SANCERRE AREA
HISTORY
According to legend, vines have been planted in Sancerre since ancient times. Evidence of the existence of vines in Sancerre is given by Gregory of Tours in 582 in his Historiae Francorum. In the 12th century, cultivation of the vine was given added impetus through the combined efforts of the Augustine monks at St-Satur and the ruling counts of Sancerre.
At that time, Sancerre was famous for its red wine, produced predominantly from the Pinot Noir grape, and exported from the region along the river Loire. This wine is often mentioned in accounts of life at the royal court. The famous wine of Sancerre was, in the opinion of Duke Jean de Berry, indeed the finest wine to be found in the entire kingdom.
In more modern times, cultivation of the vine has undergone some major changes. The original vineyards, which were predominantly planted with Pinot vines, were destroyed by phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. Sauvignon has since become widely planted, and is particularly suited to the local climate.
The natural advantage of terroir and the skill of local producers enables the region to produce great wines
and these have born the AOC status since 1936.
The red and rosé wines, made from the noble pinot noir, followed in 1959 when they were awarded AOC accreditation.
GRAPE HARVEST AND WINE MAKING
In Centre-Loire wine harvest begins, according to the vintage, between the last week of September and the first week of October. It ends in the last two weeks of October. It starts with the Pinot Gris harvest (Reuilly) and goes on with the Pinot Noir and the Sauvignon. Châteaumeillant usually brings up the rear of the grape harvest.
In the Centre-Loire vineyards, 80% of the grapes are picked up with mechanical grape harvesters and most of the wine store houses were modernized in order to work as quickly as possible between the harvest and the pressing. Some grapes are still harvested by hand, more particularly red grapes.
