All about Chinon
The Royal Fortress of Chinon, overlooking the Vienne River, was home to many kings and princes, from the Plantagenets to Richelieu. E
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Origins
History
The Royal Fortress of Chinon, overlooking the Vienne River, was home to many kings and princes, from the Plantagenets to Richelieu. In 1429, Charles VII welcomed Joan of Arc, who had come to persuade him to reconquer the kingdom of France. The birthplace of François Rabelais, the Chinon appellation has the same contours as those of Rabelaisie, the imaginary land of Pantagruel and Gargantua's adventures. The site is popular with tourists in search of Rabelais' humanism, engraved in the architecture and landscapes of Chinon.
.Presentation
The appellation area extends over 26 communes, on either side of the Vienne River, up to its confluence with the Loire.
Soil and climate
Soils: Three main soil types: Alluvial terraces (ancient and recent) on the banks of the Vienne, composed of gravel and sand. The Turonian limestone hillsides and knolls (yellow tufa) along the riverbanks. T he plateaus and hillocks composed mainly of flint clays and sands (Senonian).
Climate: The broad confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers is a gateway to the mild Atlantic. The oceanic climate therefore penetrates through both valleys to the furthest slope or terrace. Facing East-West, the slopes benefit from a very sunny Southern exposure: we find a privileged microclimate perfectly suited to Cabernet Franc.