At first glance, the names « Pouilly-Fumé » and « Pouilly-Fuissé » might seem like twin siblings from the same vine, but geography and grape tell a more nuanced story. Pouilly-Fumé hails from the Loire Valley, near the town of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where Sauvignon Blanc reigns supreme. Its name, “Fumé,” alludes both to the smoky aroma the flinty soil imparts and the morning mist often seen in its vineyards.
Cross the wine map southeast to find Pouilly-Fuissé, born of Burgundy’s Mâconnais region. Here, Chardonnay takes the center stage, expressing itself with rounder, more buttery nuances, often aged in oak. The name « Fuissé » refers not to smoke, but to a village whose vineyards were classified as AOC in 1936—a full decade before Pouilly-Fumé gained its own in 1948.
So the essential Pouilly-Fumé Pouilly-Fuissé difference comes down to terroir and typicity: Loire versus Burgundy, Sauvignon versus Chardonnay, flint versus limestone. As always in France, names carry the weight of earth, tradition, and an alphabet of aroma.
