AOC/AOP Regulations

Département

  • Maine-et-Loire

Communes of Production

  • Aubigné-sur-Layon, Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Brigné, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Champ-sur-Layon, Chanzeaux, Chaudefonds-sur-Layon, Chavagnes, Cléré-sur-Layon, Concourson-sur-Layon, Faveraye-Mâchelles, Faye-d’Anjou, La Fosse-de-Tigné, La Jumellière, Martigné-Briand, Nueil-sur-Layon, Passavant-sur-Layon, Rablay-sur-Layon, Rochefort-sur-Loire, Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné, Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay, Saint-Georges-sur-Layon, Tancoigné, Thouarcé, Tigné, Trémont, Les Verchers-sur-Layon
  • Villages allowed to append their name to the appellation:
    • Faye d’Anjou/Faye
    • Rochefort-sur-Loire/Rochefort
    • Rablay-sur-Layon/Rablay
    • Beaulieu-sur-Layon/Beaulieu
    • St. Aubin de Luigné/St. Aubin
    • St. Lambert du Lattay/St. Lambert
    • Chaume („Premier Cru“)

Styles and Encépagement

  • Blanc: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN): botrytis-affected grapes
  • Coteaux du Layon wines may include the geographical designation „Val de Loire“ on the label.

Minimum Potential Alcohol

  • Coteaux du Layon: 14% (11% acquired, or 10% acquired if potential alcohol is 18% or higher)
  • Coteaux du Layon SGN (with or without village designation): 19%
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume Premier Cru: 16.5% (11% acquired)
  • Coteaux du Layon (with other village designation): 15% (12% acquired, or 11% if potential alcohol is 19% or higher)

Minimum Must Weight

  • Coteaux du Layon: 221 g/l 
  • Coteaux du Layon SGN (with or without village designation): 323 g/l 
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume Premier Cru: 272 g/l
  • Coteaux du Layon (with other village designation): 238 g/l
  • All grapes, affected either by passerillage or botrytis, are harvested in successive tries

Minimum Residual Sugar

  • Coteaux du Layon: 34 g/l
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume Premier Cru: 80 g/l (68 g/l prior to 2011)

Enrichment

  • Chaptalization is not allowed for Chaume Premier Cru and SGN wines

Harvest Method

  • All grapes destined for the production of Coteaux du Layon & its communal designations must be hand harvested in successive tries. 

Élevage

  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume Premier Cru: Wines may not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest
  • Coteaux du Layon SGN: Wines may not be released until June 15 of the second year after harvest

Minimum Planting Density

  • Coteaux du Layon: 4,000 vines per hectare
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume Premier Cru: 4,500 vines per hectare

Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)

  • Coteaux du Layon: 35 hl/ha
  • Coteaux du Layon Chaume Premier Cru: 25 hl/ha
  • Coteaux du Layon (with other village designation): 30 hl/ha

AOC Established

  • 1950 (last updated 2011)

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