The Destination South Vendée Atlantic is partially covered in vineyards. This region, the Pays Mareuillais, is part of the Fiefs Vendéens geographical appellation. It is one of the AOC’s five areas. Pays Mareuillais are particularly well-known in Vendée and western France. They are usually known under the name “Mareuil”, which is the name of the main village of this area.

The vineyard

The Mareuil vineyard, which benefits from more than the national average in sunshine hours, is the largest and the best-known vineyard in Vendée. It alone represents 70% of the Fiefs Vendéens vineyards. It is located on the hillsides around the Rivers Lay and Yon. It stretches over an area of 300 hectares and includes 10 villages. Its annual production is approximately 17,000 hl.

The Fiefs Vendéens designation area produces the wines of Mareuil, Brem-sur-Mer, Vix, Pissotte and Chantonnay. 18 wine estates are scattered over these 5 areas and cover a total of 412 hectares.

The winegrowers obtained the official Protected Designation of Origin (or AOC) in 2011.

 

Wines

The Pays Mareuillais is a wine region that produces characterful red and rosé wines with personality, as well as a few less-well-known whites of subtle minerality which are gradually building themselves an excellent reputation! “Vin de Mareuil” is a wine that can be kept for a very long time! Go to meet the winegrowers on the wine estates of South Vendée Atlantic and taste the result of their work and their passion for wine.

  • The white wines are made from Chenin, Chardonnay and Sauvignon grapes,
  • The rosé wines come from Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Négrette varieties,
  • While the Mareuil reds are from Cabernet, Négrette, Pinot Noir and Gamay.

To find out more about this terroir, head for the Conservatoire de la Négrette, the grape variety’s Conservatory at Rosnay!

The conservatory for the region’s ancient grape variety, Négrette, also called “Ragoûtant”, was established in Rosnay in 2012, in association with the Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin (IFV) Pôle Val de Loire-Centre and with financial support from France AgriMer. It holds a total of 41 stocks.

Its purpose is to gather together and durably preserve the genetic diversity of this grape variety to ensure it doesn’t die out. The best stocks are propagated and made available to winegrowers. The Négrette variety is used in the blending of Fiefs Vendéens AOC wines.

La Route des vins

Reputed for its wines and vineyards, the Pays Mareuillais has put together an itinerary that takes you to meet our winegrowers… “Sur les Routes des Vins” (“on the wine roads”) is a 60 km wine tourism itinerary on which you’ll drive through vineyard landscapes, tasting wines and visiting little villages along the way. The Mareuil region invites you to discover its classified AOC vintages. So hit the road!