Burgundy

Contents
  1. Overview and Brief History
  2. Geography of Burgundy
  3. The Grapes of Burgundy
  4. The Modern AOP System in Burgundy
  5. Chablis
  6. The Côte d'Or
  7. The Côte de Nuits
  8. The Côte de Beaune
  9. The Côte Chalonnaise
  10. The Mâconnais
  11. Beaujolais
  12. Review Quizzes

Overview and Brief History

Burgundy (Bourgogne) is a holy grail for wine geeks: a region impossible to master, impenetrable to the casual observer, and endlessly fascinating.

A simple premise—red Burgundy is generally Pinot Noir and white Burgundy is generally Chardonnay—belies a maze of appellations, fractured vineyards, scores of variable producers, and erratic vintage swings. Just getting the right information can be a chore: the vignerons (winegrowers) of Burgundy are an insular lot who will not readily impart their wisdom and experience to outsiders, and even they are rarely experts beyond the walls of their own domaines or the confines of their own communes. For all students of Burgundy, its important to keep in mind that understanding this region is a lifelong pursuit. Burgundys modern vineyards and wines are products of 2,000 years of winemaking history. Yet while Burgundy can be a sensual pleasure unlike any other, it can also be an expensive disappointment. Despite, or perhaps because of, the region's mercurial nature, the wines of Burgundy enliven the imaginations of sommeliers and connoisseurs worldwide, and show great versatility at the table.

Winemaking in Burgundy is not a new phenomenon. Archaeological evidence of production dates back to the late first century CE, following the Roman conquest of Gaul. The first Burgundians—Germanic barbarian tribesmen—arrived in the fifth century as the Western Roman Empire was crumbling, and they embraced viticulture. But Europe plunged into dark ages after the fall of Rome, and the Catholic Church rose as a powerful political force, becoming a shepherd of culture, and viticulture, in such difficult times. The Benedictine

Comments
Anonymous
  • Interesting the text above on Vire-Clesse AOP doesnt mention the botrytis affected Levroute, sec, demi-sec styles. I see in was incorporated into the Maconnais fold in 1999. Id love to learn more.

  • Hey Hannah! Thank you so much for catching this. The guide is updated. 

  • Hi! The study guide for Burgundy states that Premier Crus within Burgundy are located in Chablis, the Cote d'Or, and 4 appellations in the Cote Chalonnaise Region. I believe this is missing the recent elevation of Pouilly-Fuissé in the Maconnais to Premier Cru status in 2020.

  • heads up, union des grands crus de chablis website is very much hacked

  • Thank you !