It appears that the origin of the Bourgueillois vineyard is linked to the creation of the Abbey of Bourgueil in 990, which gives us the first written traces.

It was at the time of Saint Martin of Tours (IVth century) that the first vines were planted.  The vineyard of Bourgueil, classified AOC by the decree of July 31, 1937, is located west of Tours on the gently sloped right bank of the Loire.  The appellation extends over 7 towns in the Indre-et-Loire district: Restigne, Benais, Ingrandes de Touraine, Saint Patrice, Chouze' sur Loire, La Chappelle sur Loire et Bourgueil covering about 3460 acres. 

Cabernet Franc rules the roost in Bourgueil, an appellation dedicated solely to reds and rosé. These wines are resplendent of raspberry and the grape’s hallmark “pencil shaving” aromas, and can be slightly more tannic than wines from neighboring Chinon.  

Information by Wines of Bourgueil

The vineyard of Bourgueil is composed by two different soils.  The soil closest to the Loire is made of sand and pebbles – locally called “graves” and “graviers”.  Then arriving on to the gentle slopes, come the soils made of “Tuffeaux “. These soils are of clay and fine limestone.  Looking at the soil composition, it can be noted that it is made up of sand and gravel which one can find in the towns of Chouzé and la Chapelle, then there is a vast area of clay-based soil which is suitable for cereal cultivation, located near the streams of Changeon or Lane.

We then find the sand and gravel banks in the towns around Ingrandes, Restigné and Bourgueil. The two zones of Restigné and Chouzé are the result of gravel deposits of the Loire and make it a remarkable soil for the cultivation of the wine.  The soil’s depth varies from a few inches to great depths, placed on the soil of the Cenomanian or Turonian.  The water in the soil is rapidly drained, which enables the soil to warm up easily leading to the production of a wine that is smooth, light, delicate and fruity.

Finally we see the hillside with the turonian soil. The tuffeau on the surface decays and forms a complex with clay in the soil. This is the limestone clay that is called ‘la tuf’.  The tuffeau is the rock that was used to build the houses and castles of the region, and subsequently of the cellars used today to preserve the good bottles of Bourgueil wine.  

Much of the vineyard land opens to river, and oceanic influences traveling up the valley can be clearly felt. The slope facing due south and the woodland-covered plateau protect the slopes from the north wind.