Sancerre AOC is an appellation for still wines of all three colours from the Central Vineyards area of the Loire Valley. It is named after one of the 14 communes entitled to the AOC, listed directly below.

Communes (14): Bannay. | Bué. | Crézancy-en-Sancerre. | Menetou-Râtel. | Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre. | Montigny. | Saint-Satur. | Sainte-Gemme-en-Sancerrois. | Sancerre. | Sury-en-Vaux. | Thauvenay. | Veaugues. | Verdigny. | Vinon.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 158,810hl hl from 2,570ha of which 126,099hl was white (Guide Hachette: 2004, p.993).

Soil types & wine styles: Stony calcareous soils (‘les caillottes’, ‘les grillottes’) produce the most forward, aromatic wines, while more ageworthy ones come from Kimmeridgean era clay-limestone marl (‘terre blanche’, ‘terres blanches’) and Tertiary era flint (‘silex’) (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.231).

Wines

Sancerre Blanc AOC: 100% Sauvignon Blanc. ‘Perfectly captures the bright green tang of the Sauvignon grape,’ (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.231). ‘Sancerre has a reputation for steeliness…not a wine to cuddle up with,’ (Hilary Wright: 2000, p.136).

Sancerre Rosé AOC: 100% Pinot Noir. ‘Delicate, refreshingly dry,’ (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.231).

Sancerre Rouge AOC: 100% Pinot Noir. From top producers now a serious proposition,’ (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.231).

Wineries

Certified Biodynamic: Château du Nozay. | Domaine Vincent Gaudry.

Certified organic: Vignoble Dauny.

No certification: Château de Sancerre. | Domaine François Cotat.