Pouilly-Fuissé

It's great, the 22 climates in the premier cru appellation for Pouilly-Fuissé have been confirmed! 

Before talking about the first growths , let's start by talking about the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation

The Pouilly-Fuissé appellation is located in the Saône et Loire in the extreme south of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. This AOC known throughout the world, represents 760 hectares planted on four villages (Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré) entirely dedicated to Chardonnay and produces a great white wine of very good quality.

This prestigious appellation created in 1936, can be followed by the name of the climate from which the wine comes on the label.  

The term climate refers to the parcels of land in Burgundy. This word takes into account the know-how of the winegrowers, the geological characteristics, the particular exposures and each plot is precisely delimited.

  Commune of Fuissé:

  • Vineyards of the Fields
  • The Prâles
  • The Brulés
  • In Chatenet
  • The Perrières
  • The White Vines
  • To Cras
  • The Clos
  • The Menieres
  • In Le Bourg
  • The Crosses
  • The Murgers
  • Chestnut trees
  • Seguin Wood
  • Map of Bourdon
  • At the Prats
  • Clos Gaillard
  • On the Mills

=> The village of Fuissé is the king of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation, with 245 hectares, it has the largest area of the AOC.

  Commune of Solutré-Pouilly:

  • Lamure
  • The Quarters
  • The Frérie
  • In Champ Roux
  • The Clos de Solutré
  • In Servy
  • To the Gerbaux
  • Vine of the Riat
  • In Chailloux
  • At the Bouthières
  • At Les Peloux
  • In Courtesse
  • In Bertillonne
  • To Cras

  Commune of Vergisson:

  • At Les Vignes Dessus
  • Charms
  • Ronchevrat
  • Martelet
  • In France
  • About La Roche
  • The Coast
  • The Croux
  • The Crays
  • En Caramentrant
  • The Maréchaude

  Commune of Chaintré:

  • House of Villard
  • On the Walls
  • The Chevrières
  • In the Valley
  • Le Clos de Monsieur Noly
  • In Cenan
  • The Bergerie
  • At the Quarters
  • The Plessys
  • The Chestnut Groves
  • The Grande Chattière
  • The Hauts de Savy
  • Old Plants
  • The Clos Reyssier
  • The Stoves
  • The Verchères

 

The geology of Pouilly-Fuissé

The terroirs of the appellation benefit from a continental climate and clay-limestone soils of the Jurassic for the most part. In some places, the soil is crystalline, schist and stony. 

Most of the vines are exposed to the east and southeast, the altitude varies between 250 and 350 meters.

To the north of the Pouilly-Fuissé, Solutré and Vergisson appellations: two emblematic rocks of Burgundy stand side by side. Their soil is composed of limestone ridges (these are the remains of coral reefs dating from the time when the sea covered Burgundy in a tropical climate).

 

The pruning of the vines in the Mâconnais

Vines, Vines, Wine, Rebstock, Green, Spring

The work of the vine is very important and throughout the year, pruning is one of the most important wine-growing tasks for winegrowers.

In the Mâconnais, this is called "tailed pruning of the Mâconnais", it is a derivation of the size in Guyot specific to this region (on the vine, we keep only a baguette or a long wood, the most fruitful and one or two coursons). This "arcure" size has two advantages:

  • first, it makes it possible to fight against the phenomenon of acrotony (it is the buds of the end of the arcure that bud first. By folding the wand we create a pinch that limits the influx of sap towards the end and concentrates the sap and hormones at the buds near the willow head)
  • secondly it helps to preserve the vine against the spring frost

 

Great new 22 climates in premier cru appellation for Pouilly-Fuissé

 

 

On September 3, 2020, the National Committee of Designations of Origin for Wines and Alcoholic Beverages, and Spirit Drinks confirmed the recognition of 22 climates followed by the mention "premier cru" for the AOC "Pouilly-Fuissé" (this represents 24% of the AOC area or 194 hectares). The winegrowers hope to highlight the variety of terroirs and the recognition of their work.

This premier cru classification is a first since 1943! 

Previously, none of the Appellations of the Mâconnais could claim the premier cru appellation. This is why since 2010 the Defense and Management Organization (ODG) of the AOC Pouilly-Fuissé has filed an application for recognition for some of its localities, called climates (explained above).

The ODG has worked hard to highlight the notoriety, uses and natural characteristics of the plots (such as the altitude, the slope and the nature of the soil), it is a guarantee of the future for the economic / tourist development of the Mâconnais and the region. Several selection criteria have been requested by the National Institute of Quality and Health (INAO) such as the historical presence of the vine on these plots, their recognition by tasting guides and others.

 

The 22 future Premier Cru Climats of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation, by commune:

Commune of Fuissé:

  • The Brulés
  • The Perrières
  • The White Vines
  • The Clos
  • The Menieres
  • The Reisses

 

  Commune of Solutré-Pouilly:

  • The Frérie
  • The Clos de Solutré
  • In Servy
  • In Chailloux
  • At the Bouthières
  • In Vignerais
  • Pouilly
  • Towards Cras (part of the climate is on Fuissé)

  Commune of Vergisson:

  • In France
  • About La Roche
  • The Crays
  • The Maréchaude

  Commune of Chaintré:

  • The Chevrières
  • Le Clos de Monsieur Noly
  • At the Quarters
  • The Clos Reyssier

 

This recognition will surely be written on the bottles of the 2020 vintage, it is up to the ministry to choose

=> Other Burgundy appellations have applied to the INAO: Pouilly-Vinzelles, Pouilly-Loché and Saint-Véran in the Mâconnais and Marsannay in côte de Nuits. To be followed closely! 🔍

 

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