Bourgueil AOC
Encyclopedia
Bourgueil is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée
(AOC) for wine in the Loire Valley region, and produces primarily red wine from the grape variety Cabernet Franc
, located in the commune of Bourgueil
and surrounding communes. Bourgeuil gained Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
(AOC)status when regulatory laws were passed on 31 July 1937.
region, Bourgueil has mostly a continental climate with some maritime influences that are enhanced the further west you go in the AOC. It is situated on the right-bank of the Loire River, which provides some climate moderation, to the west of Tours
and on the edge of the Maine-et-Loire
department. The AOC region stretches over an area of 1400 hectares, encompassing 7 communes of the Indre-et-Loire
department: Restigné
, Benais
, Ingrandes-de-Touraine
, Saint-Patrice
, Chouzé-sur-Loire
, La Chapelle-sur-Loire
and Bourgueil
.
The wine region contains three different types of soil; the rocky soil of islets rising out of most recent alluvia, the sandy and gravelly soil of high terraces (old alluvia), and the limestone-rich soil of coasts that lean back onto forestland..
Bourgueil wine is made from the Cabernet Franc
grape variety, which is locally called Cabernet Breton. Up to 10% of the wine can also be made from Cabernet Sauvignon
grapes. Limestone soil produces wines with a dusky red hue, whereas those grown in siliceous soil take on a redcurrant shade. Bourgeuil wines have a floral and fruity bouquet, which becomes earthy as the wine ages. These wines age splendidly in the bottle, keeping for up to 20 years. Rosé production is more intimate, accounting for just 2-5% of total production.
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) for wine in the Loire Valley region, and produces primarily red wine from the grape variety Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
, located in the commune of Bourgueil
Bourgueil
Bourgueil is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.The inhabitants of the town of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil are "Nicolaisiens St., San Nicolaisiennes."-Bourgueil wine:...
and surrounding communes. Bourgeuil gained Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC)status when regulatory laws were passed on 31 July 1937.
Climate and geography
Like other wine regions in the SaumurSaumur (wine)
Saumur is a French wine region located in the Loire Valley. The region is noted for sparkling wines produced by the traditional method, and for red wines made primarily from Cabernet Franc...
region, Bourgueil has mostly a continental climate with some maritime influences that are enhanced the further west you go in the AOC. It is situated on the right-bank of the Loire River, which provides some climate moderation, to the west of Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
and on the edge of the Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire is a department in west-central France, in the Pays de la Loire region.- History :Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791....
department. The AOC region stretches over an area of 1400 hectares, encompassing 7 communes of the Indre-et-Loire
Indre-et-Loire
Indre-et-Loire is a department in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers.-History:Indre-et-Loire is one of the original 83 départements created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
department: Restigné
Restigné
Restigné is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.-See also:*Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department...
, Benais
Benais
Benais is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France....
, Ingrandes-de-Touraine
Ingrandes-de-Touraine
Ingrandes-de-Touraine is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.-See also:*Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department...
, Saint-Patrice
Saint-Patrice
Saint-Patrice is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.-References:*...
, Chouzé-sur-Loire
Chouzé-sur-Loire
Chouzé-sur-Loire is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.-See also:*Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department...
, La Chapelle-sur-Loire
La Chapelle-sur-Loire
La Chapelle-sur-Loire is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.-See also:* Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department...
and Bourgueil
Bourgueil
Bourgueil is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.The inhabitants of the town of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil are "Nicolaisiens St., San Nicolaisiennes."-Bourgueil wine:...
.
The wine region contains three different types of soil; the rocky soil of islets rising out of most recent alluvia, the sandy and gravelly soil of high terraces (old alluvia), and the limestone-rich soil of coasts that lean back onto forestland..
Grapes and wine
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
grape variety, which is locally called Cabernet Breton. Up to 10% of the wine can also be made from Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
grapes. Limestone soil produces wines with a dusky red hue, whereas those grown in siliceous soil take on a redcurrant shade. Bourgeuil wines have a floral and fruity bouquet, which becomes earthy as the wine ages. These wines age splendidly in the bottle, keeping for up to 20 years. Rosé production is more intimate, accounting for just 2-5% of total production.