Coteaux du Giennois
17 September 2020
« “History of Vineyards” is a series of articles that explores the history of vineyards in France and around the world.
The Coteaux du Giennois vineyard flourished during the Middle Ages under the influence of the Benedictine monks from the abbeys of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire and La Charité-sur-Loire, as well as the Cistercian monks from the Abbaye des Roches in Myennes.
The vineyard now stretches over approximately 50 kilometers in the natural regions of Giennois and Puisaye, between Gien (Loiret) and Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire (Nièvre). With the exception of a few parcels in the commune of Beaulieu-sur-Loire, the vineyard is primarily located on the right bank of the Loire River. A significant portion of the appellation’s vines is found on the slopes of the communes of Saint-Père and Saint-Loup in the Nièvre.
The vineyard was granted AOC status in 1998, and the production area is defined within the territories of the following communes:
In the Loiret: Beaulieu-sur-Loire, Bonny-sur-Loire, Briare, Gien, Ousson, and Thou.
In the Nièvre: Alligny-Cosne, La Celle-sur-Loire, Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, Myennes, Neuvy-sur-Loire, Pougny, Saint-Loup, and Saint-Père.
The Specifications of Coteaux du Giennois Specifies that the red and rosé wines of the appellation must be blends made from two grape varieties, Gamay and Pinot Noir, while the white wines are produced exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. In 19thcentury, In the grape varieties of Gien « it is primarily Gamay à grains ronds and Meunier that dominate.» (Guyot, Étude des vignobles de France, 1868).
The wines of the Coteaux du Giennois are now produced by around forty winemakers, all dedicated to showcasing the full potential and uniqueness of the grape varieties and soils of this Centre-Loire vineyard.
To learn more about the Coteaux du Giennois
Visuals © D.R.
