History
The uniqueness of the wines of Sancerre comes from the marriage of a terroir and the two grape varieties selected by our forefathers: the Sauvignon Blanc and the Pinot Noir.
The history of the Prieur family domaine has unfolded in prestigious Sancerre terroirs such as Les Monts Damnés, Les Bouffants and le Chêne Marchand over eleven generations.
Domaine Pierre Prieur & Fils is still managed by the family today and covers more than 15 hectares, 12 hectares of which are planted with Sauvignon Blanc and the remainder with Pinot Noir.
Learn more about the domaine’s vineyardsVines and Terroirs
Due to its long and eventful geological history, the topography of Sancerre region is hilly and therefore conducive to the cultivation of the vine. It also boasts a large variety of soils which stamp their character on the wines from Sancerre. The region has three main terroirs:
- The "terres blanches": clay-limestone soils that create well-structured, rich and complex wines
- The "caillottes": stony limestone soils that create fruity wines from an earliest age
- The "silex": a particular type of flinty-clay soils which create fleshy, well-structured wines with a characteristic mineral bouquet
Harvesting and winemaking
The grape berries are tasted to determine their maturity level and thereby establish the date of the harvest, plot by plot.
Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand which respects the integrity of the grapes and helps to retain the aromatic finesse of our two grape varieties.
The grapes are taken from the vineyard plot to the winery as quickly possible in order to preserve the delicate aromas of the Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Once in the winery, vinification is carried out with as little human intervention as possible, keeping each plot separate to obtain the pure expression of each terroir.
Using our winemaking savoir-faire we will create the best blends to obtain authentic, generous Sancerres.