Pouilly-fuissé

Pouilly-fuissé is a French appellation d’origine contrôlée wine from the Burgundy vineyards in the Mâconnais region, about ten kilometers from Mâcon. Recognized since 1936, the Pouilly-fuissé AOC covers some 760 hectares of vines in the communes of Chaintré, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly and Vergisson in the Saône-et-Loire department.

The geology of the Pouilly-fuissé vineyards is essentially composed of clay-limestone soils from the Jurassic period of the secondary era. In certain rare areas, primary crystalline, schistose and sandstone soils can also be found. Between 225 and 250 meters above sea level, the landscape is moderately undulating, with a temperate, continental climate typical of the region.

This AOC produces exclusively white wines from a single Chardonnay grape variety. The vines are pruned using a method specific to the Mâconnais region, the “taille de queue du Mâconnais”, which is a derivation of Guyot pruning (classic pruning).

In 1995, the Hospices de Beaune acquired a four-hectare estate in the vineyard to produce a quality Pouilly-fuissé, the only non-Côte-d’Or cru to be sold at the famous Hospices sale.

The tasting

Pouilly-fuissé is regularly referred to as the “king of the Mâconnais”. Pouilly-Fuissé wines range in color from pale gold with gray highlights to pastel yellow. Pouilly-fuissé is a wine with a limpid, brilliant color.

The nose of these wines evokes many aromas: mineral notes, hazelnut and almond, citrus, white fruit, floral notes, honey, bread and butter.

On the palate, Pouilly-fuissé is opulent, with a full-bodied structure resulting from a good natural alcohol content.

Food and wine pairing

A noble wine from the Mâconnais region, Pouilly-fuissé is appreciated for its minerality. Be careful not to confuse it with Pouilly-fumé, a white wine from the Loire Valley!

It goes very well with local dishes such as Dombe frogs, Bresse poultry or Saône fish. Gougères or Mâconnais goat’s cheese will also enhance this wine.