Saussignac (wine region)

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The Sud-Ouest wine-growing region

The Saussignac appellation is embedded in the Bergerac wine-growing region of the Sud-Ouest wine-growing region . Although the French poet François Rabelais (1494–1553) had already set a monument to the wine of Saussignac in his most famous work Gargantua and Pantagruel by the main protagonist Pantagruel, Saussignac only achieved the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée on April 28, 1982 . The vineyards within the municipalities of Gageac-et-Rouillac , Monestier , Razac-de-Saussignac and the eponymous municipality of Saussignac cover a maximum of 100 hectares of vineyards. In 2005 the production was only 771 hectoliters with a declared 49 hectares. As a rule, the hectare yield is up to 30 hl / ha.

Climate and soil

The region around Bergerac is subject to a strong oceanic influence with mild winters. Rainfall is particularly heavy in spring and late autumn. The summers, on the other hand, are mostly hot and dry. The weather is often stable well into November. Fog often forms in the Dordogne valley , favoring the development of noble rot .

On the orographic left bank of the Dordogne, freshwater limestone is embedded in molasse sand and marl . Together they form a real “layer cake”. With good drainage, it offers good conditions for the noble sweet white wines from Monbazillac and Saussignac.


Average monthly temperatures and rainfall for Bergerac
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature ( ° C ) 9.3 11.3 14.3 16.7 20.8 24.1 27.1 27.1 23.8 18.8 12.8 10.1 O 18.1
Min. Temperature (° C) 1.3 1.8 3 5.1 9.1 12.1 14.1 13.6 10.8 8.1 4.0 2.2 O 7.1
Precipitation ( mm ) 52 63 42 80 68 73 53 66 79 71 80 82 Σ 809
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
9.3
1.3
11.3
1.8
14.3
3
16.7
5.1
20.8
9.1
24.1
12.1
27.1
14.1
27.1
13.6
23.8
10.8
18.8
8.1
12.8
4.0
10.1
2.2
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N
i
e
d
e
r
s
c
h
l
a
g 		52
63
42
80
68
73
53
66
79
71
80
82
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Source: france.meteofrance.com

Wine

Since 2005 only Sémillon , Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle have been permitted as grape varieties for white wine . The regulation requires that the must contains at least 196 grams of sugar per liter (see must weight ). The Saussignac is always sweet; the residual sweetness is at least 18 g / l. Under good conditions it is characterized by noble rot . It may only be made from overripe, hand-picked grapes. The yield must not exceed 50 hectoliters per hectare. The wines may be marketed six months after the harvest at the earliest. The rich wine has aromas of acacia and peach. It can be stored for about three to eight years and should be enjoyed at a drinking temperature of eight to ten degrees Celsius.

Provisions

Grape varieties

The Sémillon grape variety, attacked by the noble rot Botrytis cinerea.

The Sémillon variety is the leading grape in the region. It gives the wine fullness and sweetness. Sauvignon Blanc (or Sauvignon Gris) gives the white wine fruit and race, while Muscadelle gives the Saussignac the light nutmeg bouquet. The percentages are of course different from winery to winery and can also vary slightly from vintage to vintage. In addition, the grape varieties Chenin Blanc , Ondenc and Ugni blanc can be grown. However, their share is limited to 10%.

Growing conditions

The minimum planting density is 5000 vines per hectare. The distance between two vines within a row is at least 90 centimeters. As Cultivation of vines that apply Goblet -Education (the local astes is called) or the Guyot . The number of eyes left after the winter cut is max. 10. The height of the foliage wall is determined as a function of the distance between the rows. This guarantees a sufficiently large number of sheets.

The number of dead or missing vines within a vineyard should not exceed the 20% mark. The yield per hectare is reduced by the same percentage when this mark is exceeded. Watering the vineyards is prohibited.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Weather data Bergerac
  2. ↑ a b c d e specifications of the Saussignac appellation on legifrance.gouv.fr , last page accessed on May 30, 2010.