Chablis Wine

A small area of vineyards centered on the town of Chablis and producing white wines exclusively from the Chardonnay grape. The soil is clay mixed with shale and on south facing slopes the grapes ripen excellently.

The vineyards are divided into four categories of which the foremost is Chablis Grand Cru, an area comprising of seven vineyards. This is followed by Chablis Premier Cru, twelve vineyards who may display the name of the vineyard on their labels. Further vineyards in the Chablis district may describe their wines as AC Chablis and, finally, wines from other vineyards within the delimited area may be called AC Petit Chablis. This is the least of the appellations and the wines have not spent eighteen months in cask before bottling, and will be of a lower alcoholic strength then their more senior brethren.

The wines of Chablis in some ways defy description. They are clean and astringent, but at the same time powerful and deep. Capable of some ageing, especially the Premier and Grand crus, but preferably consumed while youthful and in full vigour. A good Chablis bears a quality which is instantly recognisable.