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 created 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.