Vines and Men

A landscape shaped by man

The real backbone of the Mâconnais landscapes, the tough ones limestone benches of Jurassic age are visible at the bare summits of Solutré and Vergisson. Unlike the central Mâconnais and its large north-south oriented valleys, the topography here is irregular and the relief torn many faults. The vines are established at the southern end, on the marl-limestone scree, where it lines hillsides steep and deep valleys offering all orientations. With more than 8 plants per hectare (000 m²), the rows draw a grid with lines narrow and aligned.  

Cradle of Chardonnay

Universally renowned, this plant, cosmopolitan par excellence, has found no less than the world as a land of acclimatization. If it is the second white grape variety the most planted in the world at the start of the 21st century, it is well in Maconnais that the Chardonnay takes root. The famous grape variety is explicitly named and described as “ The best » in archival documents dating from the end of the 17th century.

From 1850, ampelographers, studying geography and viticultural practices, distinguished from north to south, Chablis, Meursault and Pouilly, three villages where the production of white wine exceeds that of red wine. Among the hillsides dominated by Gamay red, Pouilly is described in their writings as “ Mâconnais white wine center " and " white vein ". As an omen of the controlled designation of origin decrees, the territory's white wines were classified in the first qualitative category from the second half of the 19th century.

Today, in this southern part of the region, Chardonnay occupies more than 80% of the agricultural area planted with vines, a true exception in Burgundy.

Famous wines

At the first two levels of this pyramid, the Mâconnais presents its own hierarchy. If the popular Mâcon usually designates the wines of the region, 27 villages can legally add their name to it, thus affirming their origin with greater precision. Among these, Charnay-Lès-Mâcon, Run away, Prized, Solutre-Pouilly et Vergisson, are included in the geographical area of ​​the Grand Site.

Since the appellation of origin decree of July 31, 1937, the winegrowers of these 5 villages have produced 5 vintages from the great family of Mâcon wines, with a pale gold color and singing aromas:

Mâcon-Charnay-les-Mâcon : produced on approximately 70 hectares, mainly in white from Chardonnay and confidentially in red wine from the Gamay grape variety, typical of the nearby Beaujolais.

Mâcon-Fuissé : produced on approximately 45 hectares of white wine.

Mâcon-Prissé : claimed on approximately 90 hectares, notably in red wine from Gamay.

Mâcon-Solutré-Pouilly : produces only white wine on approximately 40 hectares.

Mâcon-Vergisson : on approximately 10 hectares produces only white wine.

At the top of the Mâconnais hierarchy sit the 5 municipal appellations of Mâconnais, exempted by regulation from referring to the name of Mâcon. Those are the 3 Pouilly : Fuissé, Loché, Vinzelles, Saint-Veran et Viré-Clessé. Two of them, whose international reputation recognizes a characteristic aromatic complexity, are produced in the heart of the Grand Site:

Le Pouilly-Fuisse, recognized by the appellation decree of September 11, 1936, is produced in the communes of Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré, i.e. a total of more than 750 ha. In 2020, after fifteen years of effort and twelve years of procedures with the INAO, the winegrowers obtained recognition in “Premiers crus” of 22 climats from the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation.

Le Saint-Veran, recognized by the appellation decree of January 6, 1971, includes the production communes of Chânes, Chasselas, Davayé, Leynes, Prissé, Saint-Vérand, Saint-Amour Bellevue and Solutré-Pouilly, partly on more than 700 ha. Since 2010, the Union of Saint-Véran Cru Producers has been working with the INAO to obtain a “Premiers Crus” classification for certain climates.

Statistics 2012 Union des Vins Macon – BIVB.