Exploring the Alluvial Terroirs of Chinon

No.19 | Terroir Talk

A significant portion of the Chinon appellation’s vineyards are on alluvial soils, and many people (professionals and enthusiasts alike) are very quick to lump these soils into one simple category (sands and gravels). But the Chinon appellation has gone to great lengths to better understand their alluvial soils, and with the help of researchers, they have identified 18 (!!) different individual terroir units just within the category of alluvial soils across the appellation. Each of these terroir units has been differentiated from one another based on geographical and climate components, pedological and viticultural characteristics, and how these factors impact the grape growing environment and translate into structural characteristics in the finished wine.

Often seen as inferior to the tuffeau chalk-derived soils of the slopes, there is a lot more to these alluvial soils than what meets the eye, and Cabernet Franc is particularly well-adapted to these alluvial soils producing wines tha…