Followed by a Gourmet Gazette Slide Show
It is a rather royal region nestled into the heart of the Loire Valley, here where names of the towns immediately conjure up visions of castles rising into the air, Saumur, Anjou, Blois, Amboise and Tours. The region has also historically produced rather royal wines, rosé wines, controlled designation of origin rosé wines in its Anjou Saumur Vineyards with its Rosé de Loire, Rosé d’Anjou and Cabernet d’Anjou wines all enjoying unique growing conditions and the Anjou Saumur Vineyard can collectively boast some 27 AOC wines (appellation d’origine contrôlée or controlled designation of origin). They range from dry to fruity to slightly sweet for the Cabernet d’Anjous wines. The wines are either dry or semi-dry and reds, whites and sparkling wines are also produced here.
These are wines that were enjoyed by Henry II Plantagenet, the king of England but otherwise French and the Count of Anjou, would serve the wines of Anjou at his court. Here the good earth is a range of primary soils like chalky tuffeau, schist, flint, limestone clay. There are myriad grape varieties in the region notably Chenin and Cabernet franc which particularly relish evolving in the schist and tuffeau soils. But there are very specific varieties as well like the Grolleau gris and the Grolleau noir. The growing conditions, at times oceanic, at times semi-continental in the Loire Valley, the good earth and the grape varieties all merge together to create aromatic, at times gastronomic wines.
The landscapes here are unique as well in this singular Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sweeping views of the river with castles tucked away into its glorious bends. The three types of rosé wines in the Anjou Saumur vineyards are distinctive with the dry Rosé de Loire wines offering spicy and fruity notes, the region’s leading export wine the Rosé d’Anjou is outfitted with a deep pink color and can either be dry or semi-dry. The Cabernet d’Anjou is a semi-sweet wine appreciated in gastronomic circles.
©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
https://www.anjou-tourisme.com/fr
https://www.ot-saumur.fr/
https://federationviticole.com/
A Gourmet Gazette Slide Show of our Favorite Wines
This light, dry Rosé de Loire from the Domaine de La Petite Roche estate cuvée Essentiel —is made with the Cabernet franc and Grolleau. It offers up a delightfully pink color and like all of the rosés of the region is a perfect aperitif but also goes nicely with Middle Eastern cuisine. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette 
This dry Rosé de Loire from the Domaine de L‘Anglière estate is rich and very gourmet.its composition consists of Gamay, Grolleau noir and Cabernet franc varieties, this is a convivial wine to share over drinks or enjoy with grilled meat and cold cuts. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette 
This dry Rosé d’Anjou from the Leduc-Frouin estate, where the 10th generation of the family is at the helm of the house, is made entirely from the Grolleau variety offering up a unique taste. The harvest is manuel and this wine goes nicely with smoked salmon or smoked fish of the Loire River and is gastronomic enough to be paired with duck à l’orange. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette 
This dry Rosé d’Anjou from the Domaine du Bon Repos estate is refreshing and light and made with the Grolleau noir and Gamay varieties in equal proportions and is a prefect aperitif wine. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette 
The semi-dry Matignon Gourmadise Cabernet d’Anjou wine is made with equal amounts of Cabernet franc and Cabernet sauvignon grape varieties. This is a tasty wine perfect for cocktail hour or with cold cuts, melon and spicy dishes. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette 
A rich semi-dry Cabernet d’Anjou from the Château de Brossay estate. This complex wine is made entirely from the Cabernet franc grape variety emanating from vine plants that are 30-years-old. the house recommends serving it with a chicken paprika, spicy veal or boar in a honey sauce. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette 
Grapes growing in the Anjou Saumur Rosé vineyards at the Domaine Terrebrune wine estate. Courtesy Federation Viticole Anjou Saumur. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette
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