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, it’s important to keep in mind that understanding this region is a lifelong pursuit. Burgundy’s 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
Some books list Macon-Villages and Macon+village name as 2 of the 100 AOCs in Burgundy. Are they AOCs or geographical designations?
Alan Krumholz Mazoyères is a separate climat, but producers can choose to use Charmes on the label instead of Mazoyères if they choose. The climat of Mazoyères is adjacent to Charmes. The answer to questions like this in Burgundy are rarely straightforward, and the answer sort of depends on your perspective. Note that producers in the actual Charmes climat can't choose to label their wines Mazoyères.
A question regarding Mazoyeres- and Charmes-Chambertin.
It seems that many sources suggest the names may be used interchangeably, and that in such a case Charmes-Chambertin is usually preferred. In the intermediate quiz linked here there is a question that asks if Mazoyeres- is a climat of Charmes-.
I'm having trouble digesting the information entirely, so my question, does Mazoyeres- fall within Charmes-Chambertin, or is it an adjacent vineyard that nevertheless may be labeled however the producer chooses? May a Charmes-Chambertin also be labeled a Mazoyeres-Chambertin?
Super clear . Thank you so much and sorry for the confusion.
Maria Martinez Romero there is no such thing as white Volnay. It will never appear on a label. Volnay and Blagny are red wine appellations; Meursault is a red and white wine appellation. Meursault 1er Cru can be red or white. The confusion is in the overlapping of these appellations' borders. Wines produced in certain vineyards can qualify for one or the other appellation.