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Burgundy wines

Vineyards are present in the region of Burgundy since ancient times. Their geographical location, at the center of a vast trade crossroads, contributed to the rise of Burgundy wines. First planted in Roman times, the vines were then cultivated by monks of the Cistercian and Cluniac orders. Burgundy wines owe their reputation to the Dukes of Burgundy. As owners of numerous vineyards, they imposed several restrictions in the Middle Ages to guarantee the quality of production.

In 1851, the first Hospices de Beaune wine auction was held. The first classification of Côte-d'Or wines took place in 1861. And in 1936, the first appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) was granted to Morey-Saint-Denis.

The wine-growing areas of Burgundy cover a total of 29,500 hectares, including 25,000 hectares of AOC. They stretch over 250 kilometers. The wine-growing region is divided into five sub-regions: Chablis and Grand Auxerrois (between Auxerre and Chablis), Côte de Nuits (around Nuits Saint Georges), Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise (west of Chalon-sur-Saône) and Mâconnais (west of Mâcon).

Burgundy wines are highly diverse and are distinguished by their main grape varieties: Pinot Noir and Gamay for red wines, Chardonnay and (to a lesser extent) Aligoté for white wines. Burgundy's continental climate is characterized by cold winters and frequent frosts, even in spring. This often makes vine cultivation difficult. The grape varieties are planted on clay-limestone soils. These climatic and geological characteristics give Burgundy wines their richness and complexity.

Burgundy wines, terroir as a banner

Among the world's wine regions, Burgundy is far from being the largest in size, but today it is the most sought-after by lovers of prestigious wines. At the heart of this craze is the terroir, celebrated like nowhere else.

Climates, guarantors of identity

In Burgundy, the relationship with the terroir is embodied in the concept of climat, which is unique in the world. A climat is a vineyard plot with its own name, strictly delimited, whose characteristics are well known: its exact area, its orientation or degree of exposure to the sun, and above all its geological specificities, which are incredibly diverse.

The Burgundy vineyard is a mosaic of 1,463 climats, shaped over centuries, which give Burgundy wines, both white and red, their unique character. These climats also form the basis of the classification of Burgundy wines as we know it today. At the top of the appellation pyramid are 34 climats classified as grand cru. The wines produced from these 34 climats represent less than 2% of the total production of Burgundy wines. This rarity makes these wines, some of which have become legendary, true treasures.

The cultivation of a single grape variety for authentic wines

In Burgundy, the vast majority of wines are produced in single-varietal. If the chardonnay is now the most widely grown white grape variety in the world and the Pinot Noir Another widely grown red grape variety, it is worth remembering that their birthplace is Burgundy. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as, to a lesser extent, Aligoté for white wines, are what we might call terroir sponges, the ideal prism for highlighting the geological authenticity of the climates.

In Chablis, Chardonnay is La Chablisienne 's best ally for expressing the mineral character and freshness offered by a subsoil dominated by gray marl and limestone banks. In the Mâconnais, in the far south of the region, generous sunshine and granite soils give the Chardonnay grapes of the Isabelle and Denis Pommier estate their suppleness and citrus aromas.

InCôte d'Or, home to the most prestigious climats, white wines, mainly produced on the Côte de Beaune between Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, take on an opulent character with absolutely unrivalled buttery and brioche notes. Red wines are not to be outdone, with Pinot Noir offering wines with a fruity bouquet. Furthermore, if you plan to enjoy seafood, particularly scallops, try the 2017 Vau Ligneau premier cru from the Domaine de la Motte.

A Hautes-Côtes de Beaune will delight many. As for the Côte de Nuits, it is a kingdom where Pinot Noir reigns supreme. It is in this area of the vineyard that great winemakers produce truly extraordinary wines in theVosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin and Nuits-St-Georges appellations, to name but a few, which will offer wine lovers moments of real emotion.