AOP Viré-Clessé

AOP Viré-Clessé in brief

The AOP Viré-Clessé, located in southern Burgundy's Mâconnais region, is an appellation dedicated exclusively to white wines. Made from the emblematic Chardonnay grape, this appellation produces wines renowned for their finesse, minerality and aromatic richness. Created in 1999, the Viré-Clessé PDO comprises two villages, Viré and Clessé, which benefit from an exceptional terroir and ideal climate for the production of great white wines. These wines, often vinified without excessive oak, express all the purity of Chardonnay and reflect the unique identity of the Mâconnais region. Viré-Clessé's organic wines, produced using environmentally-friendly practices, seduce with their freshness and elegance. Whether young and lively or from more concentrated plots, perfect for ageing, they are a marvellous match for refined dishes such as seafood, fish or local cheeses.

The Viré-Clessé PDO covers around 400 hectares in the Saône-et-Loire department, in the heart of the Mâconnais region, one of the bastions of Chardonnay in Burgundy. The vines are located on east- and southeast-facing slopes, between 200 and 440 meters in altitude, offering ideal conditions for viticulture.

The Viré-Clessé terroir is marked by clay-limestone soils, typical of the region, which give the wines their minerality and structure. These soils also favor a fine concentration of aromas, while preserving the natural freshness of Chardonnay. The region's semi-continental climate, characterized by hot summers and cold winters, ensures optimal ripening of the grapes. The thermal amplitudes between day and night help preserve a fine acidity, essential for the balance and vivacity of Viré-Clessé white wines.

Thanks to these exceptional conditions, Viré-Clessé's organic wines express all the typicity of their terroir, offering wines of great elegance, where freshness, minerality and fruity aromas are harmoniously balanced.

The Viré-Clessé PDO is devoted exclusively to Chardonnay, Burgundy's emblematic grape variety. This unique grape variety, capable of adapting to the region's different terroirs, reveals all its purity and complexity in Viré-Clessé wines.

The Chardonnay grape variety is one of the finest in Burgundy.

The Chardonnay grown in the appellation develops characteristic aromas of citrus, white-fleshed fruit (apple, pear), and sometimes exotic fruit or white flowers. With age, these wines evolve towards more complex notes of honey, hazelnut and minerals, while retaining a lovely freshness.

Organic Viré-Clessé wines, made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides or herbicides, offer an even more authentic expression of this grape variety. Environmentally-friendly practices, combined with manual harvesting and meticulous vinification, guarantee wines of great precision and remarkable purity.

Whether you're a wine lover or a connoisseur, Viré-Clessé is the perfect choice.

Whether for young, lively, fruity wines, or for more structured, complex cuvées perfect for cellaring, the Chardonnay of AOP Viré-Clessé seduces with its perfect balance of aromatic richness, freshness and minerality.

The white wines of AOP Viré-Clessé come in several styles, reflecting the diversity of terroirs and winemakers' expertise. All are made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape variety, but winemaking approaches and growing conditions create a beautiful variety of profiles.

Young, fresh wines:

These wines are often vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks or foudre, to preserve all the freshness and aromatic purity of Chardonnay. They are characterized by aromas of citrus (lemon, grapefruit), white-fleshed fruit (apple, pear) and white flowers. They are lively on the palate, with a mineral finish. These wines are perfect for accompanying seafood, oysters or light salads.

More complex wines for laying down:

Some winemakers choose to age their wines in oak barrels, bringing an extra dimension of richness and complexity. These cuvées offer aromas of ripe fruit, honey, hazelnut and sometimes a light touch of vanilla. On the palate, they are rounder, with good length. These wines pair perfectly with fish in sauce, roast poultry or mature cheeses such as Comté.

Wines from old vines:

Old-vine plots, often grown organically, yield more concentrated wines, with marked minerality and great aromatic depth. These top-of-the-range cuvées are ideal for gourmet meals, or to be cellared for several years.

Organic wines from our vineyards have a long history.

Organic wines from the Viré-Clessé PDO represent a perfect alliance between tradition, terroir and respect for the environment. By choosing these wines, you're opting for authentic cuvées, crafted with respect for nature and Burgundy's winegrowing heritage.

Discover organic wines from domaine Sainte-Barbe, domaine de la Verpaille and domaine Guillemot-Michel on this terroir.