At the heart of the Loire Valley, in Indre-et-Loire, the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil vineyard stretches around a village bearing the same name. This appellation is intimately linked to its terroir, its history, and Cabernet Franc, the emblematic grape variety of its wines.

Discover our complete guide to the appellation, through our perspective as a producer of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil wines & our expertise as winemakers for 9 generations.

But what does the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation actually mean? Where is its vineyard located? What is its terroir? What wines are produced there? And what is the difference from Bourgueil?

We invite you to discover the essentials of this Loire appellation.

Where is Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil located?

The Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation is located in Touraine, in the Loire Valley, on the right bank of the river, near Bourgueil.

Its peculiarity is that the geographical area of the appellation is located in the single commune of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.

The vineyard benefits from a privileged location between the Loire and the hillside. The plots extend notably over terraces and hillsides, with different soils that contribute to the diversity of the wines.

The Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation: A whole history!

The first traces of vines in Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil

The history of viticulture in Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil dates back several centuries. When Henry II, Count of Anjou, ascended to the throne of England, the Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyard experienced significant expansion. Before that, in 1152, the political union between Aquitaine and Anjou introduced the Breton grape variety (under the name Cabernet Franc, the unique grape variety of Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil wine) with plantings around the commune of Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil.

The true development of the Loire vineyards dates back to the 10th century, a period during which transport routes improved. However, the first traces of vine cultivation in the Bourgueil region date from Roman times. It was only from the end of the first millennium, thanks to the influence of the Bourgueil abbey, that the vineyard began to develop significantly.

Challenges of the vineyard

At the end of the 19th century, the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyard was infested with phylloxera, a devastating insect that destroyed the vines. The vineyard had to be rebuilt by uprooting and replanting the vines, a long and arduous task for the winegrowers, to bring the vineyard back to life.

This was not the first time the region had faced difficulties. During the French Revolution, the Vendée Wars led to the destruction of many vine plots, plunging the Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil vineyard into a period of decline. Winemakers gradually resumed production, thus breathing new life into the region.

The role of the INAO in the history of the AOC Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil

During the delimitation of AOCs by the INAO in 1937, the commune of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil was initially integrated into the Bourgueil AOC, alongside the communes of Bourgueil, Benais, and Restigné.

However, the winemakers of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil knew that their terroir had its own identity, so a desire for independence emerged...

Our ancestor Adrien ORY, a figure in the history of the vineyard

Adrien ORY, then mayor of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and a committed winemaker, understood very early on the importance of distinguishing the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil terroir. Alongside other producers in the commune, he worked to gain recognition for:

• The uniqueness of the soils.
• The aromatic typicity.
• The communal identity.

This local mobilization by Adrien ORY and other winemakers in the commune helped to progressively recognize Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil's own identity and defend its appellation. We still preserve historical documents from this period at the estate, testaments to the winemakers' efforts to defend their appellation:

*Statutes of the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil & Bourgueil Wines Defense Syndicate - Signed by the syndicate's president in 1937: Adrien ORY, our ancestor.

The terroir of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil: a diversity of soils within the same appellation

Terroir is at the heart of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil's identity. One of the appellation's peculiarities is that it brings together, within a relatively concentrated area, several geological situations that directly influence the style of the wines.

The geographical area of the appellation is located in a single commune: Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, in Indre-et-Loire. The vineyard extends mainly over the ancient alluvial terraces of the Loire and the tuffeau hillside that dominates them.

A vineyard of approximately 1,100 hectares

Today, the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation represents approximately 1,100 hectares of vines in production. Based on the 2019-2023 average published by InterLoire, the appellation represents about 57,000 hectoliters, or nearly 7.5 million bottles per year.

The main soils of the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil terroir

Not all soils in the vineyard function in the same way. Their ability to retain or drain water, their behavior towards heat, and the way roots can colonize them influence vine development.

Sands and gravels: fruit and freshness

Sands and gravels are characteristic of a significant part of the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil vineyard, covering about 700 hectares.

Originating from Quaternary marine deposits, they contain numerous fossils, including sponges and sea urchins. These very well-drained soils warm up quickly in spring, offering particularly favorable conditions for the vines. Nicknamed the "cradle of the appellation," this terroir gives the "go-ahead" to vegetation at the first sign of good weather!

Silty gravels: more substance

Silty gravels (nicknamed La Taille) represent another expression of the local terroir over approximately 100 hectares. The presence of silt brings a different component to these gravelly soils. The behavior of the vine evolves and can favor a fuller expression of the grape.

Terroir is not the only factor. For example, for the Coquelicot cuvée, the plots are planted with old vines aged 90 to 100 years. This age adds an extra dimension to the wine and contributes to its depth.

The result is a denser cuvée, with ripe fruit and a structure that allows it to evolve over time.

Tuffeau: the expression of the hillsides

Tuffeau, a characteristic limestone rock of the region, forms a vein that originates west of the commune and widens to the east. It can be covered with clay-with-flints or aeolian sands.

This terroir represents approximately 300 hectares; the vines develop a deep root system there, which insinuates itself through the limestone. Formerly extracted by our ancestors to build houses and villages, tuffeau has left many quarries. It is now possible to visit these troglodyte caves, which we now use to age our wines.

The hillside plots generally yield more structured wines, with more body and aging potential.

A climate influenced by the Loire

The geographical location of the vineyard also contributes to its identity.

The vineyard is largely open to the Loire. The specifications describe an area where maritime influences penetrate extensively, with a climate that is milder and drier than in the more eastern Loire vineyards. The sandy-gravelly soils warm up quickly, which favors an early vegetative cycle.

The wooded hillside to the north also acts as protection against cold winds. The INAO thus describes a microclimate favorable to the vines.

Planting rules that govern the vineyard

Terroir is not just about geology. The specifications also govern vine management.

For plantings subject to current regulations, the minimum density is 4,500 vines per hectare. Trellising, pruning, and the maximum load of the plots are also regulated.

These rules have one objective: to regulate production and foster conditions that allow Cabernet Franc to best express the character of the terroir.

Terroir as an expression of Cabernet Franc

Ultimately, it is the combination of all these elements: Loire, alluvial soils, gravel, tuffeau, climate, exposure, planting density, and the winemaker's work; that allows Cabernet Franc to take on different expressions in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.

A single grape variety can thus give rise to wines that are softer and fruitier on certain gravel terroirs, or more structured wines suitable for aging on certain hillsides. Discover the characteristics of Cabernet Franc in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil.

What wines does the Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil appellation produce?

The appellation primarily produces red wines, but also rosé wines.

Their profile depends particularly on the terroir, the age of the vines, the vintage, and the winemaker's choices.

Wines from sandy and gravelly terroirs often express a lot of fruit and freshness, while some cuvées from more structured terroirs can show more body and aging potential.

👉 Discover our Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil wines.

How to taste a Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil?

A red Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil can accompany many dishes:

• grilled meats;
• roasted meats;
• charcuterie;
• stews;
• cheeses.

The fruitiest vintages can be enjoyed relatively young, while more structured wines can gain complexity with a few years of aging.

For serving, a temperature of around 16 °C is generally suitable for the red wines of the appellation.

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil or Bourgueil: what's the difference?

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil is a communal AOC, limited to the commune of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, whereas the Bourgueil AOC extends over 8 communes. Both appellations, recognized in 1937, are primarily based on Cabernet Franc.

In Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, approximately 2/3 of the vineyard is on sandy and gravel terraces and 1/3 on the tuffeau hillside; in Bourgueil, the distribution is more balanced. Gravelly soils generally produce softer and fruitier wines, while tuffeau favors more structured wines suitable for aging.

The role of winemakers today

Today, the role of winemakers remains the same: to perpetuate the heritage passed down through generations, from family to family and from estate to estate. Time moves on and brings new challenges (climate change...), which current and future winemakers will have to overcome, to perpetuate the tradition around the wines of the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation!

Domaine de la Chopinière du Roy in the Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil AOC

At La Chopinière du Roy, we have been winemakers in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil for 9 generations. We cultivate our vines over 33 hectares with particular attention to the terroir and the expression of Cabernet Franc.

👉See all our Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil vintages available online.

Our various vintages are regularly awarded medals, allowing you to discover several personalities of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, depending on the plots, soils, and vintages. You can also come and meet us at the estate to taste our wines and discover our vineyard.