St-Pourçain, sometimes called St-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, small appellation in the greater loire region in cereal- and oak-producing allier département almost precisely in the centre of France. (Because of this St-Pourçain cannot be found on maps of French wine regions; only on detailed maps of the whole hexagone—see map under france.) It was an important site in Roman times, near river transport and offering suitable hillside vineyards. White St-Pourçain was one of the most respected wines in France in the Middle Ages (see loire, history, and medieval literature) but is today more of a cool climate curiosity. From about 550 ha/1,358 acres of vineyard on varied soils of limestone, granite, and gravel, a wide range of wine colours and flavours are made, being typically dry, light in body, and relatively high in acidity.
