Vignes à Cerdon, Bugey AOC winesAway from the hustle and bustle, the Bugey vineyards flourish between limestone cliffs, meandering Rhône rivers and steep slopes. Situated between Lyon and Geneva, this confidential territory offers a mosaic of landscapes where the vines seem to play with gravity, with slopes of up to 70%.
Here, nature imposes its rhythm, and man’s work follows the relief with patience and respect.
View of Cerdon
Montagnieu, in the Bugey vineyardsSpread over three production areas: Cerdon, Montagnieu and Belley, the vineyards rival each other in taste from Cerdon to the Rhône shore, at the foot of the Grand Colombier. There are several distinct appellations, producing still red, rosé and white wines, as well as natural rosé and white sparkling wines.
Roche Sculptée, Gargantua in BugeyThe steep geology of the Bugey region has given rise to many legends, not least that of Gargantua, who is said to have shaped certain hills by overturning his trough. A myth that illustrates the uniqueness of these landscapes, shaped by nature and centuries of human toil.
Planted at altitudes of between 200 and 500 metres, the Bugey vineyards nestle in a spectacular setting. Far from the vast wine-growing plains, they cling to steep slopes, threading their way between valleys and plateaus, overlooking the meandering Rhône. This geological patchwork gives rise to wines with varied profiles, between mineral tension and fruity roundness.
Villages and a preserved winegrowing heritage
Between the vineyards, the villages of Bugey tell an age-old story. Mérignat, Saint-Sorlin-en-Bugey, Montagnieu, Vaux-en-Bugey, Vongnes and Cerdon have preserved their traditional winegrowing architecture: narrow streets, ancient fountains, stone houses with vaulted cellars. Here, dry-stone barns still dot the hillsides.
Grangeon in the Bugey vineyards
Bugey vineyards
Maison Bonnard ViewAs early as the Middle Ages, Cistercian monks developed vine cultivation in Bugey, taking advantage of its favorable terroir. In modern times, Belley-born gastronome Brillat-Savarin praised the finesse of local wines in his famous book Physiologie du goût.
More recently, Bugey was awarded AOC status in 2009, a belated but well-deserved recognition for such a singular vineyard. Today, winegrowers are perpetuating this heritage while experimenting with new practices, from organic farming to a return to ancestral methods.
