Appellation: Savennières
At the western edge of Anjou lies the small appellation of Savennières. The stony vineyards lie on slopes of slate and sandstone. They must be worked by hand, as they are too steep for machinery. All Savennières vineyards lie close to the Loire, where the warmer temperature and morning fog protects the vines from frost, a common problem in the area. The stones in the soil retain heat from the sun, providing much needed warmth as well. At one time, Savennières was made sweet, but the style has evolved over the years to a point where Savennières is now made fully dry. Nevertheless the wine retains the perfumed intensity of its ancestors.
Savennières is made entirely from Chenin Blanc. Yields are kept low to insure quality and concentration of flavor. Grapes are harvested for optimal ripeness and pickers will make several passes through the vineyards to select individual ripe grapes from bunches that may not yet be ready. Unlike the other great Chenin Blanc wines of the Loire, the impression of Savennières is not of fruit, but an intriguing mixture of floral, honey and mineral aromas.
Savennières pairs remarkably well with a wide range of food, but older, more delicate Savennières may be best appreciated by themselves, as an aperitif.
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Loire365 Factoid
What's In A Name?
Long before the concept of varietals had been invented (and when the same grape often had many different names), French winegrowers and wine makers had discovered that wines from one village or vineyard were very different from wines from the neighboring village or hillside. This is why French wines (including those of the Loire Valley) are identified by “appellations” or place names rather than by the grapes from which they are made. The words Appellations d’Origine Controlee, or the letters AOC on a label indicate that a wine is made in accordance with strict regulations that allow the producer to use the appellation.
