Let’s face it, Burgundy (“Bourgogne” in French) produces some of the most exquisite wines in the world. However, trying to wrap your head around the hundreds of appellations (a.k.a. regions), is a complicated matter. It also does not help that Burgundy is the only French wine region whose name has an English translation, creating confusion among consumers.
Burgundy takes the notion of terroir to a whole other level. Every parcel of land is unique, each with its own unique characteristics, resulting in an array of appellations. As an example, there are 635 Premier Cru and 33 Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy alone. Try remembering every single one of them. I know I couldn’t!
Old World wines are often labelled by appellations (a.k.a. region) and not by grape varietals. What are your choices? Do you Google search while you shop or do you do your homework prior? Well no need for either. Here is my guide to understanding Burgundy:
The two primary grapes are Chardonnay for white wine and Pinot Noir for red wine.
Regions from North to South (see wine map here)
o Chablis
Chablis is the northern most wine district of Burgundy known for its unoaked Chardonnay
o Côte de Nuits
Located in the northern part of Côte d’Or, Côte de Nuits produces stunning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Look for Marsannay, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot (mostly red), Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges.
o Côte de Beaune
Located in the southern part of Côte d’Or and is known for its pure and powerful Chardonnay. My favorite whites are: Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet
The reds from Beaune, such as: Volnay, Pommard and Aloxe-Corton are elegant and refined.
o Côte Chalonnaise
Côte Chalonnaise lies to the south of Côte d’Or and produces mostly Pinot Noir but also offers an attractive selection of white, rosé and sparkling wines. Look for Bouzeron (Aligoté grape varietal), Rully for its white, Mercurey (mostly red), Givry (mostly red) and Montagny (only white).
o Mâconnais
The most southerly wine district of Burgundy known for its flagship white wine, Pouilly-Fuissé. Also look for the more wallet-friendly white wine alternatives from the area of Viré-Clessé and Saint-Véran.
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