AOC/AOP Regulations
Département
- Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire
Subzones (Geographic Designations)
- Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet, Goulaine, Mouzillon-Tillières, Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, Château-Thébaud
Unofficial Subzones (Awaiting Ratification)
- Champtoceaux, La Haye Foussaière, Vallet
Styles and Encépagement
- Blanc: 100% Melon B (formerly called Melon de Bourgogne)
- „Sur Lie“ (wines labeled by subzone may not include „sur lie“ on the label)
- All Muscadet wines may include the geographical designation „Val de Loire“ on the label
Minimum Potential Alcohol
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine: 10%
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine (with subzone designation): 11%
Minimum Must Weight
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine: 161 g/l
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine (with subzone designation): 178 g/l
Maximum Residual Sugar
- 3 g/l
„Sur Lie“ Requirements
- The wine must be kept on its lees (in either tank or barrel) after fermentation until at least March 1 of the year following the harvest
- The wine is bottled directly off its fine lees between March 1 and December 31 of the year following the harvest, and not marketed until at least March 8
Élevage for Subzones
- Goulaine and Le Pallet: Wines must be aged on their fine lees until at least April 1 of the second year following the harvest
- Gorges, Clisson, Mouzillon-Tillières, Monnières-Saint-Fiacre, and Château-Thébaud: Wines must be aged on their fine lees until at least October 1 of the second year following the harvest
Minimum Planting Density
- 6,500 vines per hectare
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine: 55 hl/ha
- Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine (with subzone designation): 45 hl/ha
Principal Soils
- Clisson: Granite
- Gorges: Clay and gabbro (igneous rock)
- Le Pallet: Gneiss, quartz, and gabbro
- Goulaine: Gneiss, schist
- Mouzillon-Tillières: Gabbro
- Monnières-Saint-Fiacre: Gneiss
- Château-Thébaud: Gneiss
AOC Established
- 1936 (last updated 2018)
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