Pouilly-Fuissé has finally released its first vintages!

10 years! That's how long it took for the INAO to make a decision that, in our opinion, was obvious. We are probably exaggerating a little, or a lot, and such a case, concerning the allocation of nearly 200 hectares of Premier Cru vineyards to a AOC And a wine-growing region, the Mâconnais, which until then had not a single square meter of it, inevitably takes time, but 10 years…

Moving on, the National Committee for Appellations of Origin relating to wines and alcoholic beverages, and spirits, meeting on September 3, 2020, approved the recognition of 22 climats accompanied by the mention premier cru which may be added to the PDO Pouilly-Fuissé " commented the press release sent out late yesterday afternoon, even before the local winemakers had been informed of the news. Let's move on, even if this case, like that of the AOC Burgundy (articles attached) reflects the deep unease the institute is experiencing… Starting probably with the 2020 vintage (we still have to wait for the minister's signature and publication in the Official Journal…), the winegrowers and merchants of the appellation will therefore be able to claim the designation " premier cru ", for 22 climates spread across the four municipalities of the appellation : Chaintré, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly and Vergisson ; 22 premier cru vineyards representing 194 hectares, or 24% of the AOP area Pouilly-Fuissé "which covers approximately 800 hectares. We will have the opportunity to discuss this matter in detail in the next issue of Bourgogne Aujourd'hui, but the specifications of Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru wines demonstrate the ambition of the local winemakers, notably with reduced yields and a ban on the use of chemical herbicides – a first in Burgundy. AOC including grand cru wines.

Christophe Tupinier

Reference points

The PDO Pouilly-Fuissé is located in Saône-et-Loire, in the far south of Burgundy, in the Mâconnais wine region. It is one of the five "communal" appellations of the Mâconnais (along with Pouilly- Loché Pouilly- Vinzelles , Saint-Véran and Viré-Clessé). The PDO Pouilly-Fuissé covers 800 hectares and only concerns white wines, made from the grape variety chardonnay 800 hectares entirely planted with grape varieties blanc chardonnay 350 operators. 40,000 hectolitres produced. 3 hectares: average farm size.

Christophe TUPINIER

Publishing Director