Viré-Clessé
Encyclopedia
Viré-Clessé is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
(AOC) for white wine in the Mâconnais
subregion Burgundy
in central France
, located in the communes of Clessé
, Laizé
, Montbellet
and Viré
. Viré-Clessé has Chardonnay
as the only allowed grape variety. There are no Premier Cru vineyards within the AOC. The AOC was created in 1999, when this area was upgraded to be a communal-level appellation of its own ("a separate Mâconnais cru
" similar to e.g. Pouilly-Fuissé
) rather than being part of the subregional Mâcon AOC, which covers a much larger area. Before the Viré-Clessé AOC was created, the wines could be labelled Mâcon-Vire or Mâcon-Clessé.
The Viré-Clessé AOC is located in the northern part of the Mâconnais subregion, north of the town of Mâcon
, in the direction of the Côte Chalonnaise
subregion.
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 white wine in the Mâconnais
Mâconnais
The Mâconnais district lies in the south of the Burgundy wine region in France, west of the River Saône. It takes its name from the town of Mâcon. It is best known as a source of good value white wines made from the Chardonnay grape; the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé are particularly sought-after....
subregion Burgundy
Burgundy wine
Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
in central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, located in the communes of Clessé
Clessé, Saône-et-Loire
Clessé is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Wine:Vineyards of Clessé are part of the appellation d'origine contrôlée Viré-Clessé, which is used for white wines from Chardonnay grapes. Before 1999, the wines used to be called...
, Laizé
Laizé
Laizé is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Wine:Vineyards of Laizé are part of the appellation d'origine contrôlée Viré-Clessé, which is used for white wines from Chardonnay grapes.-References:*...
, Montbellet
Montbellet
Montbellet is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Wine:Vineyards of Montbellet are part of the appellation d'origine contrôlée Viré-Clessé, which is used for white wines from Chardonnay grapes....
and Viré
Viré
Viré is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Wine:Vineyards of Viré are part of the appellation d'origine contrôlée Viré-Clessé, which is used for white wines from Chardonnay grapes. Before 1999, the wines used to be called Mâcon-Viré.-References:*...
. Viré-Clessé has Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
as the only allowed grape variety. There are no Premier Cru vineyards within the AOC. The AOC was created in 1999, when this area was upgraded to be a communal-level appellation of its own ("a separate Mâconnais cru
Cru (wine)
Cru is a French wine term which is traditionally translated as "growth", as it was originally the past participle of the verb "croitre" . As a wine term it is closely connected to terroir in the sense of an "extent of terrain having a certain physical homogeneity ....
" similar to e.g. Pouilly-Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé is an appellation for white wine in the Mâconnais subregion Burgundy in central France, located in the communes of Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré...
) rather than being part of the subregional Mâcon AOC, which covers a much larger area. Before the Viré-Clessé AOC was created, the wines could be labelled Mâcon-Vire or Mâcon-Clessé.
The Viré-Clessé AOC is located in the northern part of the Mâconnais subregion, north of the town of Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
, in the direction of the Côte Chalonnaise
Côte Chalonnaise
Côte Chalonnaise is a subregion of the Burgundy wine region of France. Côte Chalonnaise lies to the south of the Côte d'Or continuing the same geology southward. It is still in the main area of Burgundy wine production but it includes no Grand cru vineyards...
subregion.