📜 Santenay

Santenay is a French protected designation of origin (AOC/PDO) for still dry white and red wines from Burgundy. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973.

The specification sets the production area on the territory of two communes: Santenay in the Côte-d'Or department and Remigny in the Saône-et-Loire department. Harvesting, winemaking and ageing must take place there. The vineyards lie south of the Côte de Beaune, on south-facing slopes between 210 and 450 metres above sea level.

White wines are made from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. Red wines are made mainly from Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris allowed as accessory varieties. Accessory varieties may only be planted mixed in the vineyard, and together they are limited to 15% within each plot.

The natural minimum alcoholic strength is 11% vol for white wines and 10.5% vol for red wines. After enrichment, the wines may not exceed 13.5% vol total alcoholic strength. The basic yield is 57 hl/ha for white wines and 50 hl/ha for red wines. The upper limit (rendement butoir) is 64 hl/ha for white and 58 hl/ha for red. Vines must be planted at a minimum density of 9,000 vines per hectare.

The appellation name may be completed by the mention Premier Cru, alone or followed by the name of a climat. A climat name may also follow the appellation name on its own. Wines that may bear the Premier Cru mention have lower yields: 55 hl/ha for white and 48 hl/ha for red.

Santenay is the southernmost appellation of the Côte d'Or, and it has no grand cru at all. The leading premier cru climats are Clos de Tavannes, Les Gravières and La Comme, and La Comme, at roughly 21 to 22 hectares, is one of the larger premier crus. On a label the climat name follows the word Santenay, which tells you which plot the wine comes from.