LATITUDE
LONGITUDE
Welcome to Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOC, a Bordeaux appellation where winemakers craft excellent red blends, mostly from Merlot grapes. Each year, they make about 34,648 hectoliters of wine, showcasing what Bordeaux does best. While Merlot leads the way, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon add their own special touch to these wines.
This area, just north of the commune of Saint Emilion, was granted AOC status in 1936. It is part of the Saint-Émilion family but with its own way of doing things. Here, they focus only on red wines, with Merlot as their star grape.
People have been making wine here since the Middle Ages. In the 1700s, a man named Pierre Combret de La Nauze improved things by showing everyone how to grow better grapes. Finally, this area was granted the AOC designation in 1936. Since then, the region has continued to build its good name in the wine world.
These vineyards are located in the Right Bank area of the Bordeaux wine region, next to well-known areas like Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Lussac-Saint-Émilion, and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion. The land rolls up and down, and the soil is perfect for growing wine grapes.
The vineyards of this French appellation sit about 89 meters above sea level. The weather is just right - winters aren't too cold, summers aren't too hot. This helps make wines that taste complex and balanced.
The main soil type is clay-limestone, which holds water well and feeds the vines what they need. There's also some gravelly soil mixed in, which helps drain extra water away. This mix helps make better grapes.
The hills and mild weather work together perfectly for growing Merlot. The right amount of rain and changing temperatures help the grapes grow rich flavours while staying healthy.
Like many wine regions, this one experiences changes in weather patterns. Winemakers are learning to adapt to these changes and continue making great wine.
While there's lots of competition from other wine regions, things look good here. More people are visiting this AOC, and more wine lovers around the world want to try these wines.
Today's winemakers mix old wisdom with new ideas. They're finding ways to help the environment while making better wines that appeal to people who care about both quality and how their wine is made.
Vineyard Hectares
WINERIES
GROWING DEGREE DAYS
Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion is a place where nature has set up everything just right for making great wines. Sitting 50 kilometres east of Bordeaux, the land faces south, giving grape vines plenty of sun. The mix of clay and limestone in the soil helps vines grow strong, especially the Merlot grapes that do so well here. The weather plays its part, too - winters aren't too cold, summers are warm, and long, sunny fall days help the grapes ripen perfectly.
Let's talk about the weather that helps make these wines special. The temperate oceanic climate here works like a careful gardener - winters stay mild, summers warm up nicely, and fall stretches out long and sunny, giving grapes plenty of time to ripen just right.
The temperature stays around 12.8°C throughout the year, and rain comes when the vines need it. This nice weather, combined with the clay and limestone in the soil, creates perfect conditions for making red blends.
If you want to see this charming AOC at its busiest, visit during harvest season, which runs from late September to mid-October. You can watch people picking grapes and participating in special harvest events at the wineries. The weather is nice, too—warm during the day and cool at night, perfect for walking through the vineyards.
Spring (April to June) is another great time to visit. The vines are growing new leaves, making everything look fresh and green. Tours and wine tastings feel special with all the new growth around you. Both times of year show you something different about how wine is made here.
The Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOC produces high-quality, truly special red wines. Its three main blends, which mix Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, or both, showcase what makes this area unique.
This region produces red wines known for their rich colour and flavours and for their ability to age well. The soil's mix of clay and limestone, combined with the mild weather, helps produce these high-quality wines that truly show where they come from.
Visit places like Château des Laurets and Château de Pressac to see beautiful vineyards and old wine cellars. You can learn how they make wine and hear about the area's history.
Suppose you want to try different wines while learning about how they're made. You can join one of the many private tours in this area. In addition, during harvest time, you can join in special events that celebrate wine-making traditions.
These wines are great with French food, such as lamb, duck confit, or rich stews. They also complement aged cheeses like Comté or Roquefort.
Stay in cozy bed-and-breakfasts or fancy châteaux. Some wineries let you stay right next to the vineyards, where you can join special tastings and events.
Let's examine the three grapes that make Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOC wines special. Merlot leads the way, while Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon add their own flavours to complete these wines. Merlot makes up 80% of what's planted here, showing just how important it is to these wines.
The Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion AOC produces high-quality, truly special red wines. Its three main blends, which mix Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, or both, showcase what makes this area unique.
This region produces red wines known for their rich colour and flavours and for their ability to age well. The soil's mix of clay and limestone, combined with the mild weather, helps produce these high-quality wines that truly show where they come from.
Visit places like Château des Laurets and Château de Pressac to see beautiful vineyards and old wine cellars. You can learn how they make wine and hear about the area's history.
Suppose you want to try different wines while learning about how they're made. You can join one of the many private tours in this area. In addition, during harvest time, you can join in special events that celebrate wine-making traditions.
These wines are great with French food, such as lamb, duck confit, or rich stews. They also complement aged cheeses like Comté or Roquefort.
Stay in cozy bed-and-breakfasts or fancy châteaux. Some wineries let you stay right next to the vineyards, where you can join special tastings and events.