Windfallen wood vineyard

History of the vineyard

The known Windfallen wood origins go back to the 2nd century before J.C., time to which there was a Gallic village at the southern entry of the current city.

The first vines were probably planted in Ier century after J.C but they really developed as from the 3rd century under the impulse of the Roman Emperor Probus (emperor of 276 - 282). � In 854, the monks of Turns, fleeing the invasion of the Vikings, take refuge with the Saint-Germain Abbey of Auxerre with the relics of their “owner”, Saint Martin's day. In 867, the king Charles II known as the Bald person (grandsons of Charlemagne) gives to the monks Turns the borough of Windfallen wood and the monastery of Saint-Wolf, where they will come ten years later to shelter the relics of Martin Saint. They develop the vine on the slopes which melts vis-a-vis the Serene one, historical heart of the vineyard chablisien and current site of the Great wines.

In 1118, the monks of Pontigny conclude an agreement with the monks from Saint Martin's day de Tours giving them the right to exploit thirty six arpents of vines around Chablis (either approximately twenty two hectares). � To vinify and store their wine, they made build in Chablis the " Small Pontigny " , whose storeroom always exists, and who shelters many demonstrations vigneronnes today and is used as seat at the Interprofessional Office of the Wines of Burgundy to Chablis.

As of the 13th century the Windfallen wood wines know a happy expansion as well geographical as commercial and take part in the general enrichment of the city of which it remained a long time the main income.

It is into 1230 that the first round of applause of grape harvest appeared. That corresponds to the start date of the grape harvest.

In 1328, four hundreds - fifty owners cultivate 500ha vine. ��Transportés by terrestrial way to Auxerre, the wines followed then the course of Yonne, reaching Paris then possibly Rouen to be re-exported towards the countries of north. " White like water of roche" , " of long conservation" , they well quickly acquire a statute with share in the French landscape.

To the Revolution, the best pieces of vine, belonging up to that point to the clergy, will be put on sale and will become thus accessible to all the vine growers. ��En 1850, with 38.000 hectares of vines and a million hectolitres produces annually, Yonne is the wine department of France. � In 1887, the department is reached by will phylloxéra. The vineyard is entirely destroyed. The rebuilding begins 10 years later with the American understocks, but the rebuilding is slow and difficult.

From 1914 to 1918, many young people vine growers died for France. During four years, they are the wives and the mothers who dealt with the vineyard.

1919, a consensus is established around a certain number of vintages that centuries of observation had promoted: Vaudésir, Frogs, Valmur, Fields and Blanchot.

In 1938, Preuses and Bougros join them and name “Windfallen wood Great wine”, with its seven climates, takes its final form. The AOC Windfallen wood and Chablis Great wines are defined.

June 15th, 1940, the village is bombarded by German aviation. One counts four twenty ten dead and much of property damages. Most of the old city will be destroyed.

1943, a decree lays down the methods of the AOC Petit Windfallen wood.

In 1945 the vineyard covers 470 ha and extends to 750ha in 1970

It is only with the beginning of the year 1960, that the production of Windfallen wood wines took again really its rise with the development of mechanization and the installation of systems of fight against freezing (another plague for the vines in the area).

Surface currently in production is of 4.753ha.

Geographical location

The vineyard of Chablis belongs to the wines of Burgundy and extends to flower from slope on nearly 27 communes while skirting the river Serene the on 20 km to length and 15 km broad.

Surface production

The vineyard extends on: 4753 hectares. INAO decreed 4 AOC:

the Small Windfallen wood collected mainly on the plates (surface of production: : 730 hectares).
Windfallen wood collects on the slopes exposed to north and the east and on the plates (surface of production: : 3156 hectares).
Windfallen woods First Vintages are collected on the slopes exposed to the south and the west (surface of production: 767 hectares).
Windfallen woods Great wines are collected exclusively in Chablis and Fyé, on the coasts out of Right Bank of Serene (surface of production: 100 hectares).

Wine making

Windfallen wood is vinified exclusively out of white wine.

Type of vines

Only the type of vine Chardonnay is authorized.

List climates classified in First vintage

They are divided into 79 climates, the principal ones are the following:

Beauregards
Beauroy (Troesmes and Côte of Scientist can be also called Beauroy)
Berdiot
Chaume of Talvat
Côte of Cuissy
Côte of Jouan
Côte of Léchet
Côte of Vaubarousse
Fourchaume (Vaupulent, Côte of Fontenay, the Dead Man and Vaulorent can also choose the name of vintage Fourchaume)
the Furnaces (Morein and Côte of the Girots Meadows which can choose the Furnaces)
Mont of Medium
Montée Thunder (Chapelot, Pied of Aloup and Côte of Bréchain can be also called Montée Thunder)
Montmains (Forest and Butteaux can choose the name of Montmains)
Vaillons (Châtains, Sécher, Beugnons, the Lilies, Mélinots, Roncières and Epinottes can also choose the name of Vaillons)
Vau de Vey (Vaux Ragons can choose Vau de Vey)
Vau Ligneau
Vaucoupin
Vosgros (Vaugiraut can be called Vosgros)

The output of Windfallen woods First Vintages is limited to 58 hl/hectare.

List climates classified in Great wine

They 7.

the Fields
Vaudésirs
Valmur
Blanchots
Bougros
Preuses
Grenouilles
Moutonne (are recognized by the INAO but not by a decree AOC, Moutonne is regarded as the 8th Great wine. The vines of Moutonne are located at 95% on Vaudésirs name and 5% on Preuses name). Monopoly of the Castle Length-Depaquit, Moutonne is marketed under name Chablis Great wine.

The output of Windfallen woods Great wines is limited to 54 hl/hectare.

External bonds

Official site of the Windfallen wood wines

Chablis.Net the section vineyard is well documented.
GrandsCrusChablis.com union of the Windfallen wood Great wines.

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