Fiefs Vendéens

The Fiefs Vendéens date back to the 9th century. Later, when Richelieu donated the vineyards of his bishopric of Luçon to the poorest. This gave a boost to local wines, which unfortunately suffered from Vendée's isolation. The French Revolution and the Vendée wars confirmed this marginalized location, even though vines were still grown for consumption in the countryside.

Covering 480 hectares, the Fiefs Vendéens appellation of origin (Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure), recognized by decree on October 24 , 1984, is divided into 4 appellations: Vins de Mareuil (320 hectares), Vins de Brem (110 hectares), Vins de Vix (30 hectares), Vins de Pissotte (20 hectares). Soils are predominantly schist, gneiss and limestone overlaid with aeolian sand or quartz. The climate is oceanic, with exceptional sunshine comparable to certain areas of southern France. Annual production is around 23,000 hectolitres.

For Mareuil wines, the dominant grape varieties are Gamay, Cabernet or Pinot Noir , not forgetting Négrette, which produce easy-drinking wines with a fruity nose. Chenin and Chardonnay are blended for rich, well-structured whites. The wines of Brem are made from low-growing vines of Grolleau gris and Chenin grapes, producing the limpid, fresh wines that are so characteristic of this region.Pinot noir, Gamay and Cabernet franc are combined to produce light rosés and sometimes very strong reds. Finally, the more confidential wines of Vix and Pissote derive their generous nature from particular and different aromas of the same grape varieties as the other regions, with the addition of Sauvignon (Vix) and Melon (Pissotte). White wines are fresh and light, rosés very distinctive, while red wines are structured according to the grape varieties used in the blend. Of particular note are the Domaine Saint Nicolas crus.