Saint-Bris

The Saint-Bris Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is a village appellation in 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 a wide variety of Jurassic soils, ranging from Portlandian to Kimmeridgian. The terroir consists of Astarte limestone (Lower Kimmeridgian) along the alluvial deposits of the Yonne River 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, ovoid berries that turn a beautiful golden yellow when ripe, with thick skins and melt-in-the-mouth flesh. On this Burgundian terroir, it yields dry, light, fresh, and very pleasant white wines. Saint-Bris wine lovers will therefore particularly appreciate the wines offered by Domaine William Fèvre or Domaine La Chablisienne.