Saint-Bris AOC

The approximately 100 hectares (250 acres) of vineyard in the appellation are situated in the communes Chitry, Irancy, Quenne, Saint-Bris-le-Vineux and Vincelottes.

Wines from vineyards around Saint-Bris-le-Vineux planted with Chardonnay or Pinot noir are not included in the Saint-Bris AOC, but are allowed the appellation Côtes d'Auxerre.

[1] Until the late 19th century, there were large vineyards in the Yonne department, covering 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres), with nearby Paris as their main market, with which they were linked by waterways.

[4] The combination of competition from the Le Midi - the south of France - after the introduction of railroads in the 19th century, and the Great French Wine Blight phylloxera epidemic, in the late 19th and early 20th century knocked out almost the entire Yonne wine business, and most vineyards were abandoned.

It seems that Sauvignon grapes were introduced to the Saint-Bris area sometime after the local wine industry had more or less collapsed,[4] perhaps due to the variety's success on the upper River Loire, not far away, and because Roublot had shown itself susceptible to disease and therefore was less suitable for replanting.