Saint-Bris AOC

Saint-Bris AOC

Saint-Bris is an "Appellation d'origine contrôlée" (AOC) for white wine in the Burgundy wine region of France.J. Robinson (Ed.), "The Oxford Companion to Wine", Third Edition, p. 600, Oxford University Press 2006, ISBN 0 19 860990 6] [http://admi.net/jo/20030112/AGRP0202199D.html INAO: French Décret du 10 janvier 2003 relatif à l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Saint-Bris »] ] This AOC is located around the village Saint-Bris-le-Vineux in the Yonne department, a few kilometers southwest of the Chablis AOC area, and southeast of the city of Auxerre, which places it roughly halfway between Paris and Burgundy's heartland in Côte d'Or. The approximately 100 hectares (250 acres) of vineyard in the appellation are situated in the communes Chitry, Irancy, Quenne, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux and Vincelottes.

What makes Saint-Bris something of an oddity for Burgundy is that it is made from Sauvignon grapes, with the varieties Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon gris both being allowed, rather than the Chardonnay of Chablis and the notable white Burgundies, or the Aligoté of many simpler, easy-drinking whites of the region. It is the only Burgundy AOC that allows Sauvignon in the wines. Wines from vineyards around Saint-Bris-le-Vineux planted with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir are not included in the Saint-Bris AOC, but are allowed the appellation Côtes d'Auxerre.H. Johnson & J. Robinson "The World Atlas of Wine", Fifth Edition p. 75, Mitchell Beazley Publishing 2001, ISBN 1 84000 332 4 ]

While showing typical Sauvignon aromas, the wines have been characterised as less concentrated than the Sauvignon blanc-based AOC wines of upper Loire, notably Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.

History

Until the late 19th century, there were large vineyards in the Yonne department, covering 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) and with nearby Paris as their main market, linked to it by waterways. One of the grape varieties grown in the Saint-Bris area were Roublot, which is now all but extinct. In those days, before the creation of the more strict appellation rules we know today, wines from the Saint-Bris area could be called Chablis. [http://www.burgundy-report.com/ref/grapes.html Burgundy Report: The Vines of Burgundy - Sauvignon Blanc] ] The combination of competition from the "Le Midi" - the south of France - after the introduction of railroads in the 19th century, and the Great French Wine Blight, i.e., the phylloxera epidemic, in the late 19th and early 20th century knocked out almost the entire Yonne wine business, and most vineyards were abandoned.

It seems that Sauvignon grapes were introduced to the Saint-Bris area sometime after the local wine industry had more or less collapsed, perhaps due to the variety's success on the upper Loire river, which is not that far away, and because Roublot had shown itself susceptible to disease and therefore was less suitable for replanting.J. Robinson (Ed.), "The Oxford Companion to Wine", Third Edition, p. 595, Oxford University Press 2006, ISBN 0 19 860990 6] In 1974, the Sauvignon-based white wines of Saint-Bris were considered good enough to be awarded VDQS status under the name of Sauvignon de Saint-Bris. In January 2003 they were elevated to full AOC status under the present name of Saint-Bris, and wines starting with the 2001 vintage were allowed to use the AOC name. The VDQS designation was repealed at the same time.

References

External links

* [http://www.findthevine.com/aoc/Saint-Bris/ Findthewine.com] - the location of Saint-Bris AOC on a map


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Saint-Bris (AOC) — Saint Bris Désignation(s) Saint Bris Appellation(s) principale(s) Saint Bris villages blancs Type d appellation(s) AOC Reconnue depuis 2003 Pays Région parente Bourgogne …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Saint-bris (AOC) — Saint Bris Désignation(s) Saint Bris Appellation(s) principale(s) Saint Bris villages blancs Type d appellation(s) AOC Reconnue depuis 2003 Pays Région parente Bourgogne …   Wikipédia en Français

  • AOC Saint-Bris — Saint bris (AOC) Saint Bris Désignation(s) Saint Bris Appellation(s) principale(s) Saint Bris villages blancs Type d appellation(s) AOC Reconnue depuis 2003 Pays Région parente Bourgogne …   Wikipédia en Français

  • AOC saint-bris — Saint bris (AOC) Saint Bris Désignation(s) Saint Bris Appellation(s) principale(s) Saint Bris villages blancs Type d appellation(s) AOC Reconnue depuis 2003 Pays Région parente Bourgogne …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Saint-Bris — can refer to * Saint Bris des Bois, a village and commune in the Charente Maritime department in France * Saint Bris le Vineux, a village and commune in the Yonne department in France * Saint Bris AOC, a white wine produced around Saint Bris le… …   Wikipedia

  • Saint-Bris-le-Vineux — French commune nomcommune=Saint Bris le Vineux région=Bourgogne département=Yonne arrondissement=Auxerre canton=Auxerre Est insee=89337 cp=89530 maire=Jean Marc Sorin mandat=2001 2008 intercomm=Communauté de l’Auxerrois longitude=3.65027 latitude …   Wikipedia

  • Saint-aubin (AOC) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Saint Aubin. Côte de Beaune …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Saint-romain (AOC) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Saint Romain. Côte de Beaune …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Saint-véran (AOC) — Pour la commune, voir Saint Véran. Mâconnais …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Saint-bris-le-vineux — Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”