THE VINEYARD IN THE HEART OF THE CRUS

T H E V I N E Y A R D M O R G O N L E S C H A R M E S H I S T O R Y T H E R E G I O N T H E  V I N E Y A R D  The wines of the Southern most part of burgundy are classified in 12 AOC (Controlled Appellations) : the Beaujolais-Villages, the 10 prestigious crus and the local appellation : the Beaujolais. The Beaujolais-Villages and the 10 crus are located on the northern hills. The Beaujolais is produced in the South and on the lower levels. The seperate  crus are differentiated by the geology and kind of soil : the "terroir". Just one vine variety for the red wines : "gamay noir à jus blanc".. The white wines come from Chardonnay plants (0.5% of the vine area). M O R G O N  " L E S  C H A R M E S " The soil of MORGON (2700 acres), decomposed granite, produces deep and strong wines known for their ageing capacity.. Unique among the Crus, the originality of the Morgon is the diversity of its "climats" (places where the soil, altitude and orientation are quite different). The "Climat" Les Charmes,  is noted for delicate aromas of red fruits. Gérard Brisson produces 3 great cuvées of Morgon Les Charmes : Cuvée La Louve. Cuvée Vieilles Vignes from vines more than 50 years old. Cuvée Noble Tradition aged in oak barrels. H I S T O R Y THE LITTLE TOWN OF BEAUJEU IS THE HISTORIC CAPITAL OF THE REGION From the Romans to Charlemagne In the first centuries after Christ, we notice the Roman influence through the names of villages and hamlets (Brouilly, Juliénas, Régnié...). The development of the first vineyards date from this period. From the 10th to the 16th century Thanks the Benedictine monks of Cluny abbey, the vineyard continued to prosper. The lords of Beaujeu were head of the region for 5 centuries. The most famous of them was Pierre de Beaujeu by his marriage to the king's daughter, Anne. Her father, Louis XI, was very proud of her. After the king's death, Anne de Beaujeu governed the Kingdom with competance until the coming of age of her brother Charles VIII. From the 17th century to the present day The development of communications and creation of waterways (canal de Briare and canal de Bourgogne) and of the railways in the 19th century, and then the road network permitted encreasing economic developement of the region. T H E  R E G I O N Situation Situated on the 46th parallel of latitude, the vineyards are 31 miles from north to south and 11 miles from east to west, enjoying a temperate semi-continental climate. It covers an area of 54000 acres comprising 96 villages. Its natural bounderies are the vineyards of Macon in the north down to the "Monts du Lyonnais" in the south. The mountains of Beaujolais mark the western limit, the summit being Mont Saint-Rigaud (3320 feet). The terrain The mountains of Beaujolais were formed after the alpine and the hercynian period. In the Crus and Beaujolais-Villages areas, to the north, ancient rocks are in evidence. Rocks of the secondary and tertiary eras can be found in the south (where the Beaujolais appellation is mainly produced). Flowing down from the western mountains toward the east, many rivers make little valleys perpendicular to the river Saône, giving to the landscape a charming variety. Sols, topography and climate as well as the proximity of the river Saône are excellent for growing vines.

Nos vins, élaborés et vinifiés par Gérard Brisson, sont le fruit du travail de toute une année... The river Rhône in Lyon