Appellation in Burgundy (France). The former regional AOC Bourgogne Vézelay was classified as independent and renamed in 2017. The vineyards cover 717 hectares of vines in the four communes of Asquins, Saint-Père, Tharoiseau and Vézelay in the Yonne department. The history of Vézeley, which goes back more than a thousand years, was established in 858/859 with the founding of a Benedictine abbey, which, like all Catholic orders, was intensively involved in viticulture. However, a viticulture culture existed much earlier through the Romans, as indicated by the remains of a temple dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine, found under the Saint-Étienne church. Only white wines exclusively from the Chardonnay variety are permitted. See also under Bourgogne and Burgundy classification.
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