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

Les sols développés sur ces formations sont donc argilo-calcaires recouverts d’éboulis calcaires ou de limons sur les replats. Bien drainés, ils sont plus ou moins profonds et présentent des caractéristiques singulières d’un lieu-dit à l’autre. Les multiples sols et les expositions variées donnent des vins sensiblement différents d’un terroir à l’autre, d’où la notion de “climat”, qui caractérise chaque vin.

Le Belvédère

La colline de Viré

L’église de Quintaine

Le vignoble de Viré-Clessé est implanté sur deux côtes parallèles, une côte principale et une légère ondulation, de direction nord/sud formant le versant oriental d’un des chaînons les plus orientaux des monts du Mâconnais.