All about Haut-Poitou
Vines were introduced to Haut-Poitou in Gallo-Roman times. For several centuries, vines spread and then declined as wars and barbarian invasions followed one another
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Origins
History
Vines were introduced to Haut-Poitou in Gallo-Roman times. For several centuries, vines spread and then regressed in the wake of successive wars and barbarian invasions.
It was under the impetus of Guillaume X, Duke of Guyenne and Count of Poitiers that the vineyard expanded. The English market soon became the vineyard's primary outlet, following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine, to Henry II Plantagenet, King of England in 1152
Soil and climate
Soils: The soils of the delimited plots are predominantly clay-limestone. A major fault divides the production area: to the north and east, Cretaceous soils yield clay hills laid on tuffeau chalk or Turonian aubue soils, and to the south and west, a large Jurassic plateau that extends over more or less deep groie soils characterized by red clays dotted with often fossiliferous limestone scree.
Climate: The climate is subject to both oceanic influences, which contribute to a temperate climate, and continental characteristics, which result in moderate rainfall. Average rainfall is around 630 mm/year. Sunshine is high: 1,900 h/year.
Cultivation methods
Minimum density 4,200 vines/ha.
Either single or double Guyot pruning, or short pruning.
Depending on the grape variety, free eyes vary.