📜 Juliénas

Juliénas is a French protected designation of origin (AOC, PDO) for red wine in northern Beaujolais. The controlled designation was officially recognised by the decree of 11 March 1938, and it has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

The wines are still, dry reds made only from the Gamay variety. Their colour is violet-red that deepens and darkens over time. The specification describes floral and fruity notes that develop into spiced ones, and a full-bodied, robust palate with some minerality.

Grapes are harvested and the wines produced, developed and aged in four communes: Emeringes, Juliénas and Jullié in the department of Rhône, and Pruzilly in Saône-et-Loire. Vineyards lie at 225 to 450 metres on east-, south- and south-west-facing hills, mostly on granite, schist and colluvium soils. In 2010 the vineyard covered 580 hectares.

The minimum natural alcoholic strength is 10.5% vol, and the total strength after enrichment may not exceed 13% vol. The maximum malic acid content at packaging is 0.4 g/l and the maximum fermentable sugar is 3 g/l. Wood chips are not permitted, and the wines must be aged until at least 15 January of the year after the harvest.

The maximum yield is 61 hectolitres per hectare. Minimum planting density is 6,000 vines per hectare, vines are spur-pruned with at most ten buds per plant, pruning must be finished by 15 May, and irrigation is prohibited.