Côte de Beaune

The Côte de Beaune Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) is a communal appellation within the Côte de Beaune wine region, in the Côte-d’Or department. This appellation may be followed by the name of the climat from which the wine originates.

The Côte de Beaune AOC is located on the upper slopes of the Montagne de Beaune, on the "balcony" and just above the Premier Crus. At an altitude of 300–370 meters, the soils are brown, calcareous, oolitic, and Rauracian (Jurassic). They are highly regarded: one of Burgundy’s experimental vineyards (vine science) is located at Mont Battois, one of the appellation’s climats.

The Côte de Beaune-Villages appellation is home to white wines made from the Chardonnay grape and red wines made from the Pinot Noir grape. The reds of the Côte de Beaune are powerful yet rounded; they possess the flattering and emblematic aromatic intensity of Pinot Noir, while the whites exhibit the characteristic roundness of Chardonnay.

Spanning the area around the Volnay syncline, the Côte de Beaune AOC covers more than 30 hectares. Compared to the neighboring vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, it features more extensive marl outcrops. Thanks to this characteristic, Côte de Beaune wine combines smoothness and elegance. Renowned worldwide, the Côte de Beaune appellation produces approximately 160,000 hectoliters of wine each year.

As for the vineyards located in the Côte de Beaune, the Côte de Beaune AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) generally covers the higher elevations of this Burgundian region. At an altitude of between 300 and 370 meters, this terroir benefits from brown soil that is both calcareous and limestone-rich. Located near the Côte de Nuits appellation, this vineyard is characterized by its hilly landscape. Generally, the grapes ripen a few days earlier here.

When it comes to the Côte de Beaune, it’s the great white wines that immediately come to mind. However, it’s worth noting that Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also grown here. In this region, red wines are the most renowned, accounting for 60% of production. At the far end of this terroir lie two vast hills: the Montrachet hill and the Corton hill. In fact, each bottle bears the name of a prestigious village: Meursault for the whites, Pommard for the reds, or Beaune and Chassagne-Montrachet for both.

Made from the Chardonnay grape variety, this white wine from the Haute Côte de Beaune is renowned for its pale golden hues. As for the aromas, they combine honey and white flowers, with a flavor reminiscent of gingerbread. Among the white wines, you can find Corton-Charlemagne from north of Beaune, in the Corton hills, or the grand cru Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet, dry wines from the southeastern slopes.

When it comes to red Côte de Beaune wines, there are appellations such as Blagny, Côte-de-Beaune-Villages, Pommard, and Volnay. Each of these AOCs has its own distinct characteristics, but in general, they are characterized by their color, which often features hints of purple or pink. Note that there are other vineyards that produce both red and white wines, such as the appellations Aloxe-Corton, Auxey-Duresses, Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet, and Meursault.

Described as charming wines, the Hautes Côtes de Beaune showcase their frankness and spontaneity. In the Beaune region, Pinot Noir dominates the vineyards. For your information, the AOCs are divided into Grand Cru appellations and village appellations. However, there are also regional appellations such as Bourgogne Côte d'Or, Coteaux Bourguignons, and Bourgogne Aligoté. In this region, you can therefore find a total of 29 appellations, including 8 Grand Crus, 7 white wines, and 1 red wine.

To enjoy the classic Burgundy wine—namely, Côte de Beaune red wine—it should be paired with a well-balanced meal. It is also ideal as an accompaniment to roasted meats such as veal tenderloin or pork tenderloin. As for the white wine, it pairs well with snails, shellfish, and white fish. If the red wine is a bit older, it should be served at a temperature of 10 to 13 °C.