Menetou Salon French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil
Menetou-Salon is a Central Loire appellation next to Sancerre, producing fresh, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc whites and delicate Pinot Noir reds and rosés at very approachable prices.
More info about Menetou Salon
Geographic position
Central France, in the Cher department just north of Bourges, on gentle hills around the village of Menetou-Salon, about 25 km southwest of Sancerre.
Origin & history
Vines were planted here by the medieval abbeys and the wines were enjoyed at the court of Jacques Cœur, the wealthy 15th-century merchant of Bourges, who owned vineyards in the area. Menetou-Salon became an AOC in 1959.
Wines & grape varieties
Whites from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, with citrus, gooseberry, white flowers and flinty minerality; reds and rosés from 100% Pinot Noir, with red cherry, raspberry and soft spice.
Climate & soil
Semi-continental climate with cool winters and warm summers. Kimmeridgian marl and limestone, the same chalky soils found in Sancerre and Chablis, give the wines tension and a saline finish.
Wine region: Loire
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc