AOC/AOP Regulations
Département
- Maine-et-Loire
Subzones (Geographic Designations)
- None (In 2011, Coulée de Serrant and Roche-aux-Moines, formerly considered geographic designations of Savennières, each received their own AOCs.)
Communes of Production
- Bouchemaine, La Possonnière, Savennières
Styles and Encépagement
- Blanc (Sec to Doux): 100% Chenin Blanc
- Savennières may include the geographical designation „Val de Loire“
Minimum Potential Alcohol
- Savennières Sec: 11.5% (11% acquired)
- Savennières Demi-Sec/Moelleux/Doux: 12.5% (11% acquired)
Minimum Must Weight
- Savennières Sec: 186 g/l
- Savennières Demi-Sec/Moelleux/Doux: 212 g/l
Enrichment
- Chaptalization is prohibited for wines of demi-sec or sweeter quality
Residual Sugar
- Sec: Max. 4 g/l (max. 8 g/l if total acidity is within 2 g/l of the residual sugar)
- Demi-Sec: Max. 18 g/l (no longer explicitly stated as of 2011)
- Moelleux: 18-45 g/l (no longer explicitly stated as of 2011)
- Doux: more than 45 g/l (no longer explicitly stated as of 2011)
Harvest Method
- Manual harvesting is required.
Élevage
- Wines may not be released until April 1 of the year following the harvest
Minimum Planting Density
- 4,000 vines per hectare
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)
- Savennières Sec/Demi-Sec: 50 hl/ha
- Savennières Moelleux/Doux: 35 hl/ha
Principle Soils
- Steep slopes of blue schist w/volcanic debris
AOC Established
- 1952 (last updated 2011)
Links