The terroir |
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The mineral characteristic so much part of Chablis wines can best be explained by the terroir. |
The glacial period that followed, hollowed out valleys out of the sedimentary beds and gave birth to the Chablisien landscape. This geological period is known as the Kimmeridgien period. It lends it's name to the Bay of Kimmeridge (located in the South of England), which has the same sub soil. These are the only two places known of in the world that have this terroir. |
Grape variety |
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The Chardonnay grape, originated in Burgundy in the Village of Chardonnay, in the Saône and Loire district. It produces only white wines and is the best known and the most widely planted grape in the world. The reason that it is so popular, is that it adapts easily to different climates and soils and will give up different aromas depending on the terroir and the vinification. More than one hundred thousand hectares are planted with Chardonnay vines. We find Chardonnay in California, Chile, Australia, South Africa … and of course in France most notably in Burgundy. |
To produce wines from the four AOC Chablis appellations, the only grape allowed is Chardonnay. When kept to a reasonable yield, this vigorous grape, productive but sensitive to the spring frosts to which Chablis vineyards are often exposed, gives up a wine of great finesse with a strong aromatic potential (aromas of acacia, almond, banana, fresh butter, cinnamon, cassis, lemon, leather, orange flower, lilac, lis, mango, honey, rose petal, per, pepper, vanilla, etc.). |
