FROM VINE TO GLASS
The Bugey wine-growing area covers nearly 500 hectares in the Ain département, in the secondary mountain range of the south Jura massif. It stretches over three geographical areas: Cerdon, Montagieu and Belley.
THE TERROIR
The Bugey wine-growing area covers nearly 500 hectares in the Ain département, in the secondary mountain range of the south Jura massif. It stretches over three geographical areas: Cerdon, Montagieu and Belley. At times this wine-growing area takes one by surprise with its relief full of contrasts, offering its plots a great variety of soils and aspects. This rich and varied terroir produces red, rosé and white still wines as well as white and rosé sparkling wines..
Situated right in the centre of the Cerdon area, the Cave Wojtkowiak's vines are planted on the steep hillsides of the Mérignat et Cerdon district. Facing south-east, they grow in the limestone-rich Jurassic soil typical of the area.
The Cave Wojtkowiak's plots are planted with Gamay and Poulsard vines bear the Vin du Bugey Cerdon appellation.
We produce two effervescent rosé wines:
-
An effervescent rosé, the Cerdon Méthode Ancestrale;
-
A sparkling rosé, achieved through gasification.
THE VINEYARD
The Cave's vines cover 3.2 hectares on the sunny hillsides of Mérignat et Cerdon
I am lucky enough to be able to work a large 2.2 hectare plot all in one piece just next to the farm, in addition to which there are several contiguous plots further away. This is a rare luxury in our wine-growing area of Bugey Cerdon, where vineyards are quite often more divided up. Thanks to this ideal configuration, I can handle all the work on the vines and in the cellar on my own.
The Cave's vines are thirty or so years old on average. My parents planted them with Gamay (85%) and Poulsard (15%), the only vine varieties permitted for Cerdon. I prune them using the Guyot (arcadegrape) technique.
FARMING PRACTICES
Since I arrived at the Cave, I have strived to restore healthy soil and vines that produce the best of their potential.
I therefore very quickly introduced total natural green cover on the plots. Henceforth there is now grass cover between the rows of vines and on the ridges. This has had a number of benefits for the soil, the vines and biodiversity:
-
Higher organic matter content and biomass
-
Better soil resistance
-
A reduction in soil erosion
-
Less water pollution by residual plant protection products, which are biodegraded by the natural activity of the soil.
VINE VARIETIES
The Cave Wojtkowiak's Cerdon is developed using a blend of Gamay and Poulsard, two vine varieties traditionally used to make Cerdon wine.
Gamay, a black grape variety with white juice, is frequently used as the sole variety by producers of the appellation. At Cave Wojtkowiak however, our wine only contains 85% of Gamay
We add 15% of Poulsard, a black grape variety typical of the Bugey and Jura wine-growing area. The more fragile Poulsard vine variety is harder to grow than Gamay, as it is more sensitive to coulure (blossom or fruit drop). It produces large sweet juicy grapes that add an aromatic note and delicacy to our wines.
Following the example of other wine-growers in the region, I would like to expand my range of wines and offer my customers white Bugey. To that end, I am thinking of planting a plot of Chardonnay soon, or why not trying to graft Chardonnay onto young Gamay plants.
