Chénas

The Chénas Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is a municipal appellation that has been recognized since 1936. The Chénas vineyard covers approximately 260 hectares, making it the smallest of the Beaujolais crus. The vineyards eligible for the appellation are located in the municipalities of Chénas, in the Rhône department, and La Chapelle-de-Guinchay, in the Saône-et-Loire department.

The grape variety used to produce Chénas wine is Gamay noir à jus blanc, as in all Beaujolais vineyards. The vines here face in several directions: northwest, east, and south. From the higher elevations of the appellation—including Pic Rémont, which overlooks it—the granitic soils extend far toward the Saône plain, gradually giving way to siliceous-clay soils with a stony surface. The rarity, quality, and elegance of Chénas wines make them highly prized by wine enthusiasts. Exceptional wines are produced by Maison Coquard, Château Bonnet, Domaine Thillardon, and Domaine Dominique Piron.

Etymologically, “Chénas” means “a place planted with oak trees.” Chénas is a French AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) that has been recognized since 1936 by the National Institute for Origin and Quality. Chénas wines are produced in a Beaujolais vineyard that spans several municipalities. 

Chénas is a commune in the Rhône department where the vineyard first took root. Historically, this Beaujolais cru was one of Louis XIII’s favorite wines. The vineyard spans several communes, from Chénas in the Rhône to La Chapelle-de-Guinchay in Saône-et-Loire, and encompasses several specific lieux-dits that are well-suited to the vineyard’s grape varieties: .

• Les Journets,

• Les Gandelins,

• In Nervat,

• Aux Bois Retour,

• in Les Blémonts

• Les Gandelins

Terroir of the Chénas AOC 

Chénas wines are grown on granite soils that are fairly sandy in nature. Production is therefore quite distinctive due to the nature of the soils, which are not easy to maintain. Chénas wines are therefore of superior quality, in part due to the care given to the vines from cultivation through the grape harvest to the final stage of bottling. Grown at an elevation of 260 meters, the vineyards cover approximately 250 hectares of vineyard land.

The vineyard, which stretches between the Rhône and Saône-et-Loire and forms the heart of the Beaujolais region, has expanded over the centuries. Chénas wines are reds. Production of red Chénas grape varieties is estimated at approximately 9,400 hectoliters of wine in 2010. This significant figure stems from strong demand and the growing reputation of Chénas wines. No fewer than 6,000 vines are planted per hectare. On these hectares of land, the vines benefit from an ideal exposure for their growth, facing east, south, and northwest, depending on the grape variety.

Red wine from the Chénas Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée can be aged in the bottle for 4 to 8 years at most. This timeframe is extended for vintage wines, which require very specific aging conditions. Chénas wines are gaining increasing media attention and popularity. However, for years now, serious wine enthusiasts have already made them one of their favorite wines. Several wineries offer Chénas red wines, including Domaine Piron, Château Bonnet, and Domaine Thillardon. 

Chénas wine stands out and is unique among other wines, in part thanks to its ruby color tinged with garnet hues, as well as its woody and floral notes on the palate. 

This is a complex wine—at once delicate yet powerful, voluptuous and silky yet spicy. A Chénas wine is best enjoyed with a meat dish such as beef, steak, or even chicken.