All about Touraine Oisly
Between the Loire and Cher rivers, the Touraine Oisly PDO covers nine communes in the heart of wine-growing Sologne: Oisly, Chémery, Choussy, Le-Controis-en-Sologne, Couddes, Méhers, Sassay, Soings-en-Sologne, Saint-Romain-sur-Cher. On this terroir of sand over clay, a dozen winemakers produce exceptional 100% Sauvignon Blanc wines.
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Key figures
Here's the Touraine Oisly PDO identity card:
100%
White12
Producers80
ha production area9
Municipalities2.2k
Hl produced per year280k
Bottles Sold
Origins
History
The Touraine Oisly PDO was officially recognized in 2011. The origins of this recognition lie in a happy coincidence: the discovery of a Sauvignon Blanc trellis on a winegrower's lodge in 1905. Since then, a handful of winegrowers have carried out parcel selection work to identify the areas best suited to Sauvignon Blanc, culminating in an official delimitation in 2011.
| <1905 | Discovery of a Sauvignon Blanc trellis on a winegrower's lodge | Fabel Barbou "the father of Touraine Sauvignon" and pioneering winegrower planted 10 ares of Sauvignon in 1905 at Choussy from a trellis |
| 50's | Development of Sologne Viticole | Development of sauvignon in Sologne viticole, which becomes one of the cradles of sauvignon blanc in France along with the Centre Loire. |
| 70's 80's | Raising of Oisly white wines | The Oisly Thésée winegrowers' brotherhood and a few independent winegrowers contribute to the influence of Oisly white wines in the greater north-western quarter. A terroir study of the area is carried out by the Touraine PDO to recognize the link between sauvignon blanc and the singular soils around Oisly. |
| 2011 | Recognition by the INAO of the Touraine Oisly DGC | The tenacity and dynamism of a group of winegrowers have enabled this official recognition. |
| 2022 | INAO approval of the production parcel area | 1284 hectares of production potential |
Presentation
The Touraine Oisly PDO vineyard is a Loire vineyard located southwest of the Paris Basin and southeast of Tours. It stretches between the Loire River and the Cher River over nine communes, in the heart of wine-growing Sologne: Oisly, Chémery, Choussy, Le-Controis-en-Sologne, Couddes, Méhers, Sassay, Soings-en-Sologne, Saint-Romain-sur-Cher.
Soil and climate
The Touraine Oisly PDO vineyard comprises Sologne sands and a clay sub-layer. These soils have different geological characteristics in different areas: - To the west (Choussy), the soil is predominantly clay, with limestone and flint silt and poor sand content. - The central part (Oisly) is an open zone dominated by sand. - To the east (Chémery), vineyards are less common in this area, and are surrounded by woods. Limestone is very present in the form of large stones on the surface, and sand can be associated with iron.
The Oisly plateau lies between the Loire and Cher rivers. The area therefore benefits from a semi-continental climate with oceanic influences. Its proximity to waterways brings welcome fresh air currents in these times of global warming.
Cultivation methods
The Touraine Oisly appellation is asserting itself as a player in responsible, forward-looking viticulture.
100% of estates have environmental certification (Agriculture Biologique, Terra-Vitis or HVE). In addition, the Touraine Oisly PDO has introduced Touraine-Oisly "lieux-dits": Wines from the best plots can claim a lieu-dit name provided they have been produced in compliance with very specific criteria, including:
- Selection of the best terroirs
- Age of vines: 20 years minimum
- Manual harvesting
- Chemical weeding prohibited
Terroir and wines
The combination of Sologne sands and a clay sub-layer ensures that Sauvignon Blanc achieves perfect ripeness. The sandy surfaces capture heat to warm the stock from spring onwards, while draining water to the clay sub-layer. This surface layer guarantees a good water supply for soils that are not very prone to drought. These soils have different geological characteristics depending on the zone:
- To the west, the predominant soil is clay with limestone and flint silt for soils poor in sand: the wines express fruit and minerality.
- The central part is an open zone where sand dominates: the wines are perfectly balanced between freshness and roundness.
- To the east, vines are rarer and surrounded by woods. Limestone is very present in the form of large stones on the surface, and sand can be associated with iron: the wines are airy and fruity.