Beaune

The Beaune and Beaune Premier Cru appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC) are municipal appellations in the Côte de Beaune region of Côte-d’Or that were established in 1936. The names of Beaune and Beaune Premier Cru wines may be followed by the name of their specific vineyard site. There are, in fact, 42 classified climats in Beaune Premier Cru, including: Clos des Mouches, Clos des Ursules, Clos du Roi, Les Toussaints, Les Grèves, etc.

The very image of Burgundy and the capital of its wine, Beaune attracts the attention of the entire world during the auction of wines from its Hospices. Beaune also boasts one of the largest vineyards in the Côte, covering a total area of over 400 hectares, approximately two-thirds of which are classified as Beaune Premier Cru, representing an annual production of over 12,000 hectoliters. The Beaune vineyards are planted on limestone soils at the summit of the Côte, on Argovian marl as the slopes descend, and on limestone mixed with clay at the base of the hillside. The Beaune Premier Cru vineyards face east to due south.

Made from Pinot Noir, Beaune and Beaune Premier Cru red wines have been renowned since the early Middle Ages for their youthful character, full of fire and bouquet. The whites, which are quite rare, highlight terroirs favorable to the Chardonnay grape. Magnificent Beaune wines are thus offered as Premier Crus, notably by Bouchard Père et Fils, Domaine Dominique Laurent, Domaine de la Vougeraie, Domaine Chanson Père et Fils, and the unmissable Joseph Drouhin.