AOC Cour Cheverny
Discovering an emblematic grape variety
The vineyard of Cour Cheverny is located in the Loire Valley. The production area spans over 11 villages of the Loir-et-Cher department. The AOC Cour Cheverny (Protected Designation of Origin) is a single-varietal appellation dedicated to the Romorantin grape, a grape variety that is cultivated nowhere else.
This white wine stands out by his incomparable complexity and liveliness. 24 winemakers cultivate 71 hectares of this precious grape and they produced 3,597 hectoliters in 2023.
Come and discover the Romorantin grape and let yourself be enchanted by its refined pairings – A flavorful adventure awaits!
*Cellettes , Cheverny , Chitenay , Cormeray , Cour-Cheverny , Huisseau-sur-Cosson , Mont-près-Chambord , Montlivault , Saint-Claude-de-Diray , Tour-en-Sologne , Vineuil
AOC Cour Cheverny in brief
71
hectares of vines
24
winemakers
1 Main grape
varieties
The exciting history of this royal grape variety
The AOC Cour Cheverny has its roots in a history closely tied to the French monarchy. In 1519, King Francois I had 80,000 Burgundy vines planted around the town of Romorantin, at a place called “Le clos des Beaunes,” where his mother (Louise of Savoy) often stayed. This project was part of his desire to create his “cité idéale” in Romorantin even though he ultimately chose Chambord to build his emblematic Château. We are left with an exceptional heritage from this dream : the Romorantin grape variety.
From the birth of the appellation to its flourishing
The adventure of the appellation began in May 1949 under the name “Mont Près-Chambord, Cour Cheverny,” initially covering four villages (Mont Près-Chambord, Huisseau sur Cosson, Cour Cheverny, and Cheverny). In 1993, it took its current name of AOC Cour Cheverny and expanded to the 11 communes that were once part of the king’s court. This appellation is exclusively dedicated to the Romorantin grape which finds its full potential for expression on the siliceous soils of the vineyard in order to give birth to a distinctive and original white wine. The winemakers are the guardians of the product’s typicity thanks to the specification in place.
An exceptional terroir located between the Loire and Sologne
The Cour Cheverny vineyard benefits from a semi-oceanic climate that is slightly more continental than the Loire Valley and the Touraine region. This climate is influenced by the local wooded hills and the valleys of the Beuvron and of the Cosson as well as their small tributaries.
The soils are a mix of clays, siliceous sands and limestone which provide an ideal setting for the expression of the Romorantin grape. In some areas, the land is covered by high terraces from the Loire and windblown sands. This unique terroir gives the wines a remarkable typicity, celebrated for their freshness and complexity.
View of the Loire in real time
View of the Loire in real time
The white wines of the AOC Cour Cheverny stand out for their elegance and rarity. In their youth, they have a pale yellow color and reveal a bouquet blending white flowers and citrus notes. With age or depending on the type of vinification (tank, barrel, etc.), these wines take on golden hues, revealing more complex aromas of honey and citrus. The nose is clean and balanced.
On the palate, the dry white Cour Cheverny will surprise you with its intense freshness, liveliness, and its floral aromas (acacia flowers, white flowers, etc.), along with citrus and honey notes. It has a beautiful length on the palate, and it is a wine that can be enjoyed in its youth but can also be aged in the cellar for 5 to 10 years.
Thanks to controlled winemaking techniques, the winemakers can also produce a sweet white wine with the Romorantin grape by harvesting the grapes at over-ripeness. These late harvest wines develop more honeyed notes while remaining well-balanced thanks to the natural liveliness of Romorantin.
Wine pairing
The Romorantin grape deserves a prominent place at your table. This white wine enhances a wide variety of dishes thanks to its balance and freshness. Served between 10 and 12°C, it offers a rich aromatic palette that will captivate your senses. It pairs wonderfully with Sologne asparagus, sauced fish, white meats, and goat cheeses. The white wine from the Cour Cheverny AOC with its beautiful complexity on the palate is a wine that can also be paired with more refined dishes – feel free to let your culinary creativity flow and pair your Cour Cheverny with a creamy chicken risotto with mushroom and asparagus or a monkfish blanquette with saffron. With age, it will become the perfect companion to grilled lobster with garlic butter or roast partridge with grapes and foie gras sauce. The white wine of Cour Cheverny then becomes the wine that elevates your dishes into an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
