Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil

The Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation covers an area of 1,000 hectares and produces 56,000 hectoliters annually, 2% of which is rosé. Most of the area is located on a large terrace of ancient alluvial deposits, with deep soils consisting of sand and gravel. Above the terraces, a third of the vineyard extends over a tuffeau (Turonian chalk) hillside covered with sand. The Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyard opens widely onto the Loire, which, at this point, with the confluence of the Vienne, takes on exceptional dimensions and allows maritime influences to penetrate freely. The climate is therefore slightly more oceanic than in Bourgueil, with the same forest-covered hillside protecting the well-exposed slopes from the north winds. 

The grape varieties authorized for the production of Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wine are Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The latter is permitted up to a limit of 10% of the blend, but is rarely used. Graves wines mature quickly, while Tuffeau wines develop fully after 5 to 10 years of aging. Some very fine wines are produced by the Yannick Amirault Estate, the Cotelleraie Estate or the Castle of Chivalry. From theBourgeuil AOCSaint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil wine is the only wine produced in the commune, with a plantation covering 1,000 hectares. It is theAOP of the Loire Valley to blend in with the contours of the commune of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil. Located between Angers and Tours, this plantation offers a unique grape variety for wine, as the vines manage to flourish even with the delicate composition of the soil.

Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wine, a product of Touraine

The appellation Saint Nicholas of Bourgueil was founded in 1937 and is one of the few municipal names in France. The Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil red wine remains the only grape variety in the Loire Valley to be considered a king. The fruity taste that envelops each bottle gives it a truly refined aroma. 

However, this wine should not be confused with its neighbor Bourgueil, which has an appellation cultivated with many grape varieties. The Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil Prize is also different from simple Bourgeuil wine.

Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wine, three different terroirs

The distinctive feature of this wine lies in the number of terroirs that compose it. In fact, three terroirs shape the wines of a single appellation. Several soils with different geological characteristics give this wine its true identity. 

The first terroir covers 700 hectares and consists of sandy-gravelly soil. The wines from the vines planted on this land are particularly supple on the palate and express aromas of red fruits. 

As for the second terroir, it covers an area of 300 hectares on the hillside. The soil is clay-limestone, as it is made up of former tuffeau stone quarries. The remains of these quarries are now used as cellars for Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines. The wines produced from this plantation are quite complex with a full-bodied, very aromatic garnet-purple color. The taste features notes of blackcurrant, licorice, blackberry, and spices, while remaining intense and powerful. The last terroir consists of 100 hectares of loamy soil. Also known as "la Taille," this terroir produces a fruity wine with an intense color that is fresh and supple.