12 APPELLATIONS
> Chénas

Fact sheet

Appellation recognition decree : 11th September 1936
 
Appellation type : communal
 
Surface area : 266 ha. As far as surface area is concerned Chénas is the smallest of the Beaujolais Crus.
 
Yield per hectare : 52 hl/ha
 
Production (in 2006) : 13 795 hl, or 1.8 million bottles
 
Grape variety : gamay noir à jus blanc
 
Colour : red
 
Pruning type : short goblet leaving 3 to 5 branches on each vine and a maximum of 10 eyes (buds).
 
Number of plants per hectare : from 8 000 to 10 000.
 
Soil type : from the very highest parts of the appellation, including Pic Rémont that overlooks it, the granitic soils spread down towards the Saône plain becoming silica-clay with a stony surface.
 
Orientation : northwest, east and south.
 
Communes with the right to the appellation name : Chénas in the Rhône department and La Chapelle-de-Guinchay in the Saône-et-Loire department.
 
Number of vinegrowers : 200
 
Vinification : in whole bunches. This vinification type is specific to the Beaujolais winemaking area. Length of fermentation on the skins: from 8 to 12 days, depending on the vintage and the winemaker. After vatting and the first, alcoholic, fermentation, the grapes are pressed and the run off and press juices are assembled then the second, malo-lactic, fermentation takes place. Its role is to render the wines supple in removing their acidity. In order to get the most out of their grapes and give added structure to their wines, quite a few winemakers use techniques to immerge the grapes in their own juice during the first fermentation such as placing a grid over the cap to hold it down, pushing the cap down or pumping the juice from the bottom of the vat over the cap.
 


Appellation extras
Its rarity, quality and elegance make it a much sought after wine by amateurs.