📜 Saint-Chinian

Saint-Chinian is a French protected designation of origin (AOC, PDO) for dry still white, red and rosé wines from the Hérault department in Languedoc. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

The wines are blends of at least two of the permitted varieties. For red and rosé wines the principal varieties are Grenache Noir, Lledoner Pelut, Mourvèdre and Syrah, with Carignan and Cinsaut as accessory varieties. For white wines the principal varieties are Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Vermentino, with Carignan Blanc, Clairette and Viognier as accessory varieties.

The minimum natural alcoholic strength is 12% vol, and after enrichment the total strength may not exceed 13% vol. Fermentable sugars are limited to 4 grams per litre for white and rosé wines, and to 3 or 4 grams per litre for red wines depending on natural strength. Wood chips are forbidden.

The maximum yield is 45 hectolitres per hectare for red and white wines and 50 hl/ha for rosé, with upper limits of 54 and 60 hl/ha. Vines are planted at a minimum density of 4,000 per hectare.

The spec lists 20 communes of the Hérault, from Assignan to Villespassans, where grapes are harvested and wines made and aged. The appellation was recognised on 5 May 1982, and the complementary geographical names ‘Berlou’ and ‘Roquebrun’ on 2 February 2005.