The côte Chalonnaise and Couchois vineyard The Côte Chalonnaise vineyard is 25 kilometres long and 7 kilometres wide, lying between the Côte de Beaune to the north and the hills of the Mâconnais to the south. The natural extension of the Côte d’Or, of which it reproduces the main geological formations and from which it borrows the main grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Côte Chalonnaise is one of the most beautiful wine-growing regions of Burgundy. To the south of the Maranges and the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, the Couchois has always produced wines. In Saône-et-Loire, this hillside vineyard has had its personality recognised in the appellation d’origine contrôlée Bourgogne since the 2000 vintage, after long efforts to improve quality. The villages of Couches, Dracy-lès-Couches, Saint-Jean-de-Trézy, Saint-Maurice-lès-Couches, Saint-Pierre-de-Varennes and Saint-Sernin-du-Plain produce this red wine from Pinot Noir. → The soil : The Côte Chalonnaise vineyard is formed of clay-limestone soils coming from a limestone rock base from the Jurassic era or older. The Côte du Couchois is on top of clays and marls and among the limestone of the mid-Jurassic era. (link to the ‘terroirs’ section) → The climate : In the Côte Chalonnaise the climate is continental with hot summers and dry autumns, highly favourable to good maturation of the grapes. In the Couchois good exposure to the sun to the east and south favour the expression of Pinot Noir. These terroirs are very close to the southern part of the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. They are at 200 - 300 metres altitude. → The grape variety: The Pinot Noir grows on brown soils containing less clay, particularly in the region of Mercurey, Givry and on part of the territory of Rully. Aligoté is to be found in the sector of Bouzeron and Gamay in very localised areas, close to Buxy and in part of Couchois. The southern part of the Côte Chalonnaise close to Buxy or the villages of Saint-Vallerin has more marls and thus heavier soils. Pinot is cultivated there, however, on well-drained slopes, to produce the A.O.C Bourgogne Côte Châlonnaise. (Link to "grape variety" heading) → The appellations : • BOURGOGNE CÔTE CHALONNAISE • BOURGOGNE CÔTES DU COUCHOIS • BOURGOGNE VEZELAY • BOUZERON • GIVRY • MERCUREY • MONTAGNY • RULLY Like all the vineyards in Burgundy, the Côte Chalonnaise and the Couchois vineyard produces the whole range of regional appellations: Bourgogne, Bourgogne Aligoté, Bourgogne Passe-tout-grain, Crémant de Bourgogne. |
