Unusual grapes can pop-up when you least expect it. On one of our tours in Chablis in the spring, a little-known grape called sacy made an appearance during the tasting of Domaine Frédéric and Céline Gueguen. Of course, this was not a Chablis. Some Chablis producers, including Domaine Gueguen, also make wine outside the Chablis border, in the region called Auxerrois, named after the city of Auxerre.
The little plot of sacy is a vineyard that Céline took over after her mother in the small village of Saint Bris le Vineux. “We’re the only ones who make a 100% sacy,” says Céline, who wants to save the grape from extinction. In 1958, the total area in France was 650 hectares, now it is under 50 ha. It is a dry, light wine with good acidity, aromas of white flowers and green apples and low alcohol content, only 11%. Sold for 8 euros at the domain. The appellation is Coteaux Bourguignon.
