Two new appellations in the Loire Valley are born on May 1. They are located in Touraine, the large region in the beautiful part of the Loire where most of the big, famous Loire chateaux are located. Touraine already has a number of sub-appellations and now it has two more: Touraine Oisly and Touraine Chenonceaux.
Touraine Chenonceaux is close to the famous Chateau de Chenonceau, one of the Loire Valley’s most well known chateaux. It originates from the early 1500 and is spectacularly built on the River Cher, a tributary of the Loire. Many different women have left their mark on the chateau, particularly Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry II and Catherine de Médicis, his wife.
Touraine Chenonceaux will be available in both white and red version. The white is to be made of sauvignon blanc alone and the red with cabernet franc and malbec (regionally known as cot). Overall, this new appellation has a total of 35 hectares. Touraine Oisly is smaller, only 16 hectares and the only variety permitted is sauvignon blanc.
Is the soil in these new appellations totally unsuitable for chenin blanc, the real gem of the central Loire valley? But sauvignon blanc is probably easier to sell though. Sad story.
A romantic couple viewing the Chateau de Saumur along the river, copyright BKWine Photography
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Britt. The whole reform of AC Touraine and the new ACs is a shambolic dog’s breakfast. Touraine Oisly makes most sense as it is well suited to Sauvignon Blanc. Chenin doesn’t work that well here too far east to always ripe. For straight Touraine AC permitted grape varieties are now severely restricted for marketing and bureaucratic reasons.
Touraine-Chenonceaux is a ‘Ryanair’ AC some of the vineyards are kilometres away from Chenonceaux.
Jim, thanks for the clarification. It just goes to prove that creating a new appellation is anything but straightforward.