Discovering the AOC Sancerre

September 19, 2023

Sancerre: a name that resonates as one of the most familiar to the ears of all wine enthusiasts. The appellation from the Centre-Val de Loire indeed enjoys a great reputation due to its long history as well as its qualitative but also quantitative production of white wines as well as red and rosé.

So, what are the origins of the AOC Sancerre? What are the two key grape varieties of the appellation? What terroirs characterize this vineyard? What to expect in tasting? You will have all the answers to your questions after these few minutes of reading.

Follow the guide...

The origins of the AOC Sancerre

The Sancerre appellation has very ancient viticultural origins. Indeed, the first vines are said to have been planted here by the Romans over 2,000 years ago. And although the vineyard declined after the fall of the Roman Empire, it never ceased to exist.

In 582, writings by Bishop Gregory of Tours indeed mention the existence of the Sancerre vineyard, and its production is already well documented. From the 12th century onwards, the Sancerre region experienced a real boom thanks to the monks of the region. At the time, Sancerre mainly produced red wine, primarily from the Pinot Noir grape variety (already).In the following centuries, these wines will also be found on many royal tables.

In the 16th century, Sancerre wines were exported to England and Flanders, thus already enjoying "international" success.

Nevertheless, at the end of the 19th century, the vineyards were ravaged by phylloxera, destroying almost the entire vineyard. It was after this painful episode that the winemakers began to plant the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety extensively, which still contributes to the region's reputation today.

Finally, in 1936, the Sancerre AOC was definitively established, thus protecting the region's wine production.

Terroirs and Climate of Sancerre

Located at the far East of the Loire Valley, the AOC Sancerre today covers more than 3,000 hectares divided among 300 winemakers and spread over 14 communes. With such an expanse, it is evident that several terroirs coexist here. Here are the 3 main soil types found in the AOC Sancerre:

Les Terres Blanches : covering 40% of the vineyard, these are clay-limestone soils located to the West of the vineyard. Clay (70%) is predominant here over limestone (30%).Very rich in shell fossils, their names come from their tendency to whiten in the sun. The Terres Blanches bring a beautiful aromatic concentration to the wines.

Les Caillottes: representing 45% of the vineyard, the Caillottes are essentially small limestone pebbles mixed with clay. These chalky soils bring finesse, lightness, and freshness to the wines.

Les Silex: these clay-siliceous lands are the rarest in Sancerre but still cover 15% of the vineyard. They are mainly found along the Loire and to the east of the Sancerrois. They impart a great minerality to the wines of the appellation.
From a climatic point of view, the vineyard enjoys a degraded oceanic climate, meaning that compared to other appellations in the Loire region, the Sancerrois is less influenced by the humid winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The rainfall is therefore lower here and the thermal amplitudes are greater (cold winters and hot summers as well as temperature differences between day and night). These conditions thus favor an optimal maturation of the grapes while allowing a beautiful tension to be expressed in the wines.

Grape Varieties and Wines of Sancerre

The AOC Sancerre is mainly renowned for its white wines made from the Sauvignon grape variety. This variety currently represents 82% of the local vineyard plantings ..

While white wine is the flagship product of the appellation, reds and rosés are also worth a try and are produced from the Pinot Noir grape variety, representing the remaining 18% of the vines.

From a production standpoint, white wines account for 83% of the 23 million bottles produced each year, while red wines make up 11% and rosés 6%.The appellation is also very renowned internationally where it exports more than 65% of its wines. The United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Canada are the main clients.

From a taste perspective, and although it is always risky to summarize the wines of an appellation, the most common profiles are as follows:

White wine: Sauvignon being a very aromatic grape variety and having a significant acidity, Sancerre white wines all benefit from a beautiful liveliness on the palate as well as a certain minerality.Moreover, the grape variety expresses exuberant fruity notes of citrus, peach, pear, apricot, and sometimes even an exotic hint (mango, pineapple, etc.). On the cooler terroirs, a vegetal character (boxwood) can also be found as an aromatic marker. Red wine: the red wines of Sancerre generally display notes of indulgent red and black fruits (cherry, blackberry, strawberry, raspberry) as well as light and pleasant tannins. Depending on the terroirs and vinification, more concentrated and complex profiles may present themselves to the taster.

Rosé wine : the rosés from Sancerre are fresh, indulgent, and delicate. They develop on notes of fleshy red fruits (strawberry, raspberry, cherry) and have a certain substance compared to the rosés from Côtes-de-Provence.

Pairings and serving of Sancerre
wines
With cuvées of all colors, Sancerre wines could almost pair with the entire world's gastronomy ! Here are some ideas to whet your appetite as well as a reminder of the good serving conditions to respect in order to showcase your Sancerres.
The liveliness and freshness of white wines from Sancerre allow them to pair ideally with a multitude of dishes. Naturally, one thinks of seafood, grilled fish, summer salads but also various goat cheeses (like the local Crottin de Chavignol, a delight), as well as Emmental or even Abondance. For more powerful and voluptuous whites, poultry will make a sublime pairing.
From a serving temperature perspective, a range of between 8-10°C will be perfect for "classic" whites, while for more intense and racy cuvées, an opening between 11-13°C will be adequate to fully appreciate the maximum aromas.

For red wines, their finesse and beautiful fruitiness will pair superbly with appetizers but also during meals with chicken, turkey, or duck. For the more structured reds of the appellation, red meat will be appropriate. We recommend serving these wines at 14-16°C to enjoy their finesse.
Finally, the rosés from the appellation can also be enjoyed as an aperitif, but also with summer salads, grilled fish, or even goat cheeses. A serving temperature between 8-10°C is recommended here.

What are the best Sancerre wines?

Although it is complex to provide an exhaustive list of the best Sancerre wines, La Cave Éclairée has selected for you premium cuvées from the Bernard Fleuriet & Fils estates and Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy, thus encompassing all styles of the appellation: lively and mineral white wine, voluptuous and oaky white wine, fresh and fruity red wine, or even a racy and characterful red wine, there is something for every taste and budget!

There you go, you now know almost everything about the Sancerre appellation and its wines! All that remains is for you to pour yourself a glass of these delicious Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.And above all, do not hesitate to contact La Cave Éclairée if you need advice!