OUR LAND
The Sancerre vineyard is located in the Val-de-Loire region of France. Although it is known for its white wines, it is nonetheless a land of Pinot Noir. Originally planted mainly with Pinot Noir, it was destroyed by phylloxera in 1886.
The winegrowers replanted the majority of their vineyards with Sauvignon, a variety better adapted to the climate and soil types. The terroir and the people involved produced a quality wine that was recognised with the first AOC decree in 1936 for Sauvignon Blanc and in 1959 for red and rosé wines, made from the Pinot Noir grape variety. In 2016, the area under production was 2960 hectares, planted to 75% Sauvignon and 25% Pinot Noir.
The Sancerrois region is made up of a series of hills, including the "piton de Sancerre" and the ditch in the Loire valley. The Cuesta (356 m high) is formed by the Upper Jurassic strata to the west. Two meridian faults, known as the Sancerre and Thauvenay faults, run north-south, bringing the collapsed Cretaceous and Eocene strata into contact with the Jurassic formations in the western part.
Caillottes, a very chalky soil with a high piperosity and low soil depth (25 to 40 cm). The wines produced are highly aromatic (floral to fruity, with notes of boxwood and citrus) and tender from their youth.
The flints are located on the banks of the Loire. This very stony soil is commonly known as "cailloux". Their ability to store heat helps to hasten the ripening of the grapes.
The terres blanches are composed of clay and limestone. They are located on the westernmost hills of the Sancerrois region. These soils slow down the ripening of the grapes, enabling a later harvest and better health.
