Savennières

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Coordinates: 47°23′02″N 0°39′23″W / 47.3838, -0.65638

Administration
Commune of Savennières
Location

Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Maine-et-Loire
Arrondissement	Angers
Canton	Saint-Georges-sur-Loire
Intercommunality	C.A. d'Angers Loire Métropole Pays Loire-Angers
Mayor	Rémy Martin (2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation	12 m–77 m (avg. 20 m)
Land area^¹	21.01 km²
Population^² (1999)	1,157
- Density	55/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	49329/ 49170
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.

Savennières is a town and commune lying in the Maine-et-Loire département near the Loire River 15 km south west of Angers in France, best known for its production of highly-rated white wine.

With production predominantly centred around the Chenin blanc grape, it is famed for its particularly long-lasting dry white wine comparable to that of Vouvray.

[edit] Savennières wine

"Savennières is the most underrated great white wine in the world" Robert Parker, Decanting Robert Parker by Eric Asimov, The New York Times March 22, 2006

The Savennières Appellation d'Origine Controlée (AOC) spreads over 3 hills of schist, located on the right (northwest) bank of the Loire river, totaling about 300 hectares, of which about half are currently in production. It is home to the Chenin blanc grape, which can be used to produce dry, off-dry, sweet and sparkling wines. The 1952 AOC decree for Savennières was revised in 1996 to give growers the choice of making dry, semi-dry, mellow or sweet wines.

The best Savennières producers are N. Joly, Domaine du Closel-Chateau des Vaults and Domaine Baumard.

N. Joly, a retired banker and biodynamic disciple produces expensive wines that have not become universally popular. This may have more to do with the challenging nature of the appellation than him.

While Savennières has its historical champions such as Curnonsky and Napoleon, chenin blanc based wines are not vogueish, with ageing they are certainly delicious and deserve more modern acclaim.

The vineyards at Closel-Chateau des Vaults cover 42 acres (17 hectares)of one of the best schist terroirs in Savennières. They practice organic agriculture (Ecocert) to produce Savennières, Anjou and Anjou-Villages. Until recently, the general manager of the estate was Michèle de Jessey, a central figure in the appellation. Madame de Jessey has become highly respected for her expertise and was the first woman in France to serve as President of an Appellation Controlée. Her daughter, Evelyne de Jessey-Pontbriand, and granddaughter, Isaure de Pontbriand, are now the fourth and fifth generation of women to manage the estate, which has been in the family for over 150 years. Their dry wines have gained an intense following amongst novices and collectors alike. [1]