation includes sub-appellations: Anjou rouge, Anjou Blanc, Anjou Gamay and Anjou fines bulles.
Anjou shares its territory with the other local appellations of Cabernet d'Anjou and Rosé d'Anjou.
The three AOCs belong to the large Val de Loire vineyards, and are located around the river between the Nantais and Touraine vineyards.
Types of Anjou wines
All types of wine - white, red, rosé and sparkling - are produced in the vineyards of Anjou. The Anjou region benefits from a wide variety of climates and soils, from the oceanic influence of Nantes to the continental influence of Touraine, from the white subsoil of tuffeau to the black subsoil of slate schist and the sandy soil of the banks of the Loire.
Red and rosé wines are mainly made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. Anjou-Gamay red wines are made from Gamay.
White wines are mainly made from Chenin grapes, combined with Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The appellation's light red wines include Anjou Rouge and Anjou Gamay, Anjou Villages, Saumur-Champigny and Thouarsais wines.
Anjou wines also include dry rosés such as Rosé de Loire, semi-dry rosés such as Rosé d'Anjou, and sweet rosés such as Cabernet d'Anjou.
Dry and semi-dry white wines include Savennières, while hillside wines include the famous sweet and mellow Coteaux du Layon, Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume. Numerous grape varieties and winemakers offer cuvées with very different aromas, whether fruity or not, from different vintages and harvests.
The Anjou vineyards are also renowned for sparkling white and rosé wines like Saumur, and effervescent wines like Crémant de Loire. Take the time to discover the many wine cellars with their famous vintages. You'll also be able to see how the grapes are harvested and made into wine.
Cottage Signature 2bed.
With its modern design, it's fully equipped, with 2 bathrooms for even greater comfort. With its terrace and hotel-style amenities, you'll feel right at home!
Discover
Discover all our articles!
Les Ponts-de-Cé
Detailed map of Châteaux de la Loire
Most of the Châteaux de la Loire were built during the First and Second Hundred Years' Wars, on the banks of the Loire or its tributaries. They were then redeveloped during the Renaissance, when they lost their defensive vocation.
Les Ponts-de-Cé
Lifestyle
Les Ponts-de-Cé
Loire Valley wines
If there were a single word to define the wines of the Loire Valley, it would be diversity.
Les Ponts-de-Cé
Weekend at the Loire Castles
A châteaux weekend: a themed getaway in the Loire Valley that's sure to delight young and old alike!
Les Ponts-de-Cé
Tourism in Angers
Former seat of the Plantagenets, Angers is the historic capital of Anjou. Between the Loire and Maine rivers, it offers an infinite variety of activities, from cultural visits to nature walks, water sports and gastronomic discoveries. The city of Angers Loire Métropole in the Loire Valley abounds in tourist attractions, including UNESCO World Heritage Loire castles, abbeys and vineyards to visit on walking tours.
