Romorantin is a rare French white wine grape, formally listed in France as Romorantin B. It is best known from the Loire Valley appellation of Cour-Cheverny.
Romorantin is a grape variety—not a region, appellation or winemaking method. Wines made from it are uncommon, so you are most likely to encounter the name in connection with French wine, particularly Cour-Cheverny.
Highlights
- Romorantin is a white wine grape.
- Its strongest modern association is with Cour-Cheverny AOC in France’s Loire Valley.
- The formal French catalogue name is Romorantin B.
- Danery is an official French name used in the context of vine-propagation material.
- French plantings fell from about 680 hectares in 1958 to 79 hectares in 2018, according to Plantgrape.
- Wines can show fruity, citrus and yellow-fruit character, although style varies.
- Oxidative notes may occur in some examples, but Romorantin is not automatically an oxidative wine.
- Reliable evidence of established Australian plantings or commercial production was not confirmed in the available wine-industry sources.
Where does Romorantin come from?
Romorantin’s principal modern home is the Loire Valley, especially the small Cour-Cheverny AOC in the Loir-et-Cher area.
Cour-Cheverny is an appellation: a protected geographical and production designation. Romorantin is the grape associated with it. The two names therefore refer to different things:
- Romorantin: the grape variety.
- Cour-Cheverny: the French appellation and its wines.
- Romorantin-Lanthenay: a town whose name is historically connected with the grape, but not another name for the grape itself.
INAO, France’s national origin and quality institute, records a traditional account linking the grape’s introduction to the area with King François I. That is best understood as appellation history rather than a proven account of the grape’s biological origin.
What does Romorantin wine taste like?
Authoritative sources describe Romorantin as capable of producing wines that are fine, fruity and pleasant. Cour-Cheverny material also refers to citrus and yellow-fleshed-fruit aromas, with possible oxidative notes.
In practical terms, a Romorantin wine may combine fresh fruit character with a more developed, textural or gently oxidative edge. But the grape name alone cannot tell you whether a particular wine will be sweet or dry, light or full-bodied, high in acidity or designed for ageing.
Those details depend on the vineyard, vintage, ripeness, fermentation, maturation and the winemaker’s choices. Treat the flavour descriptions as tendencies, not a fixed formula.
Why is Romorantin uncommon?
Plantgrape’s recorded French vineyard area shows a long decline: from approximately 680 hectares in 1958 to 79 hectares in 2018. That supports describing Romorantin as rare, uncommon or geographically limited.
It is safer, however, not to call it extinct or “the rarest grape in France”. The 2018 figure also is not a current 2026 total, and it does not measure plantings around the world.
Plantgrape reports that published genetic studies suggest Romorantin may be a cross between Pinot teinturier and Gouais blanc. The cautious wording matters: this is a reported genetic finding, not an established historical story about how the variety was created.
Will you find Romorantin in Australia?
Romorantin is not an established mainstream Australian variety in the available national wine-industry references. Reliable evidence of Australian plantings or commercial production was not confirmed during research.
That does not prove that no Australian vine, trial planting or one-off wine exists. It means there is not enough verified evidence here to name an Australian region, producer or retail source. An Australian reader encountering Romorantin is more likely to be learning about an imported French wine, but current availability would need to be checked separately.
What should you expect if you see it on a label?
First, check whether the label names Cour-Cheverny. That points to the Loire appellation most closely associated with Romorantin. If it names Romorantin as the variety, expect a white wine whose style may include citrus or yellow-fruit character, with the possibility of more developed or oxidative notes.
Do not assume the wine is sweet, highly acidic or oxidative simply because it is made from Romorantin. The producer, vintage and bottle description will tell you more about the particular wine.
Frequently asked questions
Is Romorantin a white or red grape?
Romorantin is a white wine grape.
Is Romorantin the same as Cour-Cheverny?
No. Romorantin is the grape variety; Cour-Cheverny is the French appellation associated with wines made from it.
Is Danery another name for Romorantin?
Danery is an official French name recorded in the context of vine-propagation material. Romorantin B is the formal catalogue name used by Plantgrape.
Is Romorantin always an oxidative wine?
No. Oxidative notes may occur in some examples, but they are not an unavoidable characteristic of every Romorantin wine.
Is Romorantin grown in Australia?
Reliable evidence of established Australian plantings or commercial production was not confirmed in the available authoritative sources.