Pouilly-Fumé ou Blanc Fumé de Pouilly

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical area stretches over approximately twenty kilometres along the right bank of the Loire and reaches a peak of 270 metres, more than 100 metres above the valley floor.
• The vineyards are concentrated across seven communes around the hill of Saint-Andelain, which forms the highest point of the geographical area.
• The Kimmeridgian marls, known locally as «terres blanches» (white soils), are found in the central part of the geographical area, in the communes of Pouilly-sur-Loire and Saint-Andelain, and constitute the most widely represented viticultural soils.
• The Oxfordian limestones have given rise to highly stony soils known locally as caillottes, which are very prevalent in the north-eastern part of the geographical area.
• The «silex» — more or less clayey flint residues that appeared following the powerful erosive phase of the Cretaceous — are found mainly within the commune of Saint-Andelain.
• The geographical area enjoys a degraded oceanic climate, with average annual rainfall of 600 millimetres, and the Loire playing a predominant role as a thermal regulator by draining cold air from the perpendicular valleys.

• The Sauvignon grape variety is known locally as «blanc fumé» because at maturity the grape berries become covered with a grey bloom.
• A court ruling of 1923 enshrined the use of the name «Pouilly-Fumé» for wines made from the Sauvignon grape variety and the name «Pouilly-sur-Loire» for those made from the Chasselas grape variety.
• In the eighteenth century, the vineyard covered 2,000 hectares and was planted with a range of grape varieties: Melon, Meslier Saint-François, Sauvignon, and Chasselas.

• Pouilly-Fumé wines display a colour ranging from pale yellow to gold and may develop fruity citrus notes, floral white-flower notes, varietal character, and minerality.
• Pouilly-Fumé wines express complexity, finesse, generosity, and freshness, while those of Pouilly-sur-Loire are easy-drinking, clean, and refreshing with a certain roundness.

• The combination of the degraded oceanic climate, the sheltered position from westerly winds, and the proximity of the Loire — which acts as a thermal regulator — gives this area excellent climatic conditions for both Sauvignon and Chasselas.

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 13 décembre 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — BIVC — Vins du Centre-Loire