| Wine region | |
 | |
| Official name | Saint-Véran village blanc |
|---|---|
| Type | wine region |
| Year established | 1971[1] |
| Country |  France |
| Sub-regions | Saône-et-Loire |
| Climate region | continental |
| Size of planted vineyards | 645 hectares |
| No. of vineyards | 1 |
| Grapes produced | Chardonnay |
Saint-Véran is a white Burgundy wine with AOC (appelation d'origine contrôlée or quality-controlled designation of origin) status from the Mâconnais district of Saône-et-Loire.
Geographical description edit
The geographical area of this appelation extends over 8 communes and is divided into two small islands separated from each other by the Pouilly-Fuissé appelation. It is made up of the villages of Davayé, Prissé and Solutré-Pouilly in the north, and Chânes, Chasselas, Leynes, Saint-Amour and Saint-Vérand in the south. All these villages are located in the extreme south of the Mâconnais district and of the Burgundy region as a whole.
Historical background edit
The Saint-Véran appelation came into being on the : 6th January, 1971. An enthronement ceremony was held at the Château de la Balmondière in Saint Vérand.
The appelation contrôlée wine produced by the 6 Mâconnais communes of Chânes, Chasselas, Davayé, Leynes, Prissé and Saint-Vérand was christened Saint-Véran (without a final 'd'), the old spelling of the village's name.
Vineyards edit
Features edit
- Grape varieties grown: Saint-Véran wines are produced entirely from Chardonnay grapes.
- Pruning: The pruning method known as "taille à queue du Mâconnais" (lit. Maçonnais tail pruning) is typical of the Maçonnais district and is a variation on Guyot pruning. This technique of bending of the wood into an arc during pruning is designed to prevent acrotony, a characteristic defect of Chardonnay vines, and also serves to protect the plants against spring frosts.
- Surface area of land under production: The Saint-Veran appellation covers 645 hectares of land and produces 39,030 hectolitres of wine[1].
- Maximum yield per hectare: 55 hectolitres/hectare[2].
Geology and terroirs edit
From north to south, the terroir (soil type, climate and wine-growing tradition) of Saint-Véran borders directly on that of its neighbour, the Pouilly-Fuissé appelation, and together they share soils that are a mixture of chalk and clay. The area ranges in altitude from 250 to 450 metres. The south-south-east facing slopes that enjoy the most sunshine.
Named locations edit
Le Clos, Au Château, les Peiguins, Au Bourg, A la Croix, Aux Bulands and Vers le Mont are the hamlets with the most desirable micro-climates.
Wine type, gastronomical features and serving temperatures edit
This wine is known as the white gold of Burgundy. It is a pale golden colour when young, taking on a rich amber hue over time and often improving with age. Wine connaisseurs extolled Saint-Veran's qualities long before the appelation was officially recognized and celebrated by no less a person than the bishop of Maçon in the church of Saint-Vérand. With its complex, ample and elegant bouquet, this typical Burgundy wine offers round, powerful flavours on the palate. Depending on the year and the batch, one can detect fruity notes of white peach, apple or pear, or floral notes of lime-blossom or acacia that give way, over time, to notes of hazelnut or almond, offset by delicate touches of honey, vanilla and flint. This multi-faceted wine will add a touch of brilliance to your table when served as an accompaniment to chicken in a cream sauce, veal sweetbreads or fish. Saint-Véran should be served at around 11o and is best opened a few minutes before being served, allowing time for the full richness of its aroma to be released.
Sources edit
Notes and references edit
External Links edit
- Web links: Terroirs Maconnais-Beaujolais
