Fronsac (wine region)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
View over the Dordogne to the Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac wine-growing regions

The wine region Fronsac lies in the viticulture region Bordeaux west of the appellations of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol . The wine-growing region is only separated from Pomerol by the small tributary of the Dordogne , the Isle . Until well into the 19th century, the wines from Fronsac were more valued than those from neighboring Pomerol. Historical research suggests that this is where the production of quality wines in Libournais originated.

The appellation named after the place of the same name Fronsac with around 850 hectares of vineyards is distributed among the communities of Fronsac, La Rivière , Saint-Germain-de-la-Rivière , Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac , Saint-Aignan , Saillans and some districts of Galgon . Since March 4, 1937, the wine-growing region has enjoyed the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for short) and applies exclusively to red wines . Until 1976 the area was called Côtes de Fronsac .

Parts of the two municipalities of Fronsac and Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac with a particularly homogeneous soil and excellent orientation have the right for the Canon-Fronsac appellation . The tannin-rich and long-lived red wine is made from the grape varieties Merlot , Cabernet Franc , Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec . The vines are dominated by Merlot, which has an average share of 85%. The second most important variety is the Cabernet Franc with 10%. The basic yield is limited to 42 hectoliters / hectare; a value that can be corrected up to 20% depending on the year. In practice, the average yield of the appellation is around 56 hectoliters / hectare. The sugar content of the must must be at least 187 g / l before fermentation, the wine must have a minimum alcohol content of 11 percent by volume .

The planting density must be at least 5000 vines / hectare. As in Pomerol, there is no classification of the plants here either, as is customary in other areas of Bordeaux. See also the article Bordeaux wine (classification) .

literature