🥃 Marc d'Auvergne

Marc d'Auvergne is a protected EU geographical name for a spirit made from grape marc of the Puy-de-Dôme department in central France. It is made only from the marc of red wine from the Gamay and Pinot Noir varieties. Unlike most marcs, this spirit may be neither sweetened nor coloured.

The zone stretches roughly 80 km from north to south and 15 km wide along the edges of the Limagne depression and on the slopes of volcanic hills, within the AOC «Côtes d'Auvergne». The specification sets conditions for the vines: at least 4,000 vines per hectare, up to 80 hl of wine per hectare, and from 175 g of sugar per litre of must.

The marc is distilled or placed in closed opaque containers no later than 24 hours after pressing. Distillation is by cascade: up to 3 copper vessels of 630 l each and columns with up to 7 plates in total. It must be finished by 31 March, and the distillate may not exceed 72% vol. All the marc of one distillation comes from one estate.

Aged marc spends at least 12 months in oak of up to 1,000 l, and «vieux» means 5 years or more. It is sold from 40% ABV. The specification describes fresh marc, white flowers and cherry stone in young spirits, and toasted notes, pine nuts and gingerbread in aged ones. In France the name was recognised by the decree of 26 October 1949, in the EU since 12 June 1989 (PGI-FR-01989).

Why this matters to you. Colour and sweetness here come only from the marc and the oak, because sugar and caramel are forbidden. Distilling is done only to order of the winegrowers. WHO reminds: there is no safe dose of alcohol.