Régnié

🇫🇷 France

AOC Rare find

Cru 1988 - The newest Cru with the oldest vines, 380 hectares of century-old Gamay

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Region profile

History

Winegrowing here predates all other Crus - the Gallo-Roman nobleman Reginus established his villa and vineyards 2,000 years ago. Yet despite this ancient heritage, Régnié wines were sold as mere "Beaujolais-Villages" until December 1988. The growers lobbied for 30 years while neighboring Morgon and Brouilly wines fetched Cru prices. The irony: the newest-classified Cru has the oldest continuous viticulture. Guy Breton, one of the Gang of Four natural wine pioneers, inherited parcels from his grandfather with vines ranging from 35 to over 100 years old - some planted before World War I.

Climate
High altitude pink granite at 350-500m; coarse sandy soil creates excellent drainage; thermal amplitude from elevation intensifies aromatics; terrain so hilly mechanization is impossible
Signature wines
Guy Breton Régnié Vieilles Vignes - Gang of Four member's grandfather's parcels, vines up to 100+ years old, pure Jules Chauvet method: no sulfur, no manipulation, just ancient vines and pink granite speaking; ~18€ for pre-WWI vines
What sets it apart
The paradox Cru: newest classification (1988) but oldest continuous viticulture (Roman); Guy Breton's pre-WWI centenarian vines are among the oldest in all Beaujolais

Facts

  • 380 hectares with 120 winegrowers
  • 10th and newest Cru, granted AOC December 20, 1988 after decades of lobbying
  • named for Gallo-Roman nobleman Reginus whose villa stood here
  • Guy Breton's vines range from 35 to over 100 years old - his grandfather handed down these ancient parcels

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026