Saône-et-Loire

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard extends across a broad band 50 km long and 50 km wide as far as the Brionnais, a continuation of the Mâconnais fault.
• The relief consists of a succession of hills reaching up to 500 m in altitude, with vines planted between 250 and 400 m.
• The soils are clay-limestone in type, with calcareous marls known locally as "fromentaux", or clay-siliceous in type, containing flint.
• Rainfall can range from 400 to 800 mm per year, and the south- to south-east-facing slopes allow for natural drainage.

• The vine's golden age fell between 1840 and 1900, with 3,000 ha recorded across the communes of Mailly, Iguerande, Semur-en-Brionnais, Fleury-la-Montagne, Saint-Julien-de-Jonzy, and Saint-Bonnet-de-Cray.
• Sparkling wine made by the traditional method was produced in the commune of Semur-en-Brionnais using the Saint Pierre Doré and Chardonnay varieties, until 1958.
• The presence of the hybridisers and nurserymen of the era — M. Ravat, vine propagator, and M. Burdin — in the communes of Marcigny and Iguerande pointed to a significant viticultural activity across the Brionnais territory.

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)
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Confédération des Vins IGP de France