If you asked an expert to pick the top five European wine areas, Burgundy would almost certainly be on the list. Some of our fave wines come from this region!
Burgundy wines have long been regarded as among the best, most refined wines in not only Europe, but the globe. Though the Burgundy wine region map shows that the wine-producing area is significantly smaller than many others in Europe, there is little doubt that wine from Burgundy is “as good as it gets”!
The History of Burgundy Wines
Let’s journey back in time to the Roman Empire, where Burgundy wines were already in full swing. Burgundy has been producing wine since the first century AD, making it one of Europe’s oldest wine-growing areas. Though the territory is tiny, the mix of Burgundy wine grapes, soils, geography, and climate has resulted in exceptional wines for about 2,000 years.
However, it was not until the Middle Ages that the Burgundy wine area gained true recognition. Catholic monks began growing grapes to make wine for both the church and the Dukes of Burgundy. During the French Revolution, land was seized from the nobility and returned to the people.
Following this fragmentation, estates continued to shrink in size due to Napoleonic inheritance rules, which required an estate to be divided equally among all offspring. There are almost 4000 domaines in the region, and many winemakers just have one row of grapes in a certain location, or not enough to fill a single barrel.
The Facts About Burgundy Wine Grapes
The two grape varieties that make Burgundy famous are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The symbiosis of vineyard location, climate, soil, grape variety, and the additional touch of human hands—a combination known as “terroir”—brings out the richest, fullest expression of flavors from these two grapes, which actually originated in Burgundy.
Burgundy is the most renowned wine area globally for its exceptional terroir, resulting in remarkably distinct wines from identical grapes grown in vineyards just a few meters apart.
A Look at the Burgundy Wine Region
You have to know how the region is divided in order to appreciate Burgundy wine to its fullest. Actually, as you can see from this map of Burgundy wines, there are five minor growing regions:
Chablis
EVERYONE has heard of Chablis, renowned for its crisp acidity and zesty flavours. The region of Chablis is far to the north of Burgundy, and it’s actually separated from the rest of the region.
Thanks to the Serein River, the soil is white and chalky (limestone), and the region is known for its cold winters, warm summers, and frosty springs. However, the limestone soil actually helps to reflect the warmth and sunlight, allowing the grapes to ripen faster. The cooler climate gives a crisp purity that makes Chablis so distinctive from other white Burgundy wines.
Chablis is famous for its white wines, all made from the famous Chardonnay grape.
If you want to locate high-quality wine, this is the place to go! With 24 Grand Cru vineyards, Côte de Nuits has some of Europe’s most expensive vineyard real estate. The notable vineyards (including Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-St-Georges, and Romanée-Conti) are dispersed throughout the eastern-facing hills that drop to the Saone River.
Côte de Nuits is well known for its Pinot Noir-based red wines.
The Côte de Nuits Pinor Noir is full-bodied, with notes of cherries, black currants, spices, mushrooms, and fresh red fruit. They are among the greatest wines to age, as they retain their flavors for decades. Wines from this region are among the most costly in the world.
Côte de Beaune
This region is named after the historic hamlet of Beaune, which is located in the heart of the Burgundy wine region.
The topography is open, with rolling hills and southeast-facing vineyards that produce some of the world’s greatest white wines, like Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, which are well-known worldwide.
This region is well-known for its Chardonnay, but the white wines from Côte de Beaune are richer and more flavorful than the crisper Chablis whites.
Côte Chalonnaise
If you want to buy Burgundy wine at a lower cost, Côtes Chalonnaise and Maconnais (see below) are good options. The combination of marl and limestone, clay, and eroded pebbles (in certain regions, up to 13 different types of soil are intermingled) gives each plot a distinct character and unusual flavor profiles.
Côte Chalonnaise lacks Grand Cru vineyards, yet the region produces some very exceptional wines for the price. The majority of whites here are Chardonnay, but another grape, Aligote, provides some excellent wines with strong hints of citrus, floral notes, and flint, with a touch of honey.
The heart of the Côte Chalonnaise region is famous for its Cremant sparkling wines, made in the same method as traditional Champagne. The southern parts of the region produces quality Pinot Noirs as well as Chardonnays.
Maconnais
This is Burgundy’s southernmost area and the largest of all its wine regions. Wine quality hasn’t always been fantastic here, but the 1970s witnessed a significant boost in quality, and costs are still considerably lower than in the Côte d’Or.
The climate is warmer and more constant than the rest of Burgundy, and harvest occurs significantly sooner than in other locations.
The warm environment enhances the rich aromas of the grapes, notably white Chardonnay. This region’s wines are well-known for their wild herb, citrus, ripe stone fruit, and honeysuckle flavors. Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse is crisp and structured, with aromas of white peach, apple, and pineapple.
Types of Burgundy Wine
Now that you’ve learned about the many Burgundy areas, it’s time to study about the wine varieties produced there. Our Burgundy wine bottles are labeled with several categories. There are four distinct classifications:
Grand Cru – This accounts for only 1% of the wines produced here! These are the well-known wines, such as Montrachet, Romanée Conti, and La Tache, which are created only from Pinot Noir or Chardonnay grapes. Grand Cru wines are the most highly flavored and long-lived, and you should expect to pay a premium for a wine from one of the region’s 33 Grand Cru vineyards.
Premier Cru – Roughly 10% of the wine produced in Burgundy is Premier Cru. They have far more intense flavours than Village wines, courtesy of the soil type, longer ageing, aspect, an other factors.
Village wines – account for 37% of Burgundy’s total wine production. These are called for the communities nearest to the vineyards where they are grown. They often lack the oaky flavors of Premier and Grand Cru wines, but have a fresh, fruity flavor that makes them an excellent choice.
Regional wines – account for 52% of all wines produced locally. They are created from grapes harvested across the region and are commonly labeled as Bourgogne Rouge (Pinot Noir) or Bourgogne Blanc (Chardonnay).
Obviously, the Grand and Premier Cru wines will be the most expensive. However, we discovered that even village and regional wines may stand on their own and provide good value. Burgundy’s terroir has resulted in some of the world’s finest wines!
How to Pair Wine from Burgundy
We love to match Burgundy wine with cuisine! It’s fantastic to enjoy the burst of flavors for which this region is famed.
Red Burgundy
Burgundy Pinot Noir works best with flavorful foods like meat or nut roasts. For example, we enjoy pairing a nuanced, beautiful Pinot Noir with chicken and cream sauce, pig roast, mushroom sauce, fish, and Teriyaki sauce.
If the Pinot is juicer and riper, we’ll pair it with beef tenderloin, herb-heavy duck or chicken breast, curry, and lamb.
White Burgundy
The crisp, apple- and citrus-heavy Bourgogne Blanc goes well with medium-weight pastas, poultry, and light appetizers. We’ll match a bottle of Chablis with oysters and raw bar food, while Maconnais whites go great with cured pork and middle-weight items.
When we enjoy something heavier—anything with mushrooms, roasted vegetables, pork, or chicken in rich sauces—we must have a Côte de Beaune Chardonnay, a wine that can stand up to fuller flavours.
Both red and white Burgundies are great options for Christmas dinner.
