All about Touraine Azay-le-Rideau
Located in the heart of the Loire Valley, the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau PDO covers 50 hectares between the Indre and Loire rivers. Produced by a dozen winegrowers, the appellation's wines are fresh and delicious. White wines offer a panoply of fruity and floral aromas. Rosés combine freshness and gourmandise with aromas of red fruits and spices.
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Key figures
Figures based on average harvests over the last 5 years
.8
Municipalities8
Producers50
ha2
Varieties2
Colors1.2k
hl produced per year
Origins
History
The Touraine Azay-le-Rideau PDO was officially recognized by decree on August 26, 1953, but the history of the vineyard goes back to the depths of Gallo-Roman times. Indeed, it was in Cheillé, in the Ridellois vineyards, that the remains of a Gallo-Roman wine press were found.
| --- | Viticulture has been present in the Ridellois vineyards since Gallo-Roman times | In the Loire Valley, it is in the Ridellois lands and more precisely in Cheillé that the oldest traces of this culture have been found. Indeed, it was in this village, on the Grande Marion site, that a structure interpreted as a fruit press was discovered in 1946, thus testifying to the presence of winegrowing activity as early as the 2nd century. | |
| --- | Development of the Ridellois vineyard over the centuries | Viticulture was then artisanal and the wines produced were dedicated to self-consumption or the local market. Viticulture developed among orchards and cereals as part of a polyculture economy. | |
| XIX | Phylloxera crisis | Polyculture enabled Ridellois producers to survive despite the destruction of their vines. | |
| XX | Modification of the Ridellois vineyard | Post phylloxera crisis period: The Ridellois vineyard was halved, but thanks to the experience of its winegrowers, it stabilized and produced increasingly high-quality wines. | |
| 1953 | Recognition by INAO of the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau DGC | Recognition of the winegrowers' work took concrete form on August 26, 1953, when the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau geographical denomination was created. Initially, it promoted the elegance of white wines made from Chenin. | |
| 1976 | INAO recognition of rosé winemaking | The Touraine Azay-le-Rideau appellation could promote the lightness of rosé wines made from Grolleau. |
Presentation
The Touraine Azay-le-Rideau PDO vineyard is located in the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park. Between the valleys of the Loire and Indre rivers, the vineyard of hills and sandy-gravel flats extends over eight communes in Indre-et-Loire: Artannes-sur-Indre, Azay-le-Rideau, Cheillé, Lignières-de-Touraine, Rivarennes, Saché, Thilouze, Vallères.
Soil and climate
The vineyards of the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau appellation are mainly located on the slopes of the Indre river. The land rests on a limestone bedrock formed 90 million years ago. This subsoil, known as Tuffeau, is typical of the Touraine region, and helps to regulate the water and mineral content of the soil, thus favoring the balance of the vines. On this bedrock, there are 3 main types of soil:
- Perruches: soils where clay and siliceous conglomerates meet.
- Aubuis: warm, permeable clay-limestone soils.
- Aeolian sands: more or less clayey sand soils.
Located at the crossroads of oceanic and continental influences, the vineyard matures in a harmonious climate. Winters are mild and temperate, and summers are often hot and bright. From July to September, the average temperature is 20°C, and there's plenty of sunshine
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Cultivation methods
A majority of Touraine Azay-le-Rideau PDO estates are either organically farmed or in conversion to organic farming. These winegrowers are committed to enhancing biodiversity and ecosystems (e.g. installation of beehives in the vineyards of Château de l'Aulée), enabling them to stand out, adapt to climate change and meet consumer expectations. Growing practices in the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau appellation bear witness to responsible viticulture aimed at reducing environmental impacts while preserving wine quality.
Terroir and wines
The Touraine Azay-le-Rideau PDO vineyard rests on a limestone bedrock known as Tuffeau, which helps regulate water and mineral levels and promotes balance in the vines. It also contributes to the perfect ripening of the grapes by ensuring maximum optimization of the sun's heat.
Located at the crossroads of oceanic and continental influences, the Touraine Azay-le-Rideau PDO benefits from a favorable microclimate that enables the appellation's grape varieties, particularly Chenin, to reveal their different facets. When weather conditions are optimal, the development of noble rot gives winegrowers the opportunity to produce exceptional sweet wines.