Burgund

Burgundy is located in France and forms an approximately 230-kilometre-long strip from north to south. The wine-growing region includes Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois, the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise, the Couchois, the Mâconnais and the Châtillonnais.

The climate is predominantly temperate and is shaped by continental, oceanic and Mediterranean influences. The vineyards are mostly on slopes at heights of around 200 to 500 metres. Marl, limestone and clay from predominantly marine Jurassic layers form the most important subsoils.

The vineyard areas are planted mainly with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which together account for the overwhelming majority. Other approved grape varieties include Aligoté, Gamay, Sauvignon, César, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sacy and Melon.

Burgundy produces still red, white and rosé wines, as well as white and rosé Crémant de Bourgogne. The appellation system distinguishes regional, village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru levels.

A Bourgogne Climat is a precisely delimited vineyard plot, whose identity is shaped by geological, hydrological, atmospheric and, depending on the direction, specific conditions. The Climats of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune south of Dijon to Maranges have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.

The plots are cared for throughout the year. An approach is followed that aims to limit the use of plant protection products and at the same time preserve the properties of the soil and site. Wines from a single Climat are vinified separately and bear its name.

A speech in Autun from the year 312 is considered the first written mention of Burgundy’s wine-growing terroir. The founding of the abbeys of Cluny in 909 and Cîteaux in 1098 helped shape the development of viticulture in the Middle Ages.

Burgundy wines can be matured in traditional 228-litre oak barrels, in tanks, or successively in both types of vessel. The ageing period can be up to 24 months after the harvest.