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FOCUS ON THREE WINE-GROWING REGIONS

328 Views Posted on: 2024-06-12
 

Who are they and where do they come from? Here’s a brief overview of what you need to know about these three wine regions.

  1. Savoie and Bugey: Mountain Wines
    We know about Savoie wines, but much less about those from Bugey. This sub-region of Savoie and Bugey, located in the department of Ain between Jura and Haute-Savoie, covers an area of 490 hectares spread across Cerdon, Montagnieu, and Belley, at more than 200 meters above sea level. Its origins date back to Roman times, but it was during the Middle Ages that the vineyard truly gained recognition, reaching its peak in the 19th century.

Unfortunately, it was weakened by both World Wars and a phylloxera epidemic (a vine disease) and had to wait until the 1950s for the appearance of the Bugey and Roussette du Bugey appellations, which contributed to the vineyard's revival. Bugey wines are made from typical regional grape varieties such as Mondeuse, Poulsard (red wines), and Altesse (white wines), as well as more well-known varieties like Gamay, Pinot Noir (red wines), and Chardonnay (white wines).

Find our wines from the Savoie-Bugey region.

  1. Poitou-Charentes: A Renowned Liqueur Wine
    The Poitou-Charentes region is known for the Futuroscope, the famous Fort Boyard show, and Cognac, but much less for its wines. However, this part of France is one of the 17 official wine regions. Bordering the prestigious wine regions of the Loire Valley and Bordeaux, its vineyard dates back to Antiquity. It gained significant success starting in 1579, particularly abroad, in England and Holland. As the wines didn’t travel well by sea, the Dutch had an idea: distilling the wine into brandy. The concept was popular, and thus Cognac was born. In the 19th century, the Poitou-Charentes vineyard was affected by phylloxera.

While the Charentes vines suffered some damage that was not irreversible, the Poitevin vineyard experienced more serious losses. Today, the Poitou-Charentes wine region covers 4,200 hectares of vineyards. Its Pineau des Charentes appellation remains famous for its eponymous liqueur wine (wine mixed with brandy), typical of the region. Red, rosé, and white wines can still be found in the Haut Poitou vineyard under the VDQS (Vins De Qualité Supérieure) designation, but this production remains quite niche.

  1. Lorraine: A Vineyard Rising from the Ashes
    Many know the Alsace wine region for its world-renowned wines, but few are aware that its neighbor Lorraine is also a wine region. Comprised of 3 appellations, the Lorraine vineyard extends over the CĂ´tes de Moselle, CĂ´tes de Toul, and CĂ´tes de Meuse. In 1833, its vineyard spanned 34,000 hectares. Today, only around a hundred hectares are cultivated, making the Lorraine vineyard one of the smallest in France.

However, the wine region is gradually rising from the ashes, particularly in recent decades with the introduction of the AOC Côtes de Toul (1998) and AOC Moselle (2010). To this day, one of Lorraine's most renowned wines remains the vin gris. Produced in AOC Côtes de Toul (though found in other wine regions as well), this salmon-colored wine closely resembles a rosé but is paler with slight grayish reflections (hence its name). Made from Gamay Noir, it is characterized by its red fruit aromas and pronounced acidity.