This winegrowing region is located only a few kilometres from neighbouring Burgundy, and lies on the left bank of the Loire River against the east-facing slopes of hilly reliefs. These exceptional landscapes, formed by a geological accident, are comprised of the famed hill of Sancerre, the cuesta that opens up toward the Pays-Fort and the majestic wild Loire Valley.
These are terroirs that we, winegrowers of the Sancerre region, have inherited from nature, that we maintain and preserve and will pass on to future generations. We want you too to share in the wealth of diversity and subtlety that Sancerre has to offer. Our Sancerre wines, just like our growers, are a part of the Centre-Loire Wines family, which is composed of 10 winegrowing areas that include 8 AOPs and 2 IGPs and brings together a collective of vine and wine artisans who convey the expression of their terroirs with elegance and sincerity on a daily basis.
Our area of appellation covers a small surface area measuring 10 km by 15 km, or 3, hectares. The 14 communes and 3 hamlets, with nearly winegrowing families, united as a collective, have managed the vineyards for several generations. Vines have thrived in Sancerre for many centuries. Although texts dating back to AD testify to the fact that vineyards existed in the area, it was between the 10th and 13th centuries that wine production really began to take off.
As early as the Middle Ages, Sancerre was producing a reputable white wine that was served at the tables of the King of France and the Popes, after being shipped from the port of Saint-Thibault along the Loire.
The vineyards and the specificities of their subsoil quickly began to be studied in depth by local scholars. Around , the vineyards were hit by phylloxera, a destructive aphid that attacked the vines and eradicated all of the vineyards. Since the s, numerous collective initiatives have been implemented so that the quest for excellence may continue. Vitis biturica, a grape variety native to the Berry region?
