Anjou is a wine-growing region in the Loire Valley. It stretches between the production areas of Maine-et-Loire, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne.

AOC Anjou generally produces dry white, red and rosé wines. But south of Angers, in Maine-et-Loire, the terroir and climate favor the production of sweet wines.

In winter, the climate is mild and very rainy, while in summer it’s dry and sunny. This includes the Layon valley, which is the warmest in the region, with high levels of sunshine and low levels of viability.

Several AOCs produce sweet Anjou wines: Aubance, Bonnezeaux, Chaume, Coteaux du Layon, Quarts-de-Chaume and Savennières. The main characteristics of these wines are fatness and sweetness on the palate, as well as aromas of candied fruit, honey and lemongrass.

Let’s take a look at the best-known of these names.

AOC Bonnezeaux

100% Chenin, AOC Bonnezeaux wines are matured on schist soils and have good ageing potential, ranging from 5/10 years for ordinary vintages to double or triple for great vintages.

Characteristically golden in color, the nose offers a bouquet of white flowers and ripe, candied fruit. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, fat and slightly acidic.

Coteaux du Layon

Emblematic of sweet Anjou wines, AOC Coteaux du Layon is produced on stony, sandy-loam terroirs, on 100% Chenin vines. Wines from this appellation have good ageing potential, ranging from 5/10 years to several decades.

A perfect match for foie gras, a Coteaux du Layon offers a nose of white-fleshed fruit (pear, quince, peach) and floral notes. On the palate, its fat and opulent sweetness delight the taste buds.

Quarts-de-Chaume

Quarts-de-Chaume is a small appellation in the region, covering just 54 hectares around the hamlet of Chaume and comprising fewer than twenty winegrowers. The appellation’s microclimate is even more favorable to botrytis than in other appellations producing sweet Anjou wines.

Aged on 100% Chenin schist soils, it can be kept for several decades, with no limit for great vintages.

Full-bodied, with aromas of candied fruit and honey, this wine pairs perfectly with foie gras, blue cheese and desserts with little sugar.