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
Are there any other links (preferably in English) looking at the 2011 consolidation of Beaujolais AOC and Beaujolais Villages AOC? I can't find mention of this in any regional websites - is it a purely administrative matter or will Beaujolais Villages AOC be disappearing from labels at some point?
Jeremy Reed in most grand cru vineyards, yes. But in the Côte d'Or monopoles it was forbidden under the AOC cahiers des charges from 2012 forward.
So technically, one could utilize machine harvesting in a Grand Cru Vineyard?
Former Member premiers crus are not separate AOC/P designations in Burgundy; they are "geographic designations" for village AOC/Ps.
I'm confused about the AOP status of Chablis Premier Cru. My introductory course workbook lists it as an AOC, but this article doesn't count it as an AOP, what gives?