BLESSED BY OUR GEOGRAPHY

The Viré-Clessé appellation, situated between Tournus and Mâcon, is the most recent of the Mâconnais municipal appellations (1997). The wine is produced exclusively from the Chardonnay grape variety. The vines grow mostly on hilly ground where the limestone soil with white stones, typical of the Mâconnais, is referred to as “cray”.

Overlooking Viré, the Belvédère road that takes you from the village to Burgy provides a stunning view across the vineyard and the Saône valley to the Jura mountains, the Alps and Mont Blanc in the distance. La Bresse lies opposite. La Croix Sainte Barbe, Viré’s highest point (441 m), is located at the intersection of the municipalities of Viré, Burgy and Péronne.

Altitude

Between 200 and 440 metres.

Climate

Oceanic climate, tending towards southern. Summers are warm with lots of sunshine. Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year. The high ground of Charollais and the secondary mountain ranges of the Mâconnais to the west partially protect the geographical area from wet oceanic weather.

Geology

The Viré-Clessé cru extends over two north-south oriented slopes, delimited by the Bourbonne and Mouge valleys. They are composed of limestone and marl-limestone strata from the Oxfordian (Jurassic). Other areas at the foot of the slopes are made up of clay and “chailles” (sandstone); they have an easterly exposure and are well-drained. “Cray”, a type of Mâconnais limestone soil with white stones, is found here. It is absolutely perfect for growing Chardonnay grapes.

The vineyard lies on the east-facing slope of one of the eastern-most secondary ranges of the Mâconnais mountains, looking out over the plain of the Saône, towards La Bresse.

Soil types

The soils of these geological formations are clay-limestone, covered with limestone scree or silt on the sloping areas. Well-drained, they vary in depth and present unique characteristics depending on the exact locality. The various soil types and numerous, diverse exposures provide different wines from one terroir to the next, hence the concept of “climate”, which distinguishes each wine.

Le Belvédère

La colline de Viré

L’église de Quintaine

The vineyard of Viré-Clessé straddles two parallel slopes, a main slope and a slight rise, running north to south, across the eastern side of one of the eastern-most secondary ranges of the Mâconnais mountains.