Côtes de Toul
Encyclopedia
Côtes de Toul is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
(AOC) for French wine
produced in the département of Meurthe-et-Moselle
in the Lorraine région
. The Côtes de Toul vineyards cover 110 hectares (271.8 acre) in an area close to Toul
, to the west of the city of Nancy. The area of production includes the following communes
: Blénod-lès-Toul
, Bruley
, Bulligny
, Charmes-la-Côte
, Domgermain
, Lucey
, Mont-le-Vignoble
and Pagney-derrière-Barine
. Annual production is 4,500 hectoliter, corresponding to 600,000 bottles.
Côtes de Toul has been classified as an AOC since 1998, when it was promoted from its previous VDQS
status. It is the only AOC in Lorraine. Together with the other Lorraine wine designations, Moselle VDQS and Vin de Pays
de la Meuse, the produce of the 200 hectares (494.2 acre) of Lorraine vineyards is often referred to in French as Vins de l'est, "wines of the east".
Most Côtes de Toul and other Lorraine wines are consumed in Lorraine itself, with only a small proportion reaching the rest of France and nearby export markets.
. Gamay
-dominated Vin Gris is the most common wine, supplemented primarily by Auxerrois Blanc
-based white wines and relatively light red wines from Pinot Noir
.
, the combination of increased competition from Languedoc-Roussillon following the introduction of railroad transport, and the Phylloxera epidemic (followed by replanting with grape varieties unsuitable for quality wine production) contributed to the demise of the region's wine production. In the case of Lorraine, industrialisation, destruction during World War I
and the delimitation of the nearby Champagne region also contributed. Before the delimitation, Lorraine grapes would go into Champagne.
Around 1930, a handful of local growers embarked on a programme of replanting with grafted
quality grape varieties, which laid the foundation for the VDQS designation awarded in 1951. The coveted AOC designation followed on March 31, 1998.
is 60 hectoliter per hectare for white wine and Vin Gris, and 45 hl/ha for red wine. The minimum required grape maturity is 9.5% potential alcohol for Vin Gris, 10% for white wine, and 10.5% for red wine.
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) for French wine
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
produced in the département of Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle
Meurthe-et-Moselle is a department in the Lorraine region of France, named after the Meurthe and Moselle rivers.- History :Meurthe-et-Moselle was created in 1871 at the end of the Franco-Prussian War from the parts of the former departments of Moselle and Meurthe which remained French...
in the Lorraine région
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
. The Côtes de Toul vineyards cover 110 hectares (271.8 acre) in an area close to Toul
Toul
Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
, to the west of the city of Nancy. The area of production includes the following communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
: Blénod-lès-Toul
Blénod-lès-Toul
Blénod-lès-Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-External links:*...
, Bruley
Bruley
Bruley is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.Bruley is notable for its wine production.-Demography:-Notable people:*Claude Manet -Mayor of Bruley*Marcel Laroppe Ex manager of the Société Vinicole du Toulois...
, Bulligny
Bulligny
Bulligny is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
, Charmes-la-Côte
Charmes-la-Côte
Charmes-la-Côte is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
, Domgermain
Domgermain
Domgermain is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
, Lucey
Lucey, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Lucey is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.- See also :* Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
, Mont-le-Vignoble
Mont-le-Vignoble
Mont-le-Vignoble is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
and Pagney-derrière-Barine
Pagney-derrière-Barine
Pagney-derrière-Barine is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department*Parc naturel régional de Lorraine...
. Annual production is 4,500 hectoliter, corresponding to 600,000 bottles.
Côtes de Toul has been classified as an AOC since 1998, when it was promoted from its previous VDQS
VDQS
Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure , usually abbreviated as VDQS, is the second highest category of French wine, below Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in rank, but above Vin de pays . VDQS is sometimes written as AOVDQS, with AO standing for Appellation d'Origine...
status. It is the only AOC in Lorraine. Together with the other Lorraine wine designations, Moselle VDQS and Vin de Pays
Vin de pays
Vin de pays is a French term meaning "country wine". Vins de pays are a step in the French wine classification which is above the table wine classification, but below the VDQS and Appellation d'origine contrôlée classifications...
de la Meuse, the produce of the 200 hectares (494.2 acre) of Lorraine vineyards is often referred to in French as Vins de l'est, "wines of the east".
Most Côtes de Toul and other Lorraine wines are consumed in Lorraine itself, with only a small proportion reaching the rest of France and nearby export markets.
Wine styles
Côtes de Toul exists as white, red and rosé wine, the latter under the designation Vin GrisVin gris
Vin gris is white wine made from red grapes, in particular pinot noir. Pinot noir is a black grape, but can also be used to make rosé, blush wine, or white wine. When the grapes are brought to the winery and crushed, the juice is run off and removed from contact with the skin, leaving the colour...
. Gamay
Gamay
Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century...
-dominated Vin Gris is the most common wine, supplemented primarily by Auxerrois Blanc
Auxerrois Blanc
Auxerrois Blanc or Auxerrois Blanc de Laquenexy is a white wine grape that is important in Alsace, and is also grown in Germany and Luxembourg. It is a full sibling of Chardonnay that is often blended with the similar Pinot Blanc.-History:...
-based white wines and relatively light red wines from Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
.
History
While Lorraine as such is not thought of as a wine region today, the region has a viticultural history going back to Roman times, and winemaking became important during the 15 century due to the Dukes of Lorraine and the Bishops of Toul, with the mid-17th century claimed to have been a particularly successful period. The region's wine industry remained substantial up until the 19th century. In similarity to many other northern French wine areas, such as those in YonneYonne
Yonne is a French department named after the Yonne River. It is one of the four constituent departments of Burgundy in eastern France and its prefecture is Auxerre. Its official number is 89....
, the combination of increased competition from Languedoc-Roussillon following the introduction of railroad transport, and the Phylloxera epidemic (followed by replanting with grape varieties unsuitable for quality wine production) contributed to the demise of the region's wine production. In the case of Lorraine, industrialisation, destruction during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the delimitation of the nearby Champagne region also contributed. Before the delimitation, Lorraine grapes would go into Champagne.
Around 1930, a handful of local growers embarked on a programme of replanting with grafted
Grafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
quality grape varieties, which laid the foundation for the VDQS designation awarded in 1951. The coveted AOC designation followed on March 31, 1998.
Grape varieties
The grape varieties allowed in Côtes de Toul are the following:- For white wine: Aubin BlancAubin blancAubin Blanc is a white wine grape from the upper reaches of the Moselle valley in eastern France.-History:DNA fingerprinting has shown that Aubin is the result of a cross between Gouais Blanc and Savagnin. Gouais Blanc was widely grown by the French peasantry in the Medieval age, and it is a...
(a local speciality) and Auxerrois BlancAuxerrois BlancAuxerrois Blanc or Auxerrois Blanc de Laquenexy is a white wine grape that is important in Alsace, and is also grown in Germany and Luxembourg. It is a full sibling of Chardonnay that is often blended with the similar Pinot Blanc.-History:...
. - For red wine: Pinot NoirPinot NoirPinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
only. - For Vin Gris (rosé wine): GamayGamayGamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century...
(the most common grape variety in the AOC) and Pinot Noir as the main grape varieties, and Aubin Blanc, Auxerrois Blanc and Pinot MeunierPinot meunierPinot Meunier, , also known as Meunier or Black Riesling, is a variety of black wine grape most noted for being one of the three main grapes used in the production of champagne...
as accessory grape varieties. For Vin Gris, at least two grape varieties must be used, and the major grape variety is not allowed to exceed 85%. At least 10% Pinot Noir must be used, and the total proportion of accessory grape varieties is not allowed to exceed 15%.
Other requirements
The allowed base yieldYield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
is 60 hectoliter per hectare for white wine and Vin Gris, and 45 hl/ha for red wine. The minimum required grape maturity is 9.5% potential alcohol for Vin Gris, 10% for white wine, and 10.5% for red wine.