Chablis: The Seven Grands Crus on the Serein
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
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200
XP
+100 France
= 300 total
1 day
Chablis: The Seven Grands Crus on the Serein
200 + 100 XP
The vineyard of Chablis makes only dry white wines from chardonnay under three appellations: petit-chablis, chablis with its premiers crus, and chablis grand cru. The seven grands crus, among them Les Clos, Bougros, Blanchots and Grenouilles, all lie in the commune of Chablis on a south-west-facing slope on the right bank of the Serein. In 867 Charles the Bald gave the monastery and village of Chablis to the monks of Saint-Martin of Tours, who were fleeing the Normans, and the collegiate church of Saint-Martin was built on the site.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Taste a chablis grand cru — just over one per cent of everything the Chablis vineyard makes — alongside a petit-chablis from the same cellar, both pure chardonnay, and say what the grand cru slope has added
2
of 4
From the Serein in Chablis, look across to the right bank and name all seven grand cru climats along the south-west-facing slope — Bougros, Les Preuses, Vaudésir, Grenouilles, Valmur, Les Clos and Blanchot — then pick out Les Clos, the largest of them at over 28 hectares
3
of 4
At the collégiale Saint-Martin, find the horseshoes nailed to the door by riders asking Saint Martin's protection for their horses — the church took his name after sheltering his relics here in 872
4
of 4
On the vineyard tracks above the right bank, pick up a loose piece of the pale Kimmeridgian limestone and find the tiny curved oyster shells in it — Exogyra virgula, the fossil bed that runs under all seven grands crus
Taste a chablis grand cru — just over one per cent of everything the Chablis vineyard makes — alongside a petit-chablis from the same cellar, both pure chardonnay, and say what the grand cru slope has added
From the Serein in Chablis, look across to the right bank and name all seven grand cru climats along the south-west-facing slope — Bougros, Les Preuses, Vaudésir, Grenouilles, Valmur, Les Clos and Blanchot — then pick out Les Clos, the largest of them at over 28 hectares
At the collégiale Saint-Martin, find the horseshoes nailed to the door by riders asking Saint Martin's protection for their horses — the church took his name after sheltering his relics here in 872
On the vineyard tracks above the right bank, pick up a loose piece of the pale Kimmeridgian limestone and find the tiny curved oyster shells in it — Exogyra virgula, the fossil bed that runs under all seven grands crus
Before you go
Most cellars in the town will pour chablis and petit-chablis without notice, but a grand cru tasting is normally by appointment and charged — ring ahead. The vineyard tracks up the right bank are working roads on private land: walk them, do not drive a motorhome up them. The two-star municipal campsite and the riverside parks sit on the bank of the Serein, which is under a flood plan, and they are the first ground to go under after heavy rain.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
200 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
300 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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