Château Belle-Rive: Vineyards
Although the vineyards are today in the hands of Loire Propriétés, and the cellars belong to neighbouring Château de Suronde, I have left my account of the vineyards and winemaking from when this was a whole and independent estate here, for historical interest if nothing else.
The vineyards of the Quarts de Chaume appellation look down onto the waters of the Layon. In truth the vines which line the country lane running from the turning off the D54 down to Château Belle-Rive, which I described in my introduction to this profile, mostly have the Chaume rather than the Quarts de Chaume appellation. The Chaume appellation surrounds and interdigitates with its Quarts de Chaume enclave. It is only as you approach the village of Chaume, confusingly enough, that Chaume gives way to Quarts de Chaume.
The appellation is divided up into four somewhat unequal slopes by three streams that run down off the slope and drain into the Layon. Thus the land resembles (somewhat) a hand with all four fingers splayed, each finger one of the slopes; between each finger there is a little valley, or coulée as they are known locally.
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