Surface area: 80 ha (200 acres) for the Anjou Mousseux and Anjou Pétillant.
History: Monks played a key role in the development of the Anjou vineyard, each monastery having its own vineyard or ‘clos’. When Henri II Plantagenet became king of England in 1154, the wines of Anjou were served in the royal court throughout his own reign and then during those of his successors. For almost a thousand years, the crowned heads of France and England all helped to build the reputation of Loire Valley wines. Through this impetus, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the vineyard spread from the banks of the Loire out towards its tributaries.
Types of soil: The appellation zone covers two distinct regions:
- The “Anjou Noir” or “Black Anjou” area, on dark schist soils (Southeast edge of the Massif Armoricain) is the most extensive;
- The “Anjou Blanc” or “White Anjou”, on white soils resulting from the weathering of chalk (limestone) from the extreme Southwest of the Paris Basin, only covers a very limited area.
 
Climate:   Moderate oceanic climate, fairly dry, with a fairly low difference between maximum high-low temperatures - the proverbial Anjou mildness.