AOC Bugey wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

Bugey lies in the Ain department, between the Jura and Savoie, on a vineyard of hillsides covering around 500 hectares. The vines grow on limestone and glacial moraine soils, shaped by the karst relief and moraine deposits of the Bas-Bugey. The climate is semi-continental, tempered by the proximity of the surrounding mountains, which favours slow grape ripening. The appellation permits a varied range of grape varieties: chardonnay dominates the white wines, complemented by aligoté, altesse, jacquère, mondeuse blanche and pinot gris, while gamay, pinot noir and mondeuse noire make up the reds and rosés. This diversity of grapes and styles, combined with a location at the crossroads of Burgundy, Savoie and the Jura, sets the vineyard apart from neighbours that focus on a single wine colour.

The wines of this appellation

Bugey produces white, red, rosé and sparkling wines, the latter accounting for a significant share of production. The whites, built around chardonnay and rounded out with altesse, aligoté, jacquère or pinot gris, are fresh and fruity, with floral and citrus notes. The reds, made from gamay, pinot noir or mondeuse, are supple with light tannins and are best enjoyed young. The rosés are lively and crisp, with aromas of strawberry and redcurrant. The sparkling and semi-sparkling wines, among them Bugey Cerdon made by the ancestral method, show a fine mousse and a touch of sweetness over red-fruit aromas. These wines pair with charcuterie, lake fish, poultry and regional cheeses.