Fiefs Vendéens

The Vendée fiefdoms date back to the 9th century. Later, when Richelieu donated the vineyards of his bishopric of Luçon to the poorest, they gave a boost to local wines, which unfortunately suffered from the isolation of the Vendée. The Revolution and the Vendée wars confirmed this marginalized location, even though the vines continued to exist for the sole consumption of the countryside.

Covering 480 hectares, the Fiefs Vendéens appellation ( Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure), recognized by decree on October 24, 1984, is divided into four appellations: Vins de Mareuil (320 hectares), Vins de Brem (110 hectares), Vins de Vix ( 30 hectares), and Vins de Pissotte ( 20 hectares). The soils are mainly composed of schist, gneiss, and limestone covered with wind-blown sand or quartz. The climate is oceanic, benefiting from exceptional sunshine comparable to certain areas in the south of France. The annual production of the terroir is around 23,000 hectoliters.

For Mareuil wines, the dominant grape varieties are Gamay, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir, not to mention Négrette, which produce easy-drinking wines with a fruity nose. Chenin and Chardonnay are blended to produce rich, well-structured white wines. The wines of Brem are made from low-growing vines of the Grolleau gris and Chenin varieties, producing characteristic clear, fresh wines.Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Cabernet Franc blend beautifully to produce light rosés and sometimes very intense reds. Finally, the wines of Vix and Pissote, which are less well known, derive their generous nature from the distinctive and varied aromas of the same grape varieties as the other regions, with the addition of Sauvignon (Vix) and Melon (Pissote). The white wines are fresh and light, the rosés very distinctive, and the red wines are structured according to the grape varieties used in the blend. The wines of Domaine Saint Nicolas are particularly noteworthy.