Charentes France

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Charentes - Region Overview (Wine Context)

Location: Western France north of Bordeaux and inland from the Atlantic coast.
Administrative region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Main centres: Cognac, Angouleme, Saintes.
Total vineyard area: Approximately 80,000 hectares, primarily dedicated to Cognac production.
Subregions: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Bois Ordinaires.

Wine and Viticulture Statistics

Wine climate: Maritime climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.
Main grape varieties: Ugni Blanc (dominant), Colombard, Folle Blanche.
Wine styles: Base wines for Cognac distillation, fortified Pineau des Charentes, and limited dry white wine production.
Production focus: Majority of vineyard output is used for distillation rather than table wine.
Classification system: Appellation dOrigine Controlee (AOC) governs Cognac and Pineau des Charentes production.
Industry notes: Charentes remains a historic viticultural area while administratively part of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Map of Charentes Wine Regions

Charentes and departments map, Carte des départements de la région Charentes

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Charentes Wine Regions

Bois Ordinaires
Bons Bois
Borderies
Grande Champagne
Fins Bois
Petite Champagne

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Charentes Wine Region - France

The Charentes wine region is located in western France, north of Bordeaux and along the Atlantic coast. It corresponds largely to the departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime. The region benefits from a maritime climate, with mild winters, moderate rainfall, and strong Atlantic influence that helps maintain acidity in grapes.

Although not as internationally recognized for table wine as Bordeaux or Burgundy, Charentes is viticulturally significant as the home of Cognac and Pineau des Charentes.

AOC Structure

The principal AOCs of the region include:

Cognac AOC - The internationally protected brandy produced through double distillation of white wine.
Pineau des Charentes AOC - A fortified wine made by blending grape must with Cognac eau-de-vie.
Charentais IGP - Covers still wines produced in the area.

The Cognac production area itself is subdivided into crus:

Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
Borderies
Fins Bois
Bons Bois
Bois Ordinaires

These crus refer to growing zones within the Cognac region, not sparkling wine.

Grape Varieties and Styles

The dominant grape variety in Charentes is Ugni Blanc (known in Italy as Trebbiano), valued for its high acidity and suitability for distillation. Smaller amounts of Colombard and Folle Blanche are also permitted in Cognac production.

Still wines produced under IGP Charentais include white, red, and rosé wines. Whites are typically fresh and crisp, while reds often use Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pineau des Charentes is available in white, rosé, and red styles and is typically sweet and aromatic.

The Charentes region remains economically significant due to Cognac production, which plays a central role in France's spirits export market.