📜 Morgon

Morgon is a French protected designation of origin (AOC, PDO) for still, dry red wine from the Rhône department. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973, and the controlled designation of origin dates from the decree of 11 September 1936.

The only grape variety is Gamay. The wines have a minimum natural alcoholic strength of 10.5% vol, and after enrichment the total strength may not exceed 13% vol. At packaging they contain at most 0.4 g/l of malic acid, and finished wines at most 3 g/l of fermentable sugar. The specification describes the wines as combining fruitiness with body and minerality, with raspberry and kirsch aromas, and as suited to ageing. It distinguishes wines from granitic sand, which are fruity and pleasant when young, from wines from schist soils, which are more austere and benefit from several years of keeping.

The maximum yield is 61 hl/ha. The minimum planting density is 6,000 vines per hectare, irrigation is prohibited and wood chips may not be used. Vines are spur pruned, with at most ten buds per plant. Wines must be aged until at least 15 January of the year after the harvest.

Grapes are harvested and wines produced, developed and aged in a single municipality, Villé-Morgon in the Rhône department. By derogation, some stages of production may also take place in a defined area in immediate proximity. According to the specification, producers customarily name the lieu-dit that supplied the grapes, and the best-known example is the Py hill.