Coteaux du Layon in dry white push

Producers in the sweet wine producing appellation of Coteaux du Layon in the Loire Valley are pushing to be able to make dry white wines in the region.

Chenin Blanc vines in Coteaux du Layon

Speaking to the drinks business during a recent visit to the region, Emmanuel Ogereau of Domaine Ogereau said: “I really believe in the potential for quality dry white wines in Coteaux de Layon.

“The terroirs in the region with the best potential for dry whites are the mineral rich volcanic soils.

“Sweet wines are a hard sell. They account for less than 5% of total wine production in France, so we need to look at other avenues.

“An increasing number of producers in Sauternes are moving into dry white production due to the difficulty of selling sweet wine in the marketplace.

“I’d like to see the producers in Coteaux du Layon collectively coming together to work out a way of successfully marketing and promoting dry whites as they are currently forbidden under the appellation rules. We’re witnessing the beginning of the dry white revolution in Coteaux du Layon.”

It is currently possible to downgrade dry whites made in Coteaux du Layon to dry Anjou blanc.

In addition to his dry white push, Ogereau believes one way around the sweet wine problem is to educate consumers that the wines can be enjoyed at different points during a meal rather than solely at the end.

“I think our wines make an excellent apéritif. I’m working hard to push the idea that Coteaux du Layon wines can be enjoyed at the beginning of a meal,” he said.