Saint-Bris

The Saint-Bris Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is a village appellation within the Auxerrois wine region, in the Yonne department. This appellation is reserved exclusively for white wines produced within the defined boundaries of the Saint-Bris appellation. It was established by decree on January 10, 2003, and replaces the former Sauvignon de Saint-Bris appellation. The production communes covered by the Saint-Bris AOC are: Saint-Bris-le-Vineux, Chitry, Irancy, Quenne, and Vincelottes.

Saint-Bris wines benefit from highly diverse Jurassic soils: ranging from Portlandian to Kimmeridgian. The terroir rests on Astartian limestone (Lower Kimmeridgian) at the edge of the Yonne alluvial deposits and at the foot of marl-limestone slopes. The best sites for this wine are on the open hillsides, facing north, which provide ideal ripening conditions for its fruitiness.

The Saint-Bris AOC produces exclusively white wines made from the Sauvignon and Sauvignon Gris grape varieties. Sauvignon is grown in Burgundy only in the Saint-Bris-Le-Vineux region. This vigorous grape variety produces compact clusters with small, oval berries, a beautiful golden yellow color when ripe, a thick skin, and a melt-in-the-mouth pulp. On this Burgundian terroir, it yields dry, light, fresh, and very pleasant white wines. Saint-Bris wine enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the wines offered by Domaine William Fèvre or Domaine La Chablisienne.