After Saint-Amour and Fleurie , are you familiar with the Chénas AOC? It's one of the 10 Beaujolais crus! Produced between the Rhône and Saône-et-Loire departments, this red wine isn't found on every table. That's because the Chénas AOC is the smallest Beaujolais appellation in terms of surface area. What dishes pair well with this Beaujolais cru? Laetitia Allemand takes us along to discover this small village and its lovely wines.

The village of Chénas

AOC Chénas - Dailymotion Video

Here we are near Chénas, a small village of 500 inhabitants that gave its name to one of the 12 Beaujolais AOCs. The village itself takes its name from the ancient oak groves that grew here in Roman times. As you can see, the ancient oaks have given way to vines, a process that began in 1316 thanks to a royal decree. Later, Chénas even had the distinction of being the favorite wine of Louis XIII.

Here we are near Chénas, a small village of 500 inhabitants that gave its name to one of the 12 Beaujolais AOCs. The village itself takes its name from the ancient oak groves that grew here in Roman times. As you can see, the ancient oaks have given way to vines, a process that began in 1316 thanks to a royal decree. Later, Chénas even had the distinction of being the favorite wine of Louis XIII.

The vineyards of the AOC Chénas, Beaujolais wine

The Chénas vineyard stretches out lengthwise. It overlooks the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, its famous neighbor. It extends across gentle slopes to the west and gradually flattens out to the east, towards the Saône River. It is the smallest Beaujolais appellation in terms of surface area. As a result, it is a wine that is rarely found on tables!

Tasting tips for AOC Chénas wine

Chénas wine is characterized by its generosity. It is soft on the palate, structured, and pairs perfectly with a good veal stew or poultry . It also goes very well with strong cheeses . Personally, I like it with beef tartare. And why not with chili con carne?

Laetitia ( The Grapes )