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 communes 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 the vineyards of the Beaujolais region. The vines face in several directions: northwest, east, and south. From the higher elevations of the appellation, including the Pic Rémont that overlooks it, the granitic soils extend far toward the Saône plain, gradually transitioning 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 Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité. 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, stretching from Chénas in the Rhône to La Chapelle-de-Guinchay in Saône-et-Loire, and encompasses several specific lieux-dits that are ideal for the vineyard’s grape varieties: .

• Les Journets,

• Les Gandelins,

• In Nervat,

• Aux Bois Retour,

• , Aux Blémonts

• Les Gandelins

The 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, partly due to the care given to the vines from cultivation through grape harvest to the final stage of bottling. Grown at an altitude of 260 meters, the vineyards cover approximately 250 hectares of vineyard land.

The vineyard, which stretches between the Rhône and Saône-et-Loire regions and forms the heart of the Beaujolais region, has expanded over the centuries. Chénas wines are reds. Production of red Chénas wines is estimated at approximately 9,400 hectoliters in 2010. This significant figure is the result of 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 cellared for 4 to 8 years at most. This timeframe extends for vintage wines, which require very specific storage conditions. Chénas wines are gaining increasing media attention and popularity. However, serious wine enthusiasts have already made them one of their favorite vintages for years. Several estates 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, both delicate yet powerful, rich and velvety yet spicy. A Chénas wine pairs well with meat dishes such as beef, steak, or even chicken.