Winery & Vintage Info
Though traces of a village dating back to the Neolithic period have been found, the true origins of Chablis go back to Roman times. Its name is said to have come from the Latin term “caplum”, meaning “ford”.
Vines flourished here in the 3rd century, after having been rehabilitated by the emperor Probus. The Serein river, which played an important role in regulating the climate, also allowed wines from Chablis to be transported to Auxerre and Paris. From the capital, they were shipped abroad, to Flanders and England in particular. However, the vineyards owe their real blossoming to the Cistercian movement as the Abbey of Pontigny was just nearby.
Phylloxera ravaged the vineyards in the late 19th century, which explains the recent planting of the Chardonnay grape variety. Since 1970, the vineyards have been undergoing spectacular expansion as mixed farming is being abandoned in favour of viticulture. The vines are also resisting spring frosts more effectively.
The Petit Chablis area of appellation, which produces the J. Moreau & Fils Petit Chablis, covers 1,550 ha of which approximately 1,000 ha are currently under vine. The vines grow on Portlandian limestone plateaus, with clay from the Tertiary Era. Winery Notes
