Saint-Péray

In the 15th century, leaving the Crussol castle, the villagers settled in the Mialan valley to cultivate their vines. In the dialect of the time, the village of Saint-Pierre-d'Ay became "Saint-Péray". Already popular, the wine of Saint-Péray was appreciated by the kings. However, during the revolution, the name was secularised: Saint-Péray became "Péray vin blanc" for a time. Louis-Alexandre Faure, a winemaker in the appellation, was inspired by the Champagne method to make sparkling wine for the first time in 1829. Thus was born the first sparkling wine of SaintPéray. The 19th century was the height of the popularity of Saint-Péray wines: sparkling wines, which represented 80% of the volume, were appreciated throughout Europe and accompanied the meals of the greatest people, from the Tsars of Russia to Queen Victoria. Pope Pius VII himself praised their merits. On December 8, 1936 Saint-Péray became a Cru. It is one of the first nine French AOCs.