All about Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil

History

Vine-growing here undoubtedly dates back to Roman times, but it was around the Abbey of Bourgueil, founded in 990, that the Bourgueillois vineyards, including that of Saint- Nicolas, really developed. The Breton grape variety made its appearance here in 1152, thanks to the union of Anjou and Aquitaine.

Located on the right bank of the Loire River halfway between Tours and Angers, the Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyard extends over a single commune : Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil is both the name of the village and that of the red wine it produces. 

The vines flourish on three distinct zones : silty gravel, sand and gravel and tuffeau. 

The silty gravel comes from the former Loire islands. The presence of clay subsoil enables good water management. Recent alluvial deposits enrich and nourish the soil. 

Sand and gravel are " the cradle of the appellation ". The majority of the vineyard's soils have draining properties that provide a fine balance for the vines. 

Tuffeau, this limestone rock sometimes covered with clay or eolian sands. 

The 21 terroir units that make up the appellation, offer a diversity of character to Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wines. 

ALTERNATIVE COLLECTIVE methods are favored to combat grapevine pests, such as pheromone traps for grape worms. Clay, for its part, is used to protect the vines from various diseases. 

Collectively our winegrowers are fighting to reduce the frequency of treatments, the index is already low but every year is a battle to reduce it as much as possible, despite the vagaries of the weather. 

Together, they are giving themselves the means to install tools that are effective in the face of climatic hazards: wind towers, sprinklers..