View over Limeray looking south with
the south side of the Loire in distance
Yesterday afternoon a group of us from Loire Millésime paid a brief visit to some of the vineyards of Touraine-Mesland and Touraine-Amboise traveling in convoy transported in six or seven of the mythic Citroen 2CVs (deux chevaux).
Touraine-Amboise is in the process of seeking promotion from Touraine-Amboise to cru Amboise. They are currently in negotiation with the INAO.
The Amboise cru will be for just red and white. The red is to be 100% Côt (Malbec) and the white – pure Chenin Blanc. The current Touraine-Amboise appellation extends over 11 communes and has a potential planting area of 3200 ha, although the average declaration over the past five years has been only 181 hectares. Under the reclassification of the appellation, only 726 hectares would be kept as suitable for the future cru. These are the vineyards – actually planted or potential sites on the premières côtes that overlook the Loire from both banks. From the potential 726 hectares for the future cru around 400 ha are currently planted. Vineyards that are not considered suitable for Cru Amboise will just be classified as straight Touraine.
Amboise is one the very rare Loire appellations where an appellation has vineyards on both banks of the river.
The regulations for AOP Amboise will limit the use of weedkillers. Complete blitzing of a vineyard will not be permitted. Producers will be permitted to use weedkiller under the vines but the centre of the rows will have to be grassed over or cultivated. This will be a welcome step forward as the widespread use of weedkillers in Touraine Meland, Amboise and Oisly is all too prevalent where biodiversity is non-existent.
The Amboise cru will be for just red and white. The red is to be 100% Côt (Malbec) and the white – pure Chenin Blanc. The current Touraine-Amboise appellation extends over 11 communes and has a potential planting area of 3200 ha, although the average declaration over the past five years has been only 181 hectares. Under the reclassification of the appellation, only 726 hectares would be kept as suitable for the future cru. These are the vineyards – actually planted or potential sites on the premières côtes that overlook the Loire from both banks. From the potential 726 hectares for the future cru around 400 ha are currently planted. Vineyards that are not considered suitable for Cru Amboise will just be classified as straight Touraine.
Amboise is one the very rare Loire appellations where an appellation has vineyards on both banks of the river.
The regulations for AOP Amboise will limit the use of weedkillers. Complete blitzing of a vineyard will not be permitted. Producers will be permitted to use weedkiller under the vines but the centre of the rows will have to be grassed over or cultivated. This will be a welcome step forward as the widespread use of weedkillers in Touraine Meland, Amboise and Oisly is all too prevalent where biodiversity is non-existent.
2 comments:
Jim,
That's very interesting. Am I right in thinking that kind of ecological restriction in an AC's rules is rare or am I (as in so many matters these days) just out of date?
Good to see you out and about and back in the Loire.
Graham
Hi Graham. You are right few appellations include criteria on limits and use of weed killer etc. Saumur Le Puy Notre Dame does.
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