Cornas

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The appellation area is delimited within the single commune of Cornas, in the Ardèche department, between the zones of the Saint-Péray and Saint-Joseph appellations.
• The vineyard forms a wide-open amphitheatre facing south, sheltered from the north wind by the Arlettes massif, and benefits from a temperate climate of the 'Lyonnais' type, modulated by the southerly exposure and this natural windbreak.
• The great majority of the vineyard rests on soils derived from the weathering of primary igneous rocks of the granite family, known as the porphyroid granites of Tournon.
• To the north of the commune, a remnant of Secondary-era sedimentary deposits forming the Arlettes massif, consisting of eroded compact limestones, has released calcareous scree, notably in the lieu-dit 'Pied-la-Vigne', over a very small portion of the zone.
• On the steeper slopes, whether on calcareous scree or granite hillsides, the vines are cultivated on small terraces separated by traditional dry-stone walls maintained by the growers.
• On more alluvial soils located at the foot of the hillsides, the vineyard extends over larger parcels, and more recently it has also spread onto hills situated above 250 metres in altitude.
• The north wind blows in the form of the Mistral, drying the air and bringing coolness in summer but a bitterly cold feeling in winter, while the south wind generally heralds the arrival of weather disturbances. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The earliest written records of viticulture in Cornas date back at least to the tenth century, with mention of the gift of a vineyard to a canon in the cartulary of the abbey of Saint-Chaffre du Monastier.
• The Cornas appellation d'origine contrôlée was obtained by decree on 5 August 1938, notably at the initiative of mayor F. Michel, H. Astruc, and Baron Leroy.

• The wine displays a very deep, garnet colour, tending almost to black, which evolves toward amber tones with age, and reveals itself as powerful and full-bodied at its peak after extended cellaring.
• As early as 1819, a reference work on wine already described it as rich in colour, with great body, marrow, velvety texture, and substance.

• The mesoclimate, perhaps at the origin of the commune's Celtic name meaning 'burnt earth', allows for early ripening, which explains harvests that are often a week ahead of those at Hermitage.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 4 juillet 2024, JORF 9 juillet 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône