Coteaux du Layon AOC

Appellation within the vast Anjou area in the French wine-growing region of Loire, named after the Loire tributary Layon. The area has been famous for fruity sweet wines since the fourth century. The area covers around 1,400 hectares of vineyards on slate and sandstone terraces in 27 communes along the Layon River. The AOC applies to white wines made from 100% single-varietal grapes of the Chenin Blanc variety (the common name here is Pineau de la Loire) that are noble rotten (not mandatory) or at least overripe. The yield is limited to a maximum of 35 hl/ha, the alcohol content must be at least 11% vol, the residual sugar content at least 34 g/l.

Six communes may add their name: Coteaux du Layon Beaulieu-sur-Layon (or Beaulieu), Coteaux du Layon Faye-d'Anjou (or Faye), Coteaux du Layon Rablay-sur-Layon (or Rablay), Coteaux du Layon Rochefort-sur-Loire (or Rochefort), Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné (or Saint-Aubin) and Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay (or Saint-Lambert). The yield is limited to a maximum of 30 hl/ha, the alcohol content must be at least 12% vol., the residual sugar content at least 34 g/l.The wines may be designated Sélection de grains nobles (Beerenauslese or Trockenbeerenauslese) if the sugar content of the mash is over 294 grams/l (221 g/l for simple Coteaux du Layon and 238 g/l for the privileged communes).

Due to exclusive terroirs, there are two independent AOC Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume. The Chaume area (within Rochefort-sur-Loire) has a special status. From the 2003 vintage onwards, the wine was marketed under the AOC designation Coteaux du Layon Chaume. However, this led to confusion and discussions, because in the municipality of Rochefort-sur-Loire there is also the independent AOC Quarts de Chaume. The INAO then decided on a special regulation in 2011. Quarts de Chaume can be supplemented with "Grand Cru" and for Chaume there is the designation Coteaux du Layon Premier Cru Chaume. For these three appellations, the yield is limited to a maximum of 25 hl/ha.

Well-known producers are Château du Breuil, Domaine de Brizé, Domaine des Baumard, Domaine Cady, Philippe Delesvaux, Domaine des Forges, Domaine de Juchepie, Domaine Les Grandes Vignes - Vaillant, Domaine Ogereau and Château Pierre-Bise.