Desprat Saint-Verny: Vineyards
The co-operative is located on the outskirts of Veyre-Monton, which lies to the south of Clermont-Ferrand. It sits almost on the banks of the Allier, which flows north through Vichy and Moulin before emptying into the Loire at Nevers.
The vineyards are scattered widely on the surrounding slopes; its 62 members have approximately 170 hectares of vines, spread across more than 50 different communes. These holdings account for about 40% of the vineyards in the region, making Desprat Saint-Verny by far the largest producer of wine in this corner of France. Of what is planted, 46 hectares are earmarked for IGP Puy de Dôme, while the 124-hectare majority is eligible for the Côtes d’Auvergne appellation.
Gamay dominates, coming in at 75 hectares, followed by Pinot Noir at 59 hectares. Chardonnay makes a fairly serious contribution at 32 hectares, while more niche interests include Syrah, of which there are 3 hectares, and Pinot Gris, which accounts for just 1 hectare.
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