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Bugey wines are made at the southern tip of the Jura mountains, in a loop of the River Rhône, in the south-east of the Ain département (an administrative area roughly equivalent to a county). This guide covers the two appellations, their named areas and their grape varieties, based on the product sheets of the INAO (France’s national institute for origin and quality, which oversees appellations) and the website of the Bugey wine growers’ association, then the Southern Bugey wine cellars listed in our directory. For an overview of the area, see our introduction to Southern Bugey.
Two appellations: Bugey and Roussette du Bugey
An AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) or AOP (appellation d’origine protégée, its European equivalent) is a protected designation: the wine must come from a defined area and follow strict production rules.
The Bugey AOP
According to the INAO, the Bugey AOP covers still white, red and rosé wines, as well as sparkling and lightly sparkling wines. It was recognised as an appellation of origin in 1958, initially with the status of VDQS (vin délimité de qualité supérieure, a former intermediate quality category), according to the specification. Promotion to full AOC status was approved in 2009, and the current specification was approved by decree no. 2011-1097 of 9 September 2011, since amended.
The appellation area covers 65 communes (municipalities), south-east of Bourg-en-Bresse. The Bugey wine growers’ association estimates the vineyards at about 500 hectares, spread over several scattered areas.
The Roussette du Bugey AOP
Roussette du Bugey is an exclusively white wine, often dry, made from a single grape variety: altesse. Its name refers to the russet colour the grapes take on when ripe. The INAO states that the appellation was recognised in 1958 and confirmed in 2009.
The name may be followed by one of two commune names: Montagnieu or Virieu-le-Grand. The INAO describes the former as expressive in their minerality and freshness, the latter as marked by fruit aromas and sometimes fresh truffle. The commune of Virieu-le-Grand is part of the area covered by Bugey360.
The three named areas of the Bugey AOP
| Named area | Type of wine (INAO) | Area and grapes (Bugey wine growers’ association) |
|---|---|---|
| Cerdon | sparkling rosé, ancestral method | Cerdon valley, between Belley and Bourg-en-Bresse; gamay and poulsard |
| Manicle | still reds and whites | south-facing terrace at Cheignieu-la-Balme and Pugieu, at around 300 m; chardonnay for whites, pinot noir for reds |
| Montagnieu | reds and sparkling wines | slopes above the Rhône (Briord, Montagnieu, Seillonnaz); mondeuse for reds, best known for its brut |
Cerdon and the ancestral method
Cerdon is a medium-dry sparkling rosé. The ancestral method consists of stopping the alcoholic fermentation by chilling, then letting it resume in the bottle. The INAO describes a wine with fine bubbles, low in alcohol (8%) and high in sugar, with aromas of fresh red fruit. The Cerdon area lies outside Southern Bugey.
Manicle and Montagnieu
The Manicle cru occupies a south-facing terrace at the foot of a cliff. In our directory, Domaine Monin, in Vongnes, mentions this cru among its vineyards. Montagnieu, west of Belley, is best known for its Bugey Montagnieu brut, made by the traditional method (the same method as Champagne); Roussette du Bugey Montagnieu and a red from the mondeuse grape are also produced there.
Bugey grape varieties
The Bugey wine growers’ association counts 11 permitted grape varieties. The specification names chardonnay as the main grape for Bugey AOC whites.
| Colour | Grapes listed by the association |
|---|---|
| White | chardonnay, altesse, aligoté, mondeuse blanche, pinot gris, jacquère, molette |
| Red | gamay, pinot noir, mondeuse, poulsard |
A few pointers, based on the descriptions of the association and the INAO:
- Altesse: the only grape in Roussette du Bugey; aromas of quince, raisins and sometimes white truffle.
- Mondeuse: a historic red grape from Savoie; tannic wines with notes of cherry, blackcurrant, bay leaf and liquorice.
- Gamay: fresh, light reds with red-fruit flavours; part of the Cerdon blend.
- Poulsard: a black grape from the Jura, used in Cerdon and in Bugey rosés.
- Chardonnay: mineral whites with notes of pear, pineapple and citrus; the grape of white Manicle.
- Pinot noir: reds with notes of blackcurrant, cherry and pepper; the grape of red Manicle.
Wine cellars and estates in Southern Bugey in our directory
The listings below were checked on 9 November 2026 with the Bugey Sud Grand Colombier tourist office. Cellar opening hours change often: check the listing, then phone before you come, especially for a group visit.
Vongnes
- Le Caveau Bugiste: a producer of Bugey wines since 1967. Tasting room, sales on site and online, and two free museums (wine-growing traditions, and tools of the stone trades). Groups of up to 60 people; HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale, a French environmental certification) and Saveurs de l’Ain labels.
- Domaine Monin: an organic wine and cheese estate with about 17 hectares of vines, including the Manicle cru. Cellar in the village centre, free tasting for individual visitors, group visits by booking.
Marignieu
- Maison Angelot: a 26-hectare family estate producing Bugey AOC wines. Tasting at the cellar, a waymarked trail through the vineyard, groups of up to 50 people, and a France Passion motorhome stop (a network of farms and estates hosting motorhomes).
Massignieu-de-Rives
- Caveau Quinard: an estate run by the same family for four generations, with 14 organic hectares on the slopes of the Rhône, near the ViaRhôna cycle route. Free tasting and a motorhome stop; closed on Sundays.
Valromey-sur-Séran
- Domaine Collomb: a Valromey estate in the hamlet of Massignieu de Belmont, offering Bugey whites, rosés, reds and sparkling wines. Tastings and sales by appointment; HVE and Saveurs de l’Ain labels.
Flaxieu
- GAEC Guilland des Plantaz: an organic farm best known for its apples and pears, which also produces Bugey wines and cider. Sales at the farm and at markets, visits by phone appointment.
Several restaurants in the area also feature Bugey wines on their menus: our page on where to eat in Southern Bugey lists them by commune.
Taste in moderation
Alcohol abuse is dangerous to health; drink in moderation. When touring the cellars, choose a driver who does not drink, or spit out the wines you taste if you are driving. Drinking alcohol is not recommended for pregnant women, and selling alcohol to minors (under 18 in France) is prohibited.
This page contains no commercial links: no cellar has paid to be included. To tell us about a missing estate or information that needs correcting, write to us via our contact page.