Gift set: AOC Anjou

The history of the Anjou vineyards dates back to the Roman era and flourished in the Middle Ages thanks to the rise of river trade. Its golden age arrived in the 12th century, when Henry II Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and later King of England, had the local wines served at his court—long before the dynasty lent its name to an entire line of English sovereigns. The AOC Anjou itself was not created until 1936, but it inherits this ancient prestige.

Geographically, Anjou is divided into two distinct worlds. To the west and south of Angers, on the left bank of the Loire, lies "Black Anjou" (*Anjou noir*), so named for its dark soils of schist, gneiss, and granite, an extension of the Armorican Massif. It is this territory that has forged the region's most spectacular reputation, with the great sweet wines of the Coteaux du Layon, as well as characterful dry Chenin Blancs. To the east, around Saumur, "White Anjou" (*Anjou blanc*) rests on the white soils of tuffeau limestone.

The Anjou appellation proper covers most of these two territories, spanning nearly 126 communes in the Maine-et-Loire and a few neighboring communes in the Deux-Sèvres and Vienne departments. It produces dry white wine based on Chenin Blanc, red wine from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, sometimes blended with Gamay, Grolleau, or Pineau d'Aunis, as well as rosés, which were long its commercial claim to fame.

A rare versatility, showcased by this six-bottle gift set: a single name, yet featuring both a vibrant white from schist and a fleshy red from tuffeau.