Anjou vineyards and wine cellars near Angers

Angers sits at the heart of the Anjou-Saumur wine region: 27 appellations and some 20,000 hectares of vines between the Loire and its tributaries. Two grapes rule here. Chenin Blanc, the king of Loire whites, makes dry, sweet and sparkling wines, while Cabernet Franc, the region’s most planted grape, makes fruity reds. The nearest vineyards are twenty minutes from the city centre. Here are the appellations we recommend, from nearest to furthest, and our tips for planning the day.

Start in Angers: the Maison des vins

Before heading out to the vineyards, stop at the Maison des vins d’Anjou et de Saumur, on Place Kennedy, right opposite the château. It is the showcase for the region’s appellation wines: several dozen wines, chosen each year in blind tastings, to taste and buy on the spot. It also runs introductory tasting sessions, and the team will help you choose which estates to visit. Opening hours change with the season, so check before you go.

Savennières and the Coulée de Serrant (about 20 minutes)

Some 15 km south-west of Angers, on the right bank of the Loire, the Savennières appellation covers the villages of Bouchemaine, Savennières and La Possonnière. Here Chenin Blanc makes elegant dry whites that can age for decades. Two smaller appellations lie within it: the Roche aux Moines, and the Coulée de Serrant, a 7-hectare vineyard that is an appellation in its own right, first planted by Cistercian monks in the 12th century.

The village of Savennières, listed as a Petite Cité de Caractère, is lovely on foot. Close by, the island village of Béhuard, a pilgrimage site since ancient times, rounds off the outing nicely. You can also get there by bike: our guide to the Loire by bike from Angers covers the route.

Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux (25 to 35 minutes)

South-west of Angers, the river Layon winds between schist hills and runs along the Corniche Angevine before joining the Loire at Chalonnes. This is the home of great sweet Chenin wines, with aromas of honey and candied fruit. The Coteaux du Layon is the largest of these appellations, and two renowned crus stand out within it: Quarts de Chaume, in Rochefort-sur-Loire, the only Grand Cru in the Loire Valley, recognised in 2011, and Bonnezeaux, on the right bank of the Layon around Thouarcé.

Anjou Tourisme publishes a map of the Anjou wine and village routes, with six itineraries, including an 86 km circuit through the hillsides and viewpoints of the Layon. The wine villages, windmills and views over the valley are as much of a draw as the cellars.

Brissac and the Aubance (about 25 minutes)

South-east of Angers, around Brissac-Quincé, the Aubance area makes two very different wines. Anjou Brissac, called Anjou Villages Brissac until 2020, is a structured red from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that ages well. Coteaux de l’Aubance is a sweet white made from Chenin. The Château de Brissac, the tallest château in France, is the flagship of the appellation, and a visit pairs easily with a tasting, as we suggest in our guide to châteaux near Angers.

Saumur: Saumur-Champigny and the sparkling-wine cellars (about 50 minutes)

To the east, the Saumur area is red-wine country, made from Cabernet Franc. Saumur-Champigny comes from eight villages around Saumur, where the vines grow on hillsides of tuffeau, the white limestone of the Saumur area.

It is also the capital of Loire sparkling wine. The Saumur area has the largest concentration of troglodyte sites in France, and from the 19th century the big sparkling-wine houses moved into the old tuffeau quarries to age their bottles. Saumur Fines Bulles and Crémant de Loire are made here by the traditional method, with a second fermentation in the bottle.

Several historic houses open their cellars to the public, with a guided tour and a tasting. In Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent, west of Saumur town centre, Ackerman, founded in 1811 and a pioneer of Loire sparkling wine, Bouvet-Ladubay and Langlois-Château show visitors round their galleries dug into the tuffeau. Gratien & Meyer also welcomes visitors to its cellars on the road to Montsoreau. Tours and opening times vary with the season: book on each house’s website, especially in summer and at weekends.

Saumur is also reachable by train from Angers, and there is a Maison des vins in the town centre too. Make a day of it and walk up to the château above the Loire.

Planning your day

• Choose a driver: whoever drives doesn’t drink, or spits. In France the legal limit for drivers is 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood, and 0.2 g for new drivers. Without a car, Saumur is easy by train and Savennières by bike, and guides run accompanied walks and tastings in the vineyards: the Angers tourist office can point you to them.
• Book your visits: many family estates welcome visitors by appointment. Call ahead, especially during the grape harvest in September and October.
• Look for the label: Angers and Saumur are both Vignobles & Découvertes destinations, the national wine-tourism label, awarded for three years at a time. Labelled cellars, restaurants, accommodation and activities are listed on the Anjou Tourisme website.
• Don’t overdo it: two or three cellars in a day is plenty if you want time to talk to the winemakers.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health: please drink in moderation.

Setting off from Angers

Our flats Le Cocon Angevin and Coup de cœur Angevin are in the very centre, within walking distance of the Maison des vins and the château, with a large public car park right below the building for days out by car. The kitchen at Coup de cœur Angevin even has wine glasses, so you can try your purchases when you get back. For the rest of your stay, see our guide to Angers in 2 days.