Definition: fiefs-vendéens vdqs

The Fiefs Vendéens appellation (Vins Délimités de Qualité Supérieure) is divided into four appellations: Mareuil wines (320 ha), Brant wines (110 ha), Vix wines (30 ha) and Pissotte wines (20 ha).

The vineyard:
History: It was the Roman legions who introduced vines to the region between Poitou and the Loire estuary (La Vendée). The Fiefs date back to the 9th century. Later, when Richelieu donated the vineyards of his bishopric of Luçon to the poorest people, they gave a boost to local wines, which unfortunately suffered from the isolation of the Vendée. The Revolution and the Wars of the Vendée confirmed this marginalised location, even though the vines remained there for the sole consumption of the countryside.
A source of wealth for the region since the Middle Ages, vines gave rise to a vibrant local tradition, particularly in four renowned Vendée fiefdoms: Mareuil, Brem, Vix and Pissotte.
Soils: clay-siliceous on well-exposed hillsides with a more or less deep schist subsoil.

Climate: oceanic, benefiting from exceptional sunshine comparable to certain areas of the South of France.

The wine:
Annual production: approximately 25,000 hl (or 3 million bottles)
Yield: 55 to 60 hectolitres per hectare

Grape varieties:
- Mareuil wines: The dominant grape varieties Gamay, Cabernet and Pinot Noir, not to mention Négrette, produce easy-drinking wines with a fruity bouquet. Chenin and Chardonnay are blended to produce rich, well-structured white wines.
- Brem wines: Produced from low-growing vines of the Grolleau gris and Chenin varieties, these wines are clear and fresh, with a distinctive character. Pinot Noir, Gamay and Cabernet Franc blend beautifully to produce light rosés and sometimes very intense reds.
- Vins de Vix et Pissote: less well known, these are generous wines with distinctive and varied aromas, made from the same grape varieties as other regions, with the addition of Sauvignon (Vix) and Melon (Pissotte).

Tasting notes:
Sensory characteristics: The white wines are fresh and light, the rosés very distinctive; the red wines are structured according to the grape varieties used in the final blend based on Chenin and Chardonnay.