Chinon

Grown along the Vienne river, the grapes making up AOC Chinon wines are almost always Cabernet Franc, producing soft reds. The vineyards cover close to 2,000 hectares of land and those situated closest to the river tend to produce fruity and light wines. Further up the slopes, the wine produced is stronger and ages better. Many of the vineyards in this region are sited in the grounds of little châteaux.