All about Savennières Roche aux Moines
The AOC Savennières Roche-aux-Moines is a prestigious Loire appellation, produced from the Chenin grape variety. It produces wines of great reputation and complexity. These wines are among the most distinctive in the Loire Valley, offering a rich and sophisticated tasting experience.
Explore our appellation sheet
Key figures
Figures based on average harvests over the last 5 years
.20
Ha300
Hl40k
Bottles30
hl/ha in yield7
Producers
Origins
History
The AOC Savennières Roche-aux-Moines, located on schistose soils in the Anjou noir region, produces exclusively white wines from the Chenin grape variety. These wines, characterized by their minerality, aromatic complexity and exceptional ageing potential, benefit from a temperate microclimate.
| XII | Creation of the name | The name "Roche aux Moines" dates back to the 12th century and has been used continuously ever since. |
| 1130 | First plantation | It appeared when the Chevalier Buhard estate was donated, around 1130, to the monks of Saint-Nicolas Abbey in Angers, who planted vines there. The first of the so-called "Bouvines" battles took place here on July 2, 1214. The English knights, slowed down by the crowds of vines planted, were defeated by Louis VIII's troops. |
| - | Vine-growing | The Roche aux Moines hillside remained a monastic property, where vine-growing evolved according to the needs of the monks, until the French Revolution. This prestigious site was then taken over by owners anxious to obtain quality wines. |
| XIX | Development | Pierre Guillory (1796-1878), constantly seeking progress, strongly marked the life of the vineyard. Sensitive to new techniques and keen to share his results, he contributed to the reputation of "Roche aux Moines". On this hillside, he reproduced the terraces he had discovered on the shores of Lake Geneva. He also experimented with trellising using wire and slate stakes, to promote ventilation of the bunches of Chenin B grapes. He also worked on the use of sulfur and early disbudding. His research into harvesting and pressing techniques was quickly adopted by other growers. In 1861, in a "Bulletin de la Société Agricole et Industrielle d'Angers", he wrote: "The grape harvest, with rare exceptions, takes place in October, when it has been recognized that the ripeness of the grapes is as perfect as possible, and that there is at least a quarter of rot. These words confirm those of Comte Odart, who, in 1845, in his "Traité des cépages" (Treatise on grape varieties), states: "It is also necessary to add the condition of harvesting only when the grape is overripe, such as around All Saints' Day, when the skin, tenderized by the rains, falls sphacelically". Here, growers have been quick to understand the benefits of harvesting this grape variety at an advanced stage of ripeness, paying particular attention to each individual bunch. |
Presentation
The AOC Savennières Roche aux Moines is located in the commune of Savennières, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for the beauty of its landscapes and the richness of its cultural and natural heritage.
The vineyards are located on steep slopes overlooking the Loire River, offering spectacular panoramic views over the valley. These steep slopes favor excellent sun exposure, essential for optimal ripening of the grapes.
Soil and climate
- Slopes overlooking the Loire: The Roche-aux-Moines vineyards are located on steep slopes overlooking the Loire, offering spectacular panoramic views over the valley. These steep slopes favor excellent sun exposure, essential for optimal ripening of the grapes.
- Soils and Terroir: The terroir consists of schistose soils with quartz and phtanite inclusions, giving the wines a distinctive minerality. These well-drained soils force the vines to draw deeply, concentrating the aromas and flavors of the grapes.
Cultivation methods
A charter of excellence for the appellation's winegrowers:
The AOC's winegrowers have agreed to respect certain production criteria:
- synthetic weedkillers are prohibited, as are insecticides
- low yields: max 30hl/ha
- manual harvesting by successive compulsory selections
- wine ageing minimum 10 months
- must be bottled on the estate
The winemakers are committed to presenting the world with wines of the highest quality, reflecting a terroir overlooking the Loire and facing south. Its remarkable and renowned landscapes are part of the Val de Loire, listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
Terroir and wines
The terroir of AOC Savennières Roche-aux-Moines is crucial to its wines. Located on steep slopes with schistose soils, it confers a unique minerality and favors deep rooting of the vines. Optimal exposure to the sun and proximity to the Loire create a temperate microclimate, allowing slow ripening of the grapes.
Chenin, the appellation's only grape variety, fully expresses the terroir, offering complex wines suitable for aging. Sustainable viticultural practices reinforce the authentic expression of this exceptional terroir.