Irancy
The red wine village of the Yonne, set in a bowl of vines and cherry trees.
- Wine village
- 1 h 35 from Beaune
- Red wine
€880for a long-day wine tour from Beaune, up to 4 guests
At a glance
- Appellations
- Irancy
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir, César
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 1 h 35 by road (140 km), €355 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About Irancy
Irancy sits at the end of a small valley south-east of Auxerre, ringed by slopes of vines and cherry orchards. It is the red wine village of the Yonne, making Pinot Noir with a touch of the old local César grape. Narrow streets and winegrowers' houses make it a pleasant place to wander.
The wines
Irancy is red only. Pinot Noir leads, and growers may add up to 10 percent of César, an old variety said to have come with the Roman legions, or Pinot Gris. The vines grow on Kimmeridgian marls mixed with brown limestone soils, on slopes of 130 to 250 metres facing mostly south or south-west. The bowl-shaped valley gives shelter. Expect deep colour, aromas of blackcurrant, sour cherry and raspberry, and wines that keep well.
History
Irancy appears in the 9th century among the lands of the monks of Saint-Germain Abbey in Auxerre, and a document of 861 already mentions its vines. During the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, the village was fortified and its church enclosed within ramparts. The church of Saint-Germain mixes several periods, with a Renaissance entrance portal from the 16th century. Its massive square Gothic bell tower was struck by lightning and rebuilt in 1723.
The architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot was born here on 22 July 1713. He went on to design the Panthéon in Paris, and a Latin plaque marks the house where he was born. After phylloxera, cherry trees were planted on the slopes, and they remain part of the landscape. The wine slowly regained its standing: Bourgogne Irancy was recognised in 1977, and in 1999 Irancy became a village appellation in its own right, shared with Cravant and Vincelottes.
What to see
Soufflot's birthplace
The house where the architect of the Panthéon was born in 1713 stands on Rue Soufflot, marked by a Latin plaque. It is now a holiday rental (gîte), so admire it from the street.
Church of Saint-Germain
A village church built over several periods, with a 16th-century Renaissance portal and a massive square Gothic bell tower, rebuilt in 1723 after a lightning strike.
Vineyard walks
Paths climb the slopes around the village, with wide views over the vines, the cherry orchards and the valley. In spring the blossoming cherry trees add colour to the scene.
Tips for your visit
Irancy works best as part of an Auxerrois loop with Saint-Bris and Chablis. Allow an hour or two to walk the village and taste, and wear comfortable shoes if you want to climb for the view.
Around here
What to combine with Irancy on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Irancy is about 1 h 35 from Beaune by road (140 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €355 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? In 1999 Irancy became the first red wine of the Yonne to earn its own village appellation. Its vines cover about 200 hectares across Irancy, Cravant and Vincelottes.
Sources
Irancy with a private driver
Long-day wine tour from Beaune: €880 for the car, up to 4 guests