BOURGOGNE

The birthplace of the two major grape varieties of the world of wine, Chardonnay for white wine and Pinot Noir for red wine, Burgundy may be the champion of mono wine, but it is also the origin of more than 100 appellations Of the 357 existing French appellations.

Burgundy and its wines maintain a tenacious myth. Its reputation is nevertheless disconnected from its size. For, it must be admitted, the size of the region is very small: only 5% of the French vineyard, some 5000 hectares.

The geological grid is such that for the Côte de Nuits alone, 59 types of soil are distinguished without even mentioning their differences in orientation, water regime or slope.

Chablis , in order to account for the minerality of the soils, which is largely based on Kimmeridgian, is the basis for Chardonnay, which gives rise to bright white wines of great amplitude, with a unique freshness world. A Chardonnay of Meursault or Mâconnais still offers other characteristics:, floral, buttered lemon.

Here the grape variety is forbidden on the label of appellations. Other more explosive and enigmatic words take over from the grape variety.

At the top of the pyramid of appellations we naturally find the grands crus, coming from the most complex sites, they represent only 2% of the total production of Burgundy. We find the Romanée-Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Echezeaux, Clos de Tart, and Montrachet. . ..

The majority of the villages of Burgundy have their first crus. Mention will be made of Meursault , Pommard, or Volnay .

All the climates recognized in the first cru are identified within 23 appellations of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits.

Then come the communal appellations without first crus like Marsannay, St Romain and other Irancy

Finally, the regional appellations represent more than half of the production. They are notably named Burgundy , Burgundy aligoté , Passe tout grain or Hautes-Côtes de Beaune .