Chénas
シェナ
The smallest, most sophisticated Cru of Beaujolais with great aging potential.
About Chénas
- Producers listed
- 9
Chénas is the smallest of the ten Beaujolais Crus, covering approximately 260 hectares. Historically, the region was once covered in oak forests, from which its name is derived (chêne means oak in French). The vineyards are situated on granitic soils, producing wines known for their structure, complexity, and aging potential. Often described as the most 'Burgundian' of the Beaujolais Crus, Chénas wines offer a sophisticated profile with floral notes of peony and rose, evolving into spicy and woody nuances over time. Despite its limited production, it remains a highly respected appellation among connoisseurs seeking depth and elegance in Gamay-based wines.
Best for
Ideal for collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate structured, elegant Gamay wines that benefit from aging.
Food Pairings
Roasted poultry, grilled red meats, mushroom risotto, and aged cheeses.
Producers
カーヴ・デュ・シャトー・ド・シェナ
Cave du Château de Chénas
Founded in 1934 by 44 winegrowers, Cave du Château de Chénas is a historic cooperative winery in the heart of the Beaujolais region. Today it brings together approximately 110 passionate growers cultivating vines across the prestigious Crus of Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, Fleurie, Juliénas, and Brouilly. The estate is renowned for its magnificent vaulted underground cellar, built in the 17th century during the reign of Louis XIV — one of the largest in Beaujolais at roughly 560 square meters, with a storage capacity of around 900 hectoliters. Wines are released across three ranges: Tradition (100% tank-aged), Cœur de Granit (30% oak, blended with tank-aged wine), and Thesaurus (100% oak-aged), all expressing the granite terroir of Beaujolais through 100% Gamay.
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www.cavedechenas.comドメーヌ・アニタ
Domaine Anita
Domaine Anita is an 18-hectare estate in Chénas, southern Beaujolais, founded by Anita Kuhnel (also known as Anita Neveu), a former professional cyclist who released her first vintage in 2015. Her holdings span the crus of Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, Fleurie, and Chénas, plus Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages, with densely planted vines (up to 10,000 vines per hectare) ranging from 40 to 100 years old; her oldest parcels are still plowed by horse. In the cellar she is assisted by Guy Marion, who spent 52 harvests as cellarmaster for Georges Duboeuf. The wines aim for minimal intervention and maximal clarity of site, and cuvées such as Moulin-à-Vent Cœur de Vigneronne have earned critical acclaim for their concentration, precision, and aging potential.
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www.domaine-anita.com/ドメーヌ・セリーヌ・エ・ニコラ・イルシュ
Domaine Céline et Nicolas Hirsch
Domaine Céline et Nicolas Hirsch is a husband-and-wife estate at Les Brureaux in Chénas, in the northern Beaujolais. The couple bought the estate in 2011. They farm about 5.5 hectares, mainly in Chénas, with some Moulin-à-Vent and Juliénas, and make the Chénas Les Brureaux from a parcel around their house.
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ドメーヌ・ジュール・デジュルネ
Domaine Jules Desjourneys
Founded by Fabien Duperray, Domaine Jules Desjourneys is a prestigious estate producing exceptional wines in Beaujolais, specifically in Chenas, Moulin-a-Vent, and Fleurie. Duperray, a former wine merchant, applies a meticulous, uncompromising approach to viticulture and winemaking. The estate focuses on extremely low yields, old vines, and minimal intervention, aiming to elevate Beaujolais Crus to the same level of prestige as the finest wines of Burgundy. His wines are renowned for their incredible purity, depth, and remarkable aging potential, challenging traditional perceptions of the region.
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beaujolaisandco.fr/chenas/ドメーヌ・ピロン・ラムロワーズ
Domaine Piron-Lameloise
Domaine Piron-Lameloise is a prestigious joint venture between Dominique Piron, a renowned Beaujolais producer with a long family history in Morgon, and the Lameloise family, owners of the legendary three-Michelin-starred restaurant Maison Lameloise in Chagny. This collaboration focuses on crafting exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Beaujolais region, particularly the granite soils of the Crus. Their flagship cuvées, such as the 'Quartz' Chénas, demonstrate a sophisticated approach to Gamay, emphasizing elegance, precision, and gastronomic versatility. By combining Piron's deep viticultural expertise with the culinary excellence of the Lameloise team, the estate produces wines specifically designed to elevate fine dining experiences.
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www.domainepiron.fr/ドメーヌ・ティヤルドン
Domaine Thillardon
Founded in 2008 by Paul-Henri Thillardon, later joined by his brother Charles, this estate has become a beacon for the revival of the Chénas appellation in Beaujolais. The domaine farms roughly a dozen hectares biodynamically across Chénas, Moulin-à-Vent, and Beaujolais (Pierres Dorées), working old vines — some over a century old — with whole-cluster fermentation and aging in neutral vessels to preserve the purity of Gamay. Their parcel-specific cuvées, such as Chassignol, Vibrations, and Les Carrières, have redefined expectations for Beaujolais, showing remarkable depth, minerality, and ageability.
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ドメーヌ・ド・コート・レモン
Domaine de Côtes Rémont
Domaine de Côtes Rémont is a family wine estate at 744 chemin de Rémont in Chénas, in the Beaujolais, run by Catherine and Dominique Olry. It makes Chénas and Juliénas, and the estate offers tasting and sales on site.
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www.chenascotesremont.comユーゴ・エ・アンジェラ・フォワゼル
Hugo et Angela Foizel
Hugo et Angela Foizel is the Chénas estate of Hugo Foizel and Angela Quiblier, whose wines are sold under the Obora label. The couple met in 2017 while studying oenology in Dijon, and were the first co-managers of the Domaine des Jeunes Pousses in Émeringes. They farm about 6 hectares, mainly Gamay, in Chénas and Juliénas, and make low-intervention wines with spontaneous fermentation and minimal sulfur.
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レミ・ブノン
Rémi Benon
Rémi Benon is a family wine estate at La Chapelle-de-Guinchay in the Beaujolais, near Juliénas. It makes Chénas and Saint-Amour, and the estate offers tasting and sales on site. Rémi Benon runs the estate, which has been in his family for generations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main grape variety in Chénas?
- Like all Beaujolais Crus, Chénas is made exclusively from the Gamay grape, grown on granitic soils that give the wines structure and depth.
- Why is Chénas considered rare?
- Chénas is the smallest of the ten Beaujolais Crus at roughly 260 hectares, so production is very limited and bottles are harder to find than those of neighboring crus.
- Where does the name Chénas come from?
- The name derives from 'chêne', the French word for oak, referring to the oak forests that once covered the hillsides before vines were planted.
- How does Chénas compare to Moulin-à-Vent?
- Chénas borders Moulin-à-Vent and shares its granitic terroir, producing similarly structured, age-worthy wines, though Chénas is often slightly more floral and less powerful.
- How long can Chénas wines age?
- Good examples of Chénas can age for 5 to 10 years, developing spicy, woody, and earthy nuances that make it one of the most 'Burgundian' Beaujolais Crus.