Chablis

Chablis is one of Bourgogne’s largest and most distinctive wine regions, situated in northern Bourgogne around the town of Chablis. Chardonnay is the only permitted grape variety, producing wines renowned for their freshness, precision and mineral character. With around 5,800 hectares under vine, Chablis represents a substantial part of Bourgogne’s production: almost one in five bottles of Bourgogne produced is a Chablis wine.

The vineyards extend across hillsides on both banks of the Serein, typically between 150 and 300 metres altitude. The region’s famous Kimmeridgian limestone and marl, rich in fossilised marine material, plays a defining role in its terroir. Chablis’ cool, semi-continental climate preserves acidity and freshness, although spring frost has historically been one of the major challenges for growers.

The Chablis hierarchy comprises Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru. There are 40 Premier Cru climats and seven Grands Crus — Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur and Vaudésir — situated together on the celebrated hillside overlooking the town.

Classic Chablis is dry, fresh and precise, typically showing citrus and orchard fruit alongside a distinctive stony, mineral character. Premier Cru and especially Grand Cru wines add greater depth, concentration and complexity, with the finest examples capable of ageing for decades.