Burgundy Wines and the Wine Growing Regions of Bourgogne

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Burgundy Wines and the Wine Growing Regions of Bourgogne

Wine Growing Regions of Bourgogne

Chablis: The Chablis region, in the département of Yonne, produces predominantly white wines, famous for their smell and taste.

• See The AngloFILE for Burgundy Wine Producers: Yonne 

Côte de Nuits: This wine-producing region stretches from Dijon to south of Nuits-Saint-Georges in the Côte d'Or. The area is famous for its Pinot Noir reds, but also produces some white and rosé.

Côte de Beaune: Also based in the Côte d’Or, this area covers the south of the department, starting at Nuits-Saint-Georges and Beaune and extending to the Dheune river. Côte de Beaune is famous for both red and white wines.

• See The AngloFILE Burgundy for Wine Producers: Côte d’Or 

Côte Chalonnaise: Based in Saône-et-Loire, the Côte Chalonnaise wines tend to be cheaper than the other regions but still produce well known Burgundy wines.

Mâconnais: In the southern-most part of Burgundy, in Saône-et-Loire, the area is based around the town of Mâcon. Famous for its white wines, Pouilly-Fuissé is perhaps the most recognised name. Most wines in the Mâconnais are produced by cooperatives.

• See The AngloFILE Burgundy for Wine Producers: Saône- et-Loire 

The Nièvre: As the Nievre department was not historically part of the Burgundy province it tends to be excluded from the list of Burgundy wine regions. However it has a strong wine heritage and is well know for its white, Pouilly-Fumé.

• See The AngloFILE Burgundy Wine Producers: Nièvre 

Wine Basics

White and Red

Two thirds of Burgundy wine is white and one third red. The predominant grapes grown in the region are Pinot Noir for red wines and Chardonnay for white. However, a variety of other grapes is used. Although Champagne is just across the border, Burgundy still successfully produces a number of sparkling wines called crémants. These include crémant de Bourgogne blanc, crémant blanc de noirs, crémant de rosé and crémant blanc de blancs.

Terroir

The concept of ‘terroir’ has no direct translation into English. It refers not only to the soil conditions of a vineyard, but also the soil components and the location of the specific soil, its slope, elevation, sun coverage, the human interference and more, all of which contribute to how the grapes are grown. Terroirs can vary within a single vineyard.

Appellation d’Origine Controlée (AOC)

Appellation d’Origine Controlée is a certification given to wine produced in specific French regions. Because Burgundy is a particularly "terroir-conscious" region, there are a number of different appellations. Wines are classed according to the soil its grapes are grown in and not the domain which produces it.

Wine Tourism

Although wine is produced in all four of Burgundy’s departments, Côte d’Or tends to attract the most tourists, especially around Dijon and Beaune. It is recommended o make an appointment to visit local, small wine producers to ensure that someone is available. Local tourist offices can usually provide lists of wine producers that are open to visitors.

The official Burgundy Wines website has much information about wine producers, vineyards, labelling and general information about wines of Bourgogne.

• For a list of local tourist offices, see The AngloFILE for Burgundy Tourist Offices & Information 

The Burgundy Tourist Board provides a helpful Wine Route guide, which contains maps that cover all the departments.

• The Burgundy Wine Road (PDF)

Some museums in the Burgundy region also cater to wine tourists:

• The Vine and Wine Park
  At: La Gare, 71570 Romaneche Thorins
  Tel: 03 85 35 22 22
  Fax: 03 85 35 02 66
  e-mail
  Website
• L’Imaginarium: La Magie des Bulles 
  At: Avenue du Jura, 21700 Nuits-Saint-George 
  Tel: 03 80 62 61 40
  Website
  Open: 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-19:00
• Musée du Vin de Bourgogne
  At: Hôtel des Ducs, Rue d’Enferd, 21200 Beaune 
  Tel: 03 80 22 08 19
  e-mail

There are a number of resources available for those who wish to learn about Burgundy wines. One of the easiest ways is to simply start visiting producers and tasting wines with a guide who can explain the process and give historical and cultural background. 

• For information about wine tours or guides in the region, see The AngloFILE for Burgundy Days Out: Trips & Tours 
• To find out more about Burgundy wines, see The AngloFILE for Burgundy Wines & Vineyards 
• See the AngloINFO Bookshop for books about the region's wines

Related Information

• Wines of Chablis website: Click here