Pouilly-sur-Loire
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- Area spanning 7 communes around the hillock of Saint-Andelain, whose summit reaches 270 m — roughly 100 m above the valley floor
- Kimmeridgian soils ('terres blanches'), the most widespread, found across Pouilly-sur-Loire and Saint-Andelain
- Oxfordian soils with high stone content, known as 'caillottes', very prevalent in the north-eastern part of the zone
- Clayey 'silex' of Cretaceous origin found mainly on Saint-Andelain; siliceous soils at Tracy-sur-Loire
- Degraded oceanic climate, 600 mm of rainfall per year; the Loire moderates temperatures by draining cold air from the valleys
Human factors
- In the 18th century, the vineyard (2,000 ha) was planted with melon B, meslier Saint-François B, sauvignon B, and chasselas B
Product characteristics
- Pouilly-Fumé: pale yellow to gold appearance, notes of citrus and white flowers, mineral character, with complexity and freshness
- Pouilly-sur-Loire: easy-drinking and refreshing wines, with mineral notes, white flowers, and dried fruit, showing a certain roundness
Terroir / wine link
- From 'terres blanches': powerful wines with citrus accents; from 'caillottes': elegant, with white-flower notes; from 'silex': fresh, with mineral finishes
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.