Wine Variety: Grolleau is the third most widely-planted red grape variety in the Loire Valley, trailing Cabernet Franc and Gamay. It has to be grown sympathetically in order for it to produce its best wine; this includes severe pruning and yield control. It seems that the mostly likely origin for the name is an archaic French word for crow - grolle - probably referring to the colour of the fruit. Grolleau is yet another offspring of the ubiquitous Gouais Blanc.

Wine Region: Val de Loire is one of France's IGPs - Indication Géographique Protegée - that cover large swathes of regional France and which come with their own set of laws governing viticulture and vinification. The Layon tributary of the River Loire lies in Anjou and produces among the valley's finest sweet wines. 

Wine Producer: Domaine des Chailloux is in the upper Layon Valley and has its origins as recently as 1983 when Philippe Turc left a horticultural career to commence wine production, joined by a friend skilled in organic production. They follow a path of minimal intervention in vineyard and winery.