Côtes d'Auvergne

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The Côtes d'Auvergne geographical area extends approximately 80 kilometres from north to south and 15 kilometres from east to west, between the Monts du Livradois range and the Sancy massif.
• The vineyard parcels, scattered in small pockets across well-defined hillsides, lie at an altitude of between 350 and 550 metres across 53 communes.
• The Chanturgue vineyard occupies the steep slopes of more than 25% gradient on a basaltic plateau, while Châteaugay is situated on the flanks of an ancient basaltic flow fragmented into several small plateaux.
• Corent takes its name from a puy formed during the most recent eruptions, with dark-coloured soils rich in volcanic colluvium, while Boudes occupies a calcareous hill capped by a basaltic flow, and Madargue corresponds to a white-coloured marly viticultural knoll.
• The soils, derived from varied parent materials including marls, basalts, volcanic colluvium, granites, and gneisses, all display excellent thermal behaviour and low water-holding capacity.
• Côtes d'Auvergne benefits from a semi-continental climate, with a foehn effect generated by the Chaîne des Puys and the Sancy massif, which shelters the area from moist air masses arriving from the west and maintains higher temperatures.

• Vine cultivation in the Puy-de-Dôme dates back at least to the fifth century, as attested by the writings of Sidonius Apollinaris, who was then Bishop of Clermont.
• A ruling by the Riom Tribunal in 1932 granted the appellation d'origine "Vins d'Auvergne" to wines made from Gamay, Pinot noir, and Chardonnay produced across 171 communes of the Puy-de-Dôme.
• A selection of the Gamay variety, known as "Gamay d'Auvergne", is characterised by loose bunches and late budburst, and was identified at a time when this variety was establishing itself as the dominant planting.

• The white wines generally display notes of citrus, exotic fruits, or ripe pear, which may develop towards toasty aromas, with freshness, breadth, and richness on the palate.
• The rosé wines are delicate, with aromas frequently dominated by fruitiness, notably citrus, exotic fruits, or red fruits.
• The red wines have a generally fairly deep colour and aromas that are often fruit-driven in youth — blackcurrant, redcurrant — which may evolve towards notes of ripe jammy fruits, morello cherry, or spices such as pepper.

• The foehn effect, arising from the shelter provided by the Chaîne des Puys and the Sancy massif, regulates temperatures and limits rainfall, ensuring an early start to the vegetative cycle and optimal ripeness of the grapes.

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

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Côtes d'Auvergne Boudes AOC (PDO)
• Côtes d'Auvergne Chanturgue AOC (PDO)
• Côtes d'Auvergne Chateaugay AOC (PDO)
• Côtes d'Auvergne Corent AOC (PDO)
• Côtes d'Auvergne Madargues AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 11 janvier 2024, JORF 19 janvier 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry