The Mâconnais wine region in Southern Burgundy is centred on the provincial town of Mâcon, from which it takes its name. The region produces a considerable amount of wine, specializing in white wines made from Chardonnay and a smaller number of red wines made from Pinot Noir and Gamay.
Unlike the Côte d'Or to the North, where a band of densely planted vines runs roughly north-south across the countryside, the vineyards of the Mâconnais are more sparsely planted and interspersed with land devoted to other forms of agriculture. The landscape here is made up of rolling limestone hills, bordered to the east by the Saône River, which flows south to join the Rhône just outside Lyon.
The Climate of the Mâconnais shows signs of its proximity to the Rhône valley, with higher than average temperatures, lower rainfall and - perhaps most importantly - less risk of vine-damaging spring frosts.
The southern end of the Mâconnais slightly overlaps the northern boundary of Beaujolais - itself officially Part of the Burgundy wine region, but often treated as a separate region.
The title Mâcon covers white, red and rosé wines from the entire region. A number of communes within the appellation's catchment area have been recognized as sources of premium wines and may add their names to the appellation; for example, Mâcon Lugny.
Gamay is a Burgundian grape variety that has existed since the 14th century. For fear of competition with the pinot noir of Burgundy, gamay was finally uprooted and planted in the Beaujolais region, from Mâcon to Lyon. These siliceous and granitic soils suit it perfectly, and it gives its best here. But it is also planted all over France, such as in Lorraine, in the Loire Valley, in Bugey, in Savoie and in Auvergne. Gamay is early and very productive and needs to be limited so that quality prevails over quantity. Short winter pruning of the shoots and high density of vines per hectare are the methods that allow it to produce very fruity, fresh and greedy red wines. Gamay is also very popular in red wine futures, and produces wines from the Beaujolais region with very interesting character and ageing potential. The AOCs Crémant-de-Bourgogne, Mâcon, Anjou, Touraine, Rosé de vallée de la Loire, Côtes-d'Auvergne, Saint-Pourçain, Bugey, Gaillac, Côtes du Luberon... and many vins de pays are proud of it. Today, about 36,000 hectares of Gamay are cultivated in France, including 22,000 hectares in Beaujolais.
red wines from the region of Mâconnais go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, veal or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of traditional flemish carbonades, veal paupiettes à la bourguignonne or rabbit with tomato.
