Cour-Cheverny AOC

Cour-Cheverny's story begins with royalty. In 1519, King Francis I ordered 80,000 Romorantin vine stocks transported from Burgundy to plant near his royal court at Chambord. The appellation was formally created in May 1949 under the name 'Mont Près-Chambord, Cour Cheverny,' covering four villages. By the mid-20th century, Romorantin had fallen to near extinction, rescued largely through the efforts of local growers including Henry Marionnet. On March 26, 1993, the appellation received full AOC status and expanded to 11 communes. Today, Domaine Henri Marionnet maintains a vineyard planted in 1850 that survived the phylloxera epidemic, one of the most historically significant plots in the Loire Valley.

• Francis I planted Romorantin at Chambord in 1519, establishing the grape's Loire identity
• Original 1949 appellation name: Mont Près-Chambord, Cour Cheverny
• Full AOC status granted March 26, 1993, covering 11 communes
• Pre-phylloxera vines at Domaine Henri Marionnet, planted 1850, remain in production

Cour-Cheverny is the only appellation in the world dedicated entirely to Romorantin. No other AOC permits it as a varietal wine, and no other wine region cultivates it commercially. Genetically, Romorantin is a cross between Gouais blanc and Pinot fin teinturier, placing it in the same family as Chardonnay. The variety produces wines of high natural acidity and pronounced mineral character, with aromas of white flowers, citrus, and acacia in youth, developing honey and hazelnut notes with age. Both dry and off-dry styles are permitted; in ripe vintages, sweet wines can be produced through passerillage or noble rot.

• Romorantin is a sibling of Chardonnay, sharing Gouais blanc as a parent
• Cultivated exclusively within the Cour-Cheverny AOC boundaries
• Produces high-acid, mineral-driven whites with 10 to 20+ year aging potential
• Sweet styles possible in ripe vintages via passerillage or noble rot

Cour-Cheverny sits within the Sologne region, south of Blois in the Loir-et-Cher department, at elevations between 73 and 118 meters. The climate is semi-oceanic with a slightly more continental character than the broader Loire Valley, shaped by local wooded hills and the river valleys of the Beuvron and Cosson. Annual rainfall averages around 640 millimeters. Soils are a mix of clays, siliceous sands, and limestone, with clay-siliceous and clay-calcareous profiles predominating. High river terraces from the Loire and windblown sands appear in parts of the zone, contributing to the appellation's textural range and mineral backbone.

• Located across 11 communes in Loir-et-Cher, south of Blois in the Sologne
• Semi-oceanic climate with continental influence; 640mm annual rainfall
• Soils: clay-siliceous and clay-calcareous, with some Loire terraces and windblown sands
• Elevation range of 73 to 118 meters across the appellation

Cour-Cheverny sits within the broader Cheverny AOC but operates as a distinct, single-varietal appellation with its own separate rules. As of 2023, approximately 24 producers are active, including 21 domains, 2 cooperatives, and 2 merchant houses. The 2023 vintage produced 3,597 hectoliters from 71 hectares, reflecting a small but dedicated production base. The appellation produces white wine only, with Romorantin as the sole permitted variety and no blending allowed under any circumstances.

• Sub-appellation within Cheverny AOC; white wine only, 100% Romorantin
• 24 producers as of 2023: 21 domains, 2 cooperatives, 2 merchant houses
• 71 hectares under vine; 3,597 hectoliters produced in 2023
• No blending permitted; Romorantin must constitute 100% of every wine