📜 Quarts de Chaume
The finest sweet Chenin Blanc wines of the Layon Valley, the Loire's first grand cru.
Quarts de Chaume is the designation for the best sweet wines from Chenin Blanc in the Layon river valley in France, in the Anjou area. The name is protected as a designation of origin (PDO). It became the first grand cru of the Loire: the name for the most valued plots. The name is tied to the village of Chaume in the Layon valley. The vineyards lie on a steep south-facing slope by a bend in the river. The wine is made only from Chenin Blanc. The berries are picked late, in several passes, choosing only those that have dried and been touched by noble rot. The juice is sweet and very acidic, because Chenin Blanc has high acidity. So the wine is not cloying but taut and fresh. The taste is honey, apricot, quince and citrus zest. The best examples age for decades. It is served with desserts, foie gras and cheese. Today there are not many farms in this zone, and the wines are released in small batches, so they cannot be found everywhere.
How it connects to Wine
📜 Quarts de Chaume ← main grape of ← 🍇 Chenin Blanc → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Where it is
- 📍 Anjou-Saumur
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Chenin Blanc
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Sweet wine
Frequently asked questions
What grape is Quarts de Chaume made from?
Only Chenin Blanc.
Where is Quarts de Chaume?
In the Layon river valley in Anjou, near the village of Chaume.
Why is this wine sweet but not cloying?
Chenin Blanc has high acidity that balances the sugar.
What to read next
- 📍 Anjou-Saumur — Schist and tuffeau with Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and rosés.
- 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
Similar
📜 Anjou-Coteaux de la Loire · 📜 Bonnezeaux · 📜 Coteaux du Layon · 📜 Coteaux de Saumur · 📜 Coteaux de l'Aubance · 📜 Savennières Roche aux Moines
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.