Beaujolais blanc, the exception

The "Beaujolais blanc" regional appellation came into being in 1937, set at the extreme northern end of the winemaking area, on the borders with the Mâconnais winemaking area and to the southwest of Villefranche, in the triangle that has Liergues, Le Bois d'Oingt and Bully at its points. Made using the Chardonnay grape and not the Gamy, Beaujolais Blanc and Beaujolais-Villages Blanc are rare wines crafted by nearly 200 winemakers. They are vinified in a totally different way to the red wine: the grapes are pressed on arrival at the cellar. Fermentation lasts around a fortnight. These wines are rare pearls set in the string of gemstones that are the red wines. They give off subtle aromas of fresh fruit and blossom. In the tradition of this great grape, they combine substance and freshness, a successful balance between roundness and finesse within which there may also be a zest of complexity and sometimes a touch of vanilla if the wine has been aged in barrels.