Appellation
Bonnezeaux
Identity card
VillageAOPSweet
Loire Valley · Recognised on 6 November 1951
- Village
- Regional
Key points
- Overripe grapes, hand-picked in successive passes.
- At most 25 hl/ha; at least 15% natural alcohol and 51 g/l of sugar.
- A single former commune: Thouarcé, on the Layon.
Grape varieties
Production rules
25
hl/ha
Maximum yield
15
% ABV
Minimum natural alcohol
Minimum ageing: At least until 15 March of the year after the harvest
- Maximum yield
- How much wine a hectare may produce under the appellation (a higher, exceptional ceiling often exists). The lower it is, the less can be made: one of the levers on how concentrated the grapes are. For reference: 20 hl/ha to 50 hl/ha across 9 Oenopia appellations of the same colour.
- Minimum natural alcohol
- The alcohol the grapes' own sugar must be able to give, without enrichment: a ripeness threshold at harvest. For reference: 12 % ABV to 18 % ABV across 9 Oenopia appellations of the same colour.
- Minimum ageing
- A minimum ageing period the specification requires before the wine may be sold to consumers.
Terroir
- Aspect: Three steep south-west-facing slopes above the Layon
- Soils: Schist and sandstone; shallow, very stony soils
- Climate: Attenuated oceanic; 550–600 mm a year; lee of the Mauges
Wine style
- powerful, very sweet
- dried and tropical fruit
- white flowers
- often gold, green glints
Boundaries: INAO, AOC vineyard plot delimitation (September 2026 edition) · Open Licence
Specification
5 December 2025
Order of 5 December 2025 approving the specification of the AOC “Bonnezeaux” (AGRT2527063A), JORF no. 0298 of 20 December 2025, text no. 22 (BO no. 52 of 25 December 2025). Appellation first recognised by the decree of 6 November 1951.
Labelling terms
- The geographical name "Vin de Loire" may be added
- A registered lieu-dit may be named, in smaller type
Nearby appellations
Sources
- Official sourceCahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Bonnezeaux »— Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO) / Ministère de l'agriculture
In the heart of the Anjou vineyard, Bonnezeaux covers just the former commune of Thouarcé (now part of Bellevigne-en-Layon, Maine-et-Loire), where the vines occupy three steep, south-west-facing slopes above the Layon. Recognised in 1951, the appellation makes only sweet white wines from Chenin Blanc alone, from overripe grapes concentrated on the vine, with or without noble rot, and picked by hand in successive passes. The climate is attenuated oceanic, with little rain.
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Bonnezeaux
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