Covering more than 20% of the surface area of the Beaujolais vineyard, the AOC Brouilly appellation comes from Mont Brouilly, whose vineyard grows at the foot of a mountainous landscape culminating at an altitude of 484 metres. This red wine is more particularly produced in the Beaujolais Crus wine region. Their cousins, the Côtes de Brouilly, grow on the slopes of the mountain. The small chapel at the top is called Notre-Dame aux Raisins, you can’t make it up….
The grapes are mainly made from the Gamay grape variety but others can also come from other varieties, up to 15% per plot, such as aligoté, chardonnay or pinot noir. Thus its wine, adorned with a ruby red colour, can be shaded with violet in the more granitic terroirs. The first day of the harvest is carried out according to the ripening of the bunches, which depends on the sunshine. That's why you can drink it in the year following the harvest! Harmonious, elegant and robust, it has a remarkable aroma of red fruits (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry...) perfumed with a touch of peony. It is a medium-aged wine that is traditionally served as an aperitif with cold meats and cheese, or with poultry or white meat. These wines, which can be kept for two to three years, are round, supple and pleasant to drink.
The AOC Brouilly is a wine from the Beaujolais vineyards in the Rhône department. A decree dating from October 19, 1938 officially recognized it as an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). This decree was issued by the National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO).
The Brouilly wine is produced in a vineyard located west of Belleville-sur-Saône. It is part of the Beaujolais production area where it is considered to be the largest of the Beaujolais crus. Covering the slopes of Mont Brouilly, the vineyard is known to produce only red wine.
Located at the southernmost point of the Beaujolais vineyards, the Brouilly appellation represents nearly 20% of the total surface area of this zone. Its soil varies according to the location of the vineyard. On the west side, the terroir is made of granite. Towards the centre, the soil consists of compact and hard rocks. Finally, in the east of the mountain, the soil is covered with alluvium.
The climate of the production area is semi-continental with Mediterranean and oceanic influences. This climatic variety allows it to create a wide range of wines.
Brouilly wine is made from a single grape variety: Gamay N, a black grape with white juice. However, it can be served with other raw materials (chardonnay B, aligoté B and melon B) with a 15% limit for each plot. The choice of this grape variety is due to the nature of the soil in the region. Indeed, Gamay only reveals its complexity on a granitic and acidic soil.
It is thanks to this grape that the vineyard produces only red wine. The wine has a ruby colour that changes according to the terroir. Thus, those whose grape variety grew on granite soil have a purplish tint. Those produced in the east have a darker shade.
The AOC Brouilly is fine and fruity. Thanks to the granitic soil, it is very precocious and can be drunk in the spring following the harvest. On the nose, dominant aromas of strawberry and raspberry surprise the palate. Usually, the AOC Brouilly is drunk after 2 or 5 years of age. However, Brouilly wine can be kept for 10 years or more in good conditions.
To better understand the AOC Brouilly, you must visit the farmers. To do this, go and visit the Les Roches Bleues estate. This vineyard focused on agro-ecology offers both Brouilly and Côte-de-Brouilly appellations. When visiting, find out more about it. You can even buy Brouilly wines there.
After this tour, stop by the Domaine des Fournelles to enrich your knowledge about the products of the wine-growing area. It is in St Lager that you will find this property offering the Brouilly and Côtes de Brouilly crus.
Once back home with your Brouilly wine purchases, you'll have to find the right dishes to go with the surprisingly tasty reds. During big events, such as the end of year celebrations, this type of wine makes a good companion with Bresse poultry. As an aperitif, it goes well with different types of charcuterie or specialities such as brioche sausage.
Here are some recipes that go well with Brouilly wines. For a starter, serve a potato salad with Reblochon cheese. If you're in the mood for poultry, opt for chicken with fresh figs. Pheasant in Chartreuse reveals all its flavours with a glass of Brouilly red wine. And in winter, nothing beats a lamb navarin. You can also let yourself be tempted by a pot-au-feu.
