FRONSAC

The wines of Fronsac were unknown to the Bordeaux brokers and wine merchants for a long time and then came into favour for a long period up to 1853. From this point onwards, Fronsac wine did not fair as well as its neighbours, Saint Emilion and Pomerol, who were more able to adapt to the changing markets, and thus became strong competitors for Fronsac wines.

Although the Canon-Fronsac appellation area is relatively small (283 hectares - 700 acres), it boasts an excellent terroir for vines. The 'early' prosperity that it enjoyed around 1750-1760 is thus not surprising. Canon-Fronsac includes parts of the small commune of Saint Michel de Fronsac as well as the westerly part of Fronsac. It is situated on a limestone plateau lain bare by erosion, creating a landscape of small hillocks and deep valleys. Along with its vegetation of holm oaks, the area has a somewhat Mediterranean feel to it, which is accentuated by hot, dry and windy weather. The climate is one of mild winters, early springs, typically hot summers and long, warm, pleasant autumns.

Where does the name 'Canon' come from?

The secretary of the Intendant Boutin gave an answer in 1761: the name may be due to the fact that ships anchored on the Dordogne upstream of St. Michel de Fronsac, using the western flank of the Fronsac hill as a landmark, fired salvos into the marshes, the only area at the time which was not given over to cultivation. The aim of these trials was to test the ballistics and power of the ships' canons. It was even possible to measure their range, by observing where the canon balls fell into the marsh. This explanation seems plausible, because after Colbert founded Rochefort in 1666, this naval port was supplied with canons both from the region around Angoulême, via the Charente river, and the Périgord region, which sent their arms and ammunition to Libourne via the Vézère, Dordogne and Isle rivers. Before acceptation by the navy, these canons were to be tested at Angoulême and Libourne.