Discover Chablis:
A small village and its unique terroir
Welcome to the charming village of Chablis, nestled in the heart of Burgundy, France. Renowned for its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and, above all, its mineral wines, Chablis stands as a testament to the beauty and tradition of winemaking in this region.
Why are Chablis wines so unique ?
Chablis is located at the southern edge of the Paris basin, which stretches across northern France and even reaches into southern England, including a village called Kimmeridge in Dorset.
The subsoil in Chablis is known as Kimmeridgean.
The Kimmeridgean is a geological age in the Upper Jurassic epoch, around 150 million years ago. In Chablis, one finds subsoils of gray marl which alternate with bands of limestone, sometimes very rich in fossils of Exogyra virgula, a small, comma-shaped oyster that is characteristic of the marl from the Middle and Upper Kimmeridgean.
It is in this very particular subsoil, which in places breaks the surface, that the wines of Chablis draw their unique character, their purity, their sophistication and minerality.
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The unique terroir, with a geological history dating back 150 million years, imparts distinctive traits to Chablis wines. Benefiting from optimal conditions within a semi-continental climate, Chardonnay grapes in Chablis achieve an exquisite balance between sugar content and acidity, resulting in unparalleled expression.
The appellations
Chablis wines are renowned for their dry, pure, and crisp characteristics, underscored by a sophisticated minerality.
The wines of Chablis are made from one single varietal: Chardonnay. They are sub-divided into four appellations:
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These appellations are meticulously defined in terms of production zones and adhere to stringent regulations, with higher-tier designations imposing even stricter standards.
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Despite its current expanse of approximately 5,800 hectares, Chablis has seen significant growth since its post-phylloxera and wartime challenges. Initially covering a mere 550 hectares in 1955, the delimited area of Chablis encompasses 6,800 hectares along the Serein Valley, where the eponymous river flows from south to north, ultimately merging with the Yonne River.