Manicle, the gold of Bugey wines ...

Manicle, a rare pearl in the Bugey region: an exceptional cru nestling at the foot of the cliffs, cultivated by 4 passionate winegrowers. Chardonnay, Pinot noir… a confidential wine to discover.

A terroir apart

A few south-facing plots at the foot of a 500-meter limestone cliff that stores heat during the day and releases it at night… an isolated interlude in a mineral environment that can be seen from the road.

This is where the most precious of Bugey wines flourishes. Often compared to the best Burgundies, Manicle comes in red and white with two distinct characters.

Every year, the small quantities produced are the envy of many, as the rare bottles are snapped up time and time again!

©Terroir du Manicle, Bugey wine|C. Martelet/ Bugey Sud

The essence of wine

A Manicle is the raw expression of a hillside sculpted by time. In white, Chardonnay captures the minerality of the soil and the light of the south. In reds, Pinot Noir delivers fine, taut notes, with that subtle grain that evokes neighboring Burgundy without ever imitating it. This is a wine that doesn’t seek to seduce, but to express the truth of a place. At the table, it calls for the simple and the right things: a fillet of Bresse poultry, snails with parsley butter, trout from the rivers of the Ain, a mature Comté cheese. Here, pairing is not a demonstration. It’s a discreet dialogue between terroir and talent.

GOOD TO KNOW

What areas offer Manicle?

Le Manicle is a vineyard like no other. Cultivated for centuries at the foot of the cliffs of Cheignieu-la-Balme, it seduced even Brillat-Savarin, who had his own vineyards there. Even today, only four winemakers share this steep terroir of just a few hectares, striking a delicate balance between know-how, patience and respect for the place.

Caveau Bugiste, in Vongnes, farms around 60% of the terroir.
Domaine Monin, in Vongnes
Château des Eclaz in Cheignieu-la-Balme
Domaine Bärtschi, which took over Clos Miraillet, operates in Boyeux-Saint-Jérôme and Cheignieu-la-Balme.