Why it matters
The producer
The château sits at the heart of Pouilly-Fuissé in Fuissé, in the Mâconnais, with 40 hectares divided into over 100 plots. Antoine Vincent is the fifth-generation proprietor, born in 1975, and trained in oenology and winemaking in Angers and Toulouse. The range includes Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran, Juliénas and Crémant de Bourgogne.
No universal formula governs the plots. Château Fuissé adapts its methods to the constraints of each area, while the wider family philosophy joins manual harvests, cultivation respecting biodiversity and harmony in work. The range includes still white, red and sparkling wines from separate Burgundy appellations.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
In the Mâconnais, appellation names put different addresses on the bottles. Château Fuissé's Pouilly-Fuissé holdings cover 25 hectares across 45 climats, with parcels mainly blended for the Tête de Cuvée. A climat is a named Burgundy vineyard parcel, so the cuvée brings multiple localities together under one appellation.
Saint-Véran keeps the white wines within the Mâconnais. Juliénas moves the range into Beaujolais with Gamay, while Crémant de Bourgogne changes the format to traditional-method sparkling wine.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The family practises Lutte Raisonnée, reducing artificial herbicides and pesticides in favour of natural preparations. Manual harvests allow the grapes to arrive at the winery carefully, where gentle whole-bunch pressing limits handling and can reduce the extraction of bitter phenolics from skins and stems.
Malolactic fermentation is encouraged partially or fully depending on the vintage and desired style. This secondary fermentation converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid, lowering perceived acidity and adding roundness when the cellar calls for it. The wines generally spend a maximum of nine months in barrel, with exceptional vintages able to reach 12 months.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range begins with still white wines from the Mâconnais, including Saint-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé. Juliénas provides the red wine, made from exclusive Gamay. Crémant de Bourgogne provides the sparkling bottle, made from 100% Chardonnay by the traditional method.
Pouilly-Fuissé Tête de Cuvée is mainly blended from the estate's climat parcels. Le Clos is the named Premier Cru monopole, a classified vineyard controlled by one domaine. The bottles therefore move from broader appellation wines to a single controlled site, with sparkling wine adding a second fermentation and lees ageing to the range.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Choose the Crémant de Bourgogne Brut. It is 100% Chardonnay, made by the traditional method with a second fermentation on the lees for 12 to 15 months. Traditional method means the bubbles form through a second fermentation in the bottle, while lees contact can add creamier texture and finer mousse. The bottle gives the range its sparkling expression and places Chardonnay beside the still white and Gamay red wines.