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Burgundy

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Typical rooftops in Beaune.
Typical rooftops in Beaune.

Burgundy (French: Bourgogne) is one of the most prestigious wine regions of France, along with Bordeaux. It is also by far the most complex, with more than 600 official appellations offering as many different tastes and quality levels, from the ubiquitous generic Bourgogne appellation to the fantastic Grand Crus of Côte de Nuits.

Once the wealthiest of all French Duchies, Burgundy is famous not only for its wines, but also for its great cuisine and historical heritage. A trip to Burgundy is always a rewarding experience for all senses, without the hassle of big tourist crowds.

Burgundy wine country offers an image of rusticity and simplicity, with its small medieval villages and old, simple houses, in sharp contrast with its grand rival Bordeaux where every vintner seems to own a castle. Producers usually own small vineyards, with an average area of six hectares (15 acres), the biggest reaching 20 to 40 hectares. Most properties are spread in different vineyards and appellations, and even the smallest vineyards can belong to a dozen different producers.

edit Tasting

Along with the unique geological profile of Burgundy, the distribution of its vineyards among many owners explain the great variety of their wines. Wines can dramatically vary from one vineyard to another; even the tiniest Burgundy village offers a large variety of colors and aromas.

This also explains why 65% of Burgundy wine is sold through négociants buying the production of small producers to bottle it under their own names, sometimes mixed with wines from other producers.

Burgundy wine-producing territory is mainly distributed along the western slopes of the Saône River plain, called the Côte. Four distinct sub-regions can be found - from South to North: Mâcon, Côte chalonnaise, Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. A fifth sub-region, Chablis, sits alone in the Yonne département to the Northwest.

Most of the famous appellations of Burgundy -- including its prestigious Grands Crus -- can be found in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits sub-regions, in the Côte d'Or département.

edit Facts and figures

Detailed map of Burgundy wine appellations (in French)
Detailed map of Burgundy wine appellations (in French)
  • Production area: 25,000 hectares (61,776 acres)
  • Annual production average: 13.5 million liters
  • Main varietals:
Red: Pinot Noir, Gamay
White: Chardonnay, Aligoté, Sauvignon

edit A complex appellation system

The appellation system of Burgundy is quite complex, due to its long wine-making history.

Aside of the "regional" appellations which cover large portions of Burgundy territory, many appellations are named after a specific municipality. Some vineyards in these municipalities get a "premier cru" sub-appellation. Among these "premier cru", some get another sub-appellation called "climat" (climate), which is the local name given to that vineyard. There are 562 (!) of these official "premier cru" appellations in Burgundy. Finally, some vineyards producing wines of the most exceptional quality get a "grand cru" appellation.

Here's a diagram to sum it up, from larger to most precise (and priciest) territories:

  • Regional appellations: 21 appellations, 54.5% of total wine production. These cover the entire territory of Burgundy or one of its sub-regions.
  • Communal appellations: 44 appellations, 34% of total wine production. Those cover the territory of a specific municipality.
  • Communal appellations followed by the name of a vineyard classified as "premier cru": 562 appellations, 10% of total wine production.
  • Grand Cru appellations: 33 appellations, 1.5% of total wine production.

edit History

Wines of Burgundy have always enjoyed an excellent reputation, even before the rise of Christianity. The vineyards of Burgundy date back to the Roman era, but were abandoned for centuries until Cistercian monks from the Cîteaux Abbey started reviving it to its former splendor.

The use of Gamay grapes was prohibited by law in 1395 by Philippe Le Hardy, Duke of Burgundy. While it was (and still is) broadly used in neighboring Beaujolais, Gamay was quickly regarded by Burgundy vintners as a productive, yet less qualitative grape than Pinot Noir, which became the grape of choice to this day.

During the French Revolution in 1790, all Church properties were seized by the new government, and many vineyards were divided among private owners.

Like elsewhere in France, most vineyards of Burgundy were destroyed by the phyloxera epidemic at the end of the 19th century. Burgundy vintners quickly managed to retrieve their former glory through innovative grafting techniques.

edit Geography

Soil composition varies greatly as most vineyards are spread along a long line from North to South (the Côte). Limestone tends to be proeminent to the North, while clay and kielselguhr dominate the South. A unique mix of limestone and marl can be found in the Chablis sub-region.

edit Climate

Burgundy has a continental climate, with cold, harsh winters and warm, sunny summers.

edit Viticulture

edit See also

edit Other reference



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Regenburger Landwein is a very small wine region of Germany, some kilometers east of Regenburg in the State of Bavaria

edit Tasting

edit Facts and figures

  • Planted area: 4 hectares (6 acres)
  • Main varietals:

edit History

edit Geography

edit Climate

edit Viticulture

edit See also

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