This relatively unknown appellation has recently been admitted to the very exclusive AOC club (1994); although the Côte Roannaise wines have already conquered the French capital, they are still a bit cut off from the Gaul capital. They are a remarkably fresh wine with a delicate fragrance and really deserve a little more attention!

The vineyard covers a relatively small area of 192 hectares. Even though 14 municipalities have the right to produce the AOC,  only 10 actually produce wine. For example, Renaison, Villemontais, St André d'Apchon, St Haon-le-Vieux  are among the well known villages.

The Côtes-Roannaise appellation does not have a wine cooperative but is divided among 55 producers producing about 1 million bottles annually. The Côtes-Roannaises wines are mainly red wines that are made from the black Gamay grapes containing white juice (called Gamay Saint Romain) which have adapted well to the granite soil of the region. There are also some nice rosés, especially from the town of Ambierle, as well as a few secret white wines from Chardonnay, but , they are produced as the  vin de pays d'Urfe .

The red Côte-Roannaise wines are a clear, shiny garnet colour, with a violet sheen. Their red berry scent (raspberry, redcurrant, blackberry, strawberry, cherry) is often associated with floral ( Rose, iris, peony...) as well as a few mineral aromas. On the palette, it is a supple and enjoyable wine, full of freshness and vitality. It can be served to accompany cooked meat, red meat, barbecues,  cow cheese, plum or blackberry tarts.

Some of the estates with really good vintages that one should definitely explore: In Renaison : the famous Sérol estate as well as the Paroisse estate, the Fontenay and Pothiers estates in Villemontais, the Plasse and Vial estates in St André d'Apchon, the château de Champigny in Saint-Haon-le-Vieux or even the Perrière estate and the Alain Baillon estate in Ambierle. And many more...

by Laurent Turrel © http://www.nuncbibendum.com 2008

Accomodation with Gîtes de France Loire  http://gites-de-france-loire.com