Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2012 9 Ancient and recent construction of Terroirs 9 Kimmeridgian age in Chablis: a geological argument for the social building of a terroir

Kimmeridgian age in Chablis: a geological argument for the social building of a terroir

Abstract

Situated at the beginning of the 20th century on the territory of the Chablis municipality, delimited according to specialists of the time to plots of “kimmeridgian” origin, the vineyard producing Chablis wines has considerably extended as a result of challenges and internal conflicts. The reference to the Kimmeridgian age progressively lost its sense to finally disappear from delimitation criteria. The geological definition of the Chablis terroir actually appear as an unbiaised pretext hiding political, economical or social issues along with struggles for influence which lasted throughout the 20th century.

In order to shed light on human and social inputs into processes of normalization of terroirs via Appellations of controlled origin, we describe the different historical phases of the definition of the Chablis vineyard. We analyze the contribution of the geological argument put forward in front of judges, and then since 1935, in front of the INAO, while deciphering actor games, which as negociations go, were influential on the Chablis delimitation. We thus show that the input of a geological standard of the Chablis terroir is instrumental for negociations or social stresses within territories between professional syndicates, wine merchants, state agents or scientists, in reaction of economical, administrative or law contexts.

DOI:

Publication date: August 26, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Éric VINCENT (1), Olivier JACQUET (2)

(1) Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité,16 rue du golf 21800 Quetigny
(2) Chaire UNESCO « Culture et traditions du vin » de l’Université de Bourgogne. Institut Jules Guyot, Université de Bourgogne BP 27877 21078 DIJON CEDEX

Contact the author

Keywords

Geology Chablis terroir building.

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

Outline for the définition of “Terroirs Viticoles application to the area of El AIjarafe (Seville, Spain)

The grapes producing and wine making regions are différent in their use of agricultural, industrial or agroindustrial means. These means are quite often very original and/or specialised; and lately are also quite competitive. Such means are being defined with increased accuracy in the delimitation and definition of its characteristics (Paneque et al., 1996 a). Human action together with other Elements and Agents involved in the vine growing production (Reyner, 1989) over these means lead to agronomic systems with important characteristics. Finally, the transformation of the vine growing production, through different technologies (Fleet, 1992), results in the creation of products with a different acceptance and economical value in the market.

Enzymes Impact During Fermentation On Volatile And Sensory Profile Of White Wines

Favoring the formation of volatile compounds and their precursors in must and wine represent one of the principal goals during winemaking technology. In recent years, most attention has been placed on using glycosidases to enlarge the aroma profile of white wines. The effect of enzymes makes odorless glycosidically-bound precursors be converted into aromatic compounds. This paper focuses to study the influence of enzymes (pectolytic and β-glycosides) administered before alcoholic fermentation, even if most studies analyze their use in different winemaking stages. Two semi-aromatic varieties such as Fetească regală and Sauvignon blanc were chosen.

Application to the wine sector of European Convention on the landscapes

The landscape is defined by the European convention of the landscape (Florence, October 20, 2000) like part of the territory as perceived by the populations, whose character results from the action of natural and/or human factors and their interrelationships. This convention is based on the contribution cultural, ecological, environmental, social of the landscapes and aims at a reinforcement of the tools of protection and valorization in particular in the agricultural policies, of regional planning and town planning. Moreover, it encourages a step of identification and qualification of the landscapes and underlines the need for developing the sensitizing and the training of the actors concerned.

Cooling the berries, protecting the vines: techniques for managing grapevines during periods of extreme heat

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2025, Alena Wilson (University of Torino, Alba, Torino, Italy) speaks about techniques for managing grapevines during periods of extreme heat. This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on OENO One.

Vineyard innovative tools based on the integration of earth observation services and in-field sensors (VitiGEOSS project)

Climate change is having an unprecedented impact on the wine industry, which is one of the major agricultural sectors around the world. Global warming, combined with the variation in rainfall patterns and the increase in frequency of extreme weather events, is significantly influencing vine physiology and exposing, more frequently, plants to severe biotic and abiotic stresses. This represents a challenge for viticulturists who need to take complex decisions to adjust vineyard management and achieve oenological goals.