Gift set: AOC Chinon

Few appellations can boast such a historical cast. The Royal Fortress of Chinon, which still dominates the vineyard from its tuffeau limestone spur, was the favorite residence of Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century, and it was in its Great Hall in 1429 that Joan of Arc recognized the future Charles VII.

The vineyard itself is said to date back to the Gallo-Roman era, subsequently maintained by monks before gaining the patronage of the French and English royal courts. This rich past is undoubtedly part of the reason why Chinon became, in 1937, one of the very first officially recognized French AOCs.

But if one name had to be chosen to embody Chinon, it would be that of Rabelais, born in 1494 very close by, at La Devinière. The author of Gargantua and Pantagruel is so intimately associated with his native land that people still say today, when uncorking a bottle, that they are drinking a "wine loyal to Rabelais." In 2017, for its 80th anniversary, the appellation even integrated the commune of Seuilly, where the writer received his religious education—symbolically bringing things full circle between Chinon and its most faithful ambassador.

In the field, the appellation overwhelmingly cultivates Cabernet Franc across 19 communes, a geological mosaic, and two distinct families of red wines. On the plains of sand and gravel, near the Loire and the Vienne, Cabernet Franc produces light, supple wines, bursting with fresh red fruit, to be drunk young. On the tuffeau hillsides, however, it becomes denser, more tannic, built for aging, with certain great vintages improving for several decades in the cellar.
And then there is that curiosity few know about: white Chinon, made exclusively from Chenin Blanc, accounting for barely 3 to 5% of production, but a true gem of tension and floral complexity.

Now that you know almost everything, it’s time for some hands-on experience: six bottles, six signatures, one single appellation, Chinon.