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AOC is the appellation d'origine contrôlée (“protected designation of origin”), a Santonian certification system granted to certain Santonian geographical indications for agricultural products. The AOC system is maintained by the Institut royal des appellations d'origine (IRAO, “Royal Institute of the designations of origin”), a government bureau jointly managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Commerce.
OOC: Yes, this thread is meant for me to post about Saintonge’s wines. If you want to join the project (ie. also sponsor the website, add your own wines), PM me on Discord.
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1865 AOC Area: (see map)
Champagne is a sparkling wine, which has become very popular in Saintonge and throughout the world. Outsiders started acquiring a taste for Champagne ever since King Archambault VII “the Magnanimous” started gifting it to other leaders during the 17th century.
All wines labelled 'Champagne' must come from an area within the ancient province of Champagne (departments of Puy-d'Or, Dropt, and parts of Sambre, Rhue, and Saine-et-Loine). The Champagne area is further divided into "red" and "white areas", with their own AOC sub-designations. "Red Champagne" is made around Lagny-sur-Saine and Montereau-fault-Yèvre, while "White Champagne" is made around Sens and Villefranche-en-Champagne. The Champagne region is one of the largest and most productive AOCs; half of the Champagne wine produced are destined for export.
Example of subdesignations for Champagne Red Champagne: Boëch AOC, Côte de Yèvre AOC, Donnemarie AOC, Lagny AOC, Romilly AOC, Sainte-Odile AOC, Trappiste AOC, Tremblay AOC White Champagne: Aÿ Blanc AOC, Beauséjour AOC, Brienne AOC, Haute-Champagne AOC, Côte de Dropt AOC, Sensois AOC, Vitry AOC Rosé Champagne: Aÿ Rosé AOC
Buying Options from 20.00 IBU (£30.00) per 750 mL
Château Drouet d'ErlonChampagne Beauséjour AOC
20.00 IBU (£30.00) per 750 mL bottle
Château BaudrillardChampagne Côte de Yèvre AOC
20.00 IBU (£30.00) per 750 mL bottle
Abbaye de Saint-MerolilanChampagne Tremblay AOC
22.00 IBU (£33.00) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 2002 AOC Area: (see map)
Beaujolais is a very light-bodied red wine produced in the old province of Beaujolais. Previously unknown to outsiders, the previously ‘undiscovered’ Beaujolais had an upsurge in popularity in the 1990s. However, such popularity meant that the unprotected Beaujolais became the target of unscrupulous wine producers – low-quality fake Beaujolais wine flooded the market at the turn of the century, leading to the collapse of the demand. Beaujolais was standardised in 2002, leading to an improvement in quality of the wine. Beaujolais remains a common table wine in eastern Saintonge.
Buying Options from 10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL
Beaujolais Saint VallierBeaujolais AOC
10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL bottle
Palais HeureuxBeaujolais AOC
10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL bottle
Château SottonBeaujolais AOC
12.50 IBU (£18.75) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1888 AOC Area: (see map)
Bordeaux is a corruption of bord des eaux or "waterfront" as the wine is being produced on a strip of land along the shores of Lac Amer from the Basses-Brômes to Lac. Bordeaux is the common table wine in southern Saintonge. Production of Bordeaux is the largest in Saintonge, and it comes in red, white, rosé, or even sparkling varieties. This is because Bordeaux is actually an amalgamation of several wine regions, with the subtype AOCs listed under the main AOC for Bordeaux. The famous Givenchy fashion house started as a wine house selling luxury Givenchy sparkling rosé Bordeaux wine.
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 2018 AOC Area: (see map)
One might as well call Sainte-Rose as Sainte-Rosé – the holy rosé. The most luxurious wine in Saintonge, not only is it a rosé, it is also sparkling, and it is also a botrytised wine (produced from grapes with the “noble rot”: pourriture noble in Santonian). It is characterised as a fine and concentrated sweet wine.
Aside from being luxurious, Sainte-Rose is also a particularly rare wine, developed in 2011 by three vigneron families operating seven independent châteaux that had since banded into the Sainte-Rose association. Saintonge’s newest and smallest AOC appellation, the AOC covers only the eight parishes of Sainte-Rose, Ciclée, Montdragon-en-Simbruins, Montpolitien, Saint-Arpin, Saint-Coulomb-des-Politiens, Sainte-Avelline, and Sainte-Marie-le-Capoue-Vieille in the department of the Simbruins, where the vineyards and winehouses are located.
Note to buyers: Retail buyers are limited to only one case per year.
Buying Options Currently not available. Subscribe to our mailing list if you want to know if there is new available stock!
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1922 AOC Area: (see map)
The only natural blue wine, Blâmont is made around the mountain town on the same name in central Saintonge. It is technically a rosé wine made from Merlot and Chardonnay, which is then fortified with extracts from the grape must, blueberries, and a local fruit called pommebleues. This gives it a wonderful colour and a sweet, fruity taste.
Buying Options from 56.67 IBU (£85.00) per 750 mL
Paroisse de Sainte-RéjeanBlâmont AOC
56.67 IBU (£85.00) per 750 mL bottle
Côte de BlâmontBlâmont AOC
66.67 IBU (£100.00) per 750 mL bottle
Homepage > Wine World > Saintonge > Vin des siècles
Abbaye de Saint-Éloi vin des siècles
Abbaye de Saint-Éloi vin des siècles Type: red Grapes:
Perthois (red)
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: n/a AOC Area: /na
Abbaye de Saint-Éloi vin des siècles, translated as "Wine of the Centuries", is technically not an AOC wine, but it is protected in Santonian legislation by a royal decree dating to 1355 by King Archambault II. It is a rare red wine aged for 200 years, hence the name and the moniker “Century wine”.
In 1350, the Abbey of Saint Eligius (Abbaye de Saint-Éloi) was set up in the province of Perthois as thanksgiving for the Bishop of Thérouanne returning to the true faith. The royal charter allowed them to produce wine to support the abbey. The abbot then decided to age some of the wines for two centuries as tribute to Saint Eligius, the patron saint of clockmakers and of time. The abbot also said that he wanted to do it “to demonstrate that faith, time, and God is eternal. Our lifetimes might be short, but the world will go on.” The first vintage (1355) was enjoyed by King Archambault IV of Saintonge in 1556.
The charter states that the Abbey will keep one thousand bottles from each vintage year for two centuries. After two hundred years, one hundred bottles will be given to the King of Saintonge, one hundred to the Pope of the Santonian National Church, fifty to the Duke of Perthois (title nonexistent), fifty to the archbishop of Brive, fifty to the bishop of Thérouanne, and seven each to be opened at Christmas Eve mass and Easter mass in the Abbey. The remaining 786 bottles are sold at auction to support the abbey and the Church.
Buying Options Currently not available. Subscribe to our mailing list if you want to know if there is new available stock!
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1912 AOC Area: (see map)
Beaune wine is produced around the city of the same name. The area of production extends from Vitry-sur-Saine (Dropt) to Saineauxence (Côle). Considered close to burgundy wines, Beaune wine is popular in middle Saintonge.
Buying Options from 15.12 IBU (£22.68) per 750 mL
TercèreBeaune AOC
15.12 IBU (£22.68) per 750 mL bottle
Salles de CherBeaune AOC
15.50 IBU (£23.25) per 750 mL bottle
Château SuguenotBeaune AOC
20.00 IBU (£30.00) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1989 AOC Area: (see map)
Rosé all day with Parthenay! Parthenay is Saintonge’s most popular rosé, it is usually served if you want some fanciness on your table at a not-so-fancy price. Parthenay is produced at the border of red Champagne and white Côte de Lisle areas and with such grapes in abundance, producers in the area made a rosé (pink) wine. Parthenay, first produced in 1970, got its AOC status in 1989.
Buying Options from 9.90 IBU (£14.85) per 750 mL
Toute la JournéeParthenay AOC
9.90 IBU (£14.85) per 750 mL bottle
Château l'ŒilletParthenay AOC
9.99 IBU (£14.99) per 750 mL bottle
Le DésirParthenay AOC
10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1938 AOC Area: (see map)
Probably the weirdest Santonian wine, Clavenne wine is not only sparkling, it is also "glowing" because of the background radiation it emits. Clavenne is made from Chardonnay grapes grown on the seaward slopes of Montmagique in the department of Basses-Alpes. The soils of Montmagique are high in trace radioactive elements (indeed, most of Saintonge's uranium is also mined underneath Montmagique and the adjacent hills), which become incorporated into the grapes and eventually the wine. The white wine emits an eerie faint blue glow under dark light, but is perfectly safe to drink - in moderation. A bottle of Clavenne will give you a radiation dose similar to a mammogram or 30,000 bananas.
Note before ordering: A bottle of Clavenne wine will set off Geiger counters. Make sure your country permits importation of such wine before buying.
Buying Options from 100.00 IBU (£150.00) per 750 mL
Marie JurieClavenne AOC
100.00 IBU (£150.00) per 750 mL bottle
Château AigredouceClavenne AOC
133.33 IBU (£200.00) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1974 AOC Area: (see map)
Bléone, also called vin alpin (Alpine wine), is Saintonge’s most popular ice wine. Bléone is produced from intact grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine during the cold winters of the mountains. Much of the water in the frozen grapes turn into ice, leading to a more concentrated juice when the frozen grapes are crushed. This then leads to a sweeter, more refreshing wine.
Despite its name, Bléone may be produced in the other Alpine valleys – the risky nature of the winemaking, the availability of manpower to harvest the grapes at short notice, and the lack of suitable land in the mountain valleys – all make Bléone a rare wine despite having a large AOC territory. Bléone is divided into three major areas:
Bléone propre – departments of the Basse-Bléone and the Haute-Bléone Bléone germand – department of the Arc Bléone bavarois – departments of Haut-Rhâne, the Vauperté, and part of the Dyle
Buying Options from 71.50 IBU (£107.25) per 750 mL
Abbaye de Sainte-RadegondeBléone Sainte-Radegonde AOC
71.50 IBU (£107.25) per 750 mL bottle
Château de PerrouaultBléone Pontabault AOC
72.50 IBU (£108.75) per 750 mL bottle
Ours PolaireBléone Danestal AOC
73.33 IBU (£110.00) per 750 mL bottle
Honfleur Type: others (flower wine) Composition: Nectar, flowers, maple sap Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1985 AOC Area: (see map)
Honfleur is another alcoholic drink first produced in the Alpine mountains around the town of the same name. Technically not a wine, Honfleur is made after the winter, when excess maple syrup in Germandie was mixed with spring water, nectar from available flowers, and the flowers themselves, and then fermented to make a nice floral alcoholic treat that can be drunk in the winter or the next year. Long a simple cottage industry alongside the Bléone ice wine (the Bléone was sold to outsiders, while the locals drink the [then-cheap] Honfleur), Honfleur was popularised in the 1970s.
Because of the differences of flora in each locality, and the vintages that they produce (spring vintages usually have a lot of flowers, summer and autumn vintages typically use berries as well), Honfleur has a lot of variety and subtypes that was incorporated in the AOC status in 1985. Typically, the AOC subtype includes the locality and the season (for instance, Honfleur Cérences Printemps AOC means that the wine is produced in the spring around the locality of Cérences). Also, many of the vintages are produced in small quantities, sometimes by just one to two producers – making the subdesignations a unique and rare delicacy.
One particular Honfleur wine, Honfleur Gisors-Alpin Automne AOC, has recently gained popularity because of its unique colour: an indigo colour - caused by the blueberries and fruits and the herbs used to make it. It became popular as displays of "wine rainbows" (arc-en-ciel de vin) became popular, where one colour is represented by a wine. A typical presentation of a "wine rainbow" includes Beyre Vermeille Barbâtroise AOC (red), Landelles AOC (orange), Champagne Beauséjour AOC (yellow), Chartreuse AOC (green), Blâmont AOC (blue), Honfleur Gisors-Alpin Automne AOC (indigo), and Beaujolais AOC (violet).
Buying Options from 100.00 IBU (£150.00) per 750 mL
Château SérardHonfleur Saussemesnil Printemps AOC
100.00 IBU (£150.00) per 750 mL bottle
Délice d'AnnebaultHonfleur Annebault Automne AOC
100.00 IBU (£150.00) per 750 mL bottle
Paroisse de Saint-FromondHonfleur Saint-Fromond Été AOC
116.67 IBU (£175.00) per 750 mL bottle
Not exactly a wine, but a liqueur, Chartreuse is produced in the department of the same name, along the slopes of the mountain range where the department is named after. Made from distilled Côte de Lisle white wine, the alcohol is steeped with 130 herbs to make the liqueur.
Buying Options from 64.00 IBU (96.00) per 750 mL
Côte des RoyansChartreuse AOC
64.00 IBU (96.00) per 750 mL bottle
ChampsaurChartreuse AOC
75.00 IBU (£112.50) per 750 mL bottle
Abbaye de CartignyChartreuse AOC
100.00 IBU (£150.00) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1896 AOC Area: (see map)
Beyre is a fortified wine coming from the province of the same name. The appellation covers both the departments of Sebre and Tage, with five sub-appellations (Sebre, Tage, Migne, Tambre, Eume).
Beyre is a wine made from Cabernet Franc or Beyrois grapes. During the process of fermentation, a strong but neutral grape spirit (called eau brûlante “burning water”) is added. The high alcohol content in the eau brûlante causes the fermentation to stop, leaving residual sugars in the wine. This makes a sweet wine, often served as a dessert wine, but packs a strong punch due to its higher-than-typical alcohol content.
Depending on the sub-appellations, the wine is then aged in the bottles or in barrels, which produces even more complex flavours and varieties, since Beyre wine loses colour when aged.
Buying Options from 10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL
Côte d'AvéryBeyre Fauve Averoise AOC
10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL bottle
Château de MendonceBeyre Fauve Tambre AOC
10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL bottle
Château de MendonceBeyre Fauve Constançoise AOC
10.00 IBU (£15.00) per 750 mL bottle
Country: Saintonge AOC Status: 1885 AOC Area: (see map)
Landelles wine is one of the few remaining traditional ‘orange’ wines in Saintonge. The name does not refer to the orange fruit, as orange wines are still made from grapes. The name describes its colour. Landelles is made similarly to red wines, but Chardonnay white wine grapes are used. Prolonged contact with the skins impart an amber to orange hue, tannins, and phenols to the wine. Due to their tannin content, Landelles wines are also typically aged for a minimum of five years.
Orange wines (or sometimes called “off-colour” wines) fell out of fashion in the 20th century as technically 'correct' and fresh white wines came to dominate the market. However, despite the unpopularity of orange wines in general, Landelles remains viable, protected by its legislation and its status as a luxury curiosity in the world of wines.
Buying Options from 12.00 IBU (£18.00) per 750 mL
Château d'OrangeLandelles AOC
12.00 IBU (£18.00) per 750 mL bottle
Arause l'IdoleLandelles AOC
12.00 IBU (£18.00) per 750 mL bottle
SémipélageLandelles AOC
13.33 IBU (£20.00) per 750 mL bottle
Luxus Wäin Type: Red Cuvée, White Cuvée, Rosa Blend Grapes:
Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
Zinfandel (red)
Gewurztraminer (white)
Country: Faltsu AOC Status: 1903 AOC Area: Luxben
Luxus Wäin is a luxury wine, which has become very popular with the upper class in Faltsu and throughout the world. Its taste and quality is well worth the price, as its exquisiteness is unmatched within the wine world. You will be the star of the party once you bring out one of these bottles.
Buying Options from 165.00 IBU per 750 mL
HotovoWhite Cuvée AOC
165.00 IBU per 750 mL bottle
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