2414) Sancerre, Republique Francaise (Republic of France): Favourite Village of the French in 2021: i)The Sancerre village and its surroundings; ii) Sancerre - A French Wine Appellation d'origine Contrôlée (AOC): A postage stamp of 1.16 Euro issued by La Poste France (French Post) highlighting the village: Date of Stamp issue: 04.07.2022:
About Favourite Village of the French 2021:
Sancerre was voted first for the title of "Favourite Village of the French 2021".
From the top of the Porte César Esplanade one can best appreciate the exceptional location of the village of Sancerre. It was the strategic choice of Etienne de Champagne, (first Count of Sancerre), who built the first fortified castle and its fortifications on this rocky peak 312 metres high, to monitor the Loire and its surroundings, thus establishing its reputation as an impregnable citadel.
Presently, the panorama over the peaceful meanders of the river and the hillsides of Sancerrois makes one forget the turbulent history of the city - the "Hundred Years War" which saw Sancerre resist the onslaughts of the Anglo-Bourguignons, the "Wars of Religion" where some of the inhabitants opposed the royal armies were forced to convert to the Reformation , the "long siege of seven months" in 1573, which starved the city which had become Huguenot, the Royalist uprising during the French Revolution... Sancerre overcame all these adversities.
If one strolls through its narrow streets, climbs the 195 steps of the tower of the Fiefs, (the last vestige of the feudal castle), one can admire the Romanesque portal of Saint-Père-la-None and, not far from the belfry, can make a stop in front of the house of Jacques Coeur, the great treasurer of the King of France (15th century).
To end this visit, a stop at the Maison des Sancerre allows one to discover the secrets of one of the most famous vineyards in the world.
The wines of Sancerre classified AOC (controlled designation of origin), as well as, another celebrity of the region, the famous "Crottin de Chavignol" (named after a hamlet of Sancerre), which is a delicious goat's cheese can be savoured here.
Sancerre - A French Wine Appellation d'origine Contrôlée (AOC):
Sancerre is a French wine "Appellation d'origine contrôlée" (AOC) for wine produced in the area of Sancerre in the eastern part of the Loire valley, southeast of Orléans. Almost all of the appellation lies on the left bank of the Loire, opposite Pouilly-Fumé.
It is well regarded for and primarily associated with Sauvignon blanc.
Some Pinot noir is also grown, accounting for around 20% of the region's production, making mostly light red wines under the designation of "Sancerre Rouge".
A rosé style from Pinot noir is also produced in a style similar to Beaujolais, which is produced from the Gamay grape.
White Sancerre was one of the original AOCs awarded in 1936, with the same area being designated for red wines on 23.01.1959.
The AOC area has expanded fourfold over the years. The town lies on an outcrop of the chalk that runs from the White Cliffs of Dover down through the Champagne and Chablis.
A series of small valleys cut through the chalk, each with their own soils and microclimate and terroir.
In the east are the "flints" that make minerally, long-lived wines.
Between the town and Verdigny the soil consists of marl and gravel – "les caillottes" – producing fruity, well balanced wines. And in the southwest, away from the river towards Menetou-Salon, the chalky "terres blanches" (white ground) produce weightier wines. Most – but not all – of the Sauvignon Blancs are unoaked.
Sancerre's reputation for being a food friendly wine contributed to its popularity in the late 20th century as a popular wine on restaurant wine lists.
History:
The area around Sancerre was first cultivated by the Romans, in the 1st Century AD.
The foundations of two separate Roman bridges across the Loire can be seen at the river village of St-Satur, the port for Sancerre, marking its ancient position along a major Roman route.
The chalk hill outcrop was not only a distinctive landmark known in Roman times but it also fit the profile of terroir that was usually the first to be cultivated – it was near an important town and had easy access to a navigable river.
The steep sloping hills could provide the grapes with enough direct sunlight and warmth to fully ripen while allowing cold air to flow off the slope and pool into the valleys below.
The region was historically linked to the Duchy of Burgundy, which played a role in the introduction of Pinot noir vines to this area.
Sancerre's position as an administrative centre, and the large nearby cities of Orléans and Bourges (which was the capital of the powerful Duke of Berry) ensured healthy local markets for the Pinot Noir and Gamay wines traditional in the area.
In the late 19th century the phylloxera epidemic devastated the area wiping out the majority of the region's vines.
While some Pinot noir vines were retained most of the Gamay was lost. They were replanted with Sauvignon Blanc, partly because it grafted better onto the American rootstocks.
After World War II, the wines gained a reputation in the Paris bistro scene as an easy drinking white wine equivalent to Beaujolais.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, a wave of quality consciousness helped elevate the reputation of Sancerre as an elegant and food friendly white wine that became a popular feature on restaurant lists across the globe.
In 2006, the Sancerre AOC covered the communes of Bannay, Bué, Crézancy, Menetou-Râtel, Ménétréol, Montigny, Saint-Satur, Sainte-Gemme, Sancerre, Sury-en-Vaux, Thauvenay, Veaugues, Verdigny and Vinon.
According to AOC regulations, only Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir are permitted as AOC classified Sancerre wine.
While Sauvignon blanc represents the vast majority of the area's production, Pinot noir can account for anywhere from 1/5 to 1/6 of annual production depending on the vintage.
The minimum alcohol content of Sancerre blanc is 10.5% alcohol per volume while Sancerre rouge and rosé must maintain a minimum alcohol level of 10%. Wines made outside these AOC regulations must be declassified from AOC wines to "vin de pays table wine" such as "Vin de Pays du Jardin de France".
The Stamp:
The Philatelic Document gives thedescription in French
Technical details:
Stamp Issue Date: 04.07.2022
Designer: Sabine FORGET
Process: Gravure
Size: 52.00 mm x 31.00 mm
Values: €1.16
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