Burgundy – a region synonymous with some of the world’s finest wines – is a patchwork of complexity. Its intricate divisions span geography, quality, ownership, and production. Among these, the regional distinctions are perhaps the most foundational, forming the backbone of Burgundy’s identity as the most expensive fine wine region in the world. Today, we explore the five distinct regions of Burgundy, each offering a unique contribution to the region’s storied reputation.
Regional divisions
Burgundy is divided into four contiguous regions and one satellite. Although Beaujolais is geographically sometimes considered part of Burgundy, administratively it forms part of the Rhône region. The total area is around 30,000 hectares under vine, of which more than 80% is subject to some form of AOC classification. From this, Burgundy produces around one quarter of the volume of wine made in Bordeaux’s commensurate with a significantly smaller area under vine.
Chablis (Satellite)
The historic town of Chablis is located a mere two hours from Paris. The town and its historic vineyards live up to their reputation of creating a high calibre of Chardonnay.
Whether it is the limestone soil, the reticence towards oak ageing or the mineral quality that make the wines from the region so unique, the result is the same: the wines of Chablis are like no other. The area lay underneath a vast tropical sea some 200 million years ago that slowly transformed the seabed into limestone soils. Absorbing deposits of fossilised marine life — particularly seashells — those remnants live on in the rich, mineralised soil that is the region’s premier advantage.
Chablis is divided into four categories of excellence. In descending order, they are: Chablis Grand Cru, Chablis Premier Cru, Chablis and Petit Chablis. Grand Cru production is small and elusive; only seven ‘climats’ running parallel to the Serein River are elevated to Grand Cru status. These wines have low production and high price tags. In contrast to Grand Cru’s seven ‘climats’, Premier Cru claims 40 vineyards, including the highly desirable Vaillons, Montmains, Fourchaume and Vaulorent sites. Chablis is the most predominant appellation, with Petit Chablis, while still being praiseworthy, ranking last among the four.
Côte de Nuits
The Côte de Nuits is home to many of the greatest names in Burgundy wine. Situated in the Northern part of the Côte d’Or, it produces largely red wines and is a true paradise for Pinot Noir, accommodating a tremendous number of legendary Grand Crus. The terrain is essentially a narrow strip of hillside, sometimes just 200m wide, and the Grand Crus that adorn it are some of the smallest appellations in France.
The region has a rich history. As far back as the third century AD, viticulture has featured in the Côte de Nuits thanks to the Romans. Though a challenging terroir to manage, the wines of the area were the envy of the Roman Empire. Later on, under the care of the Benedictine and then Cistercian orders, the renown of the wines made famous the concept of unique terroir and its impact on expression. In the 17th century, much of the area came under ownership through the outlandish bidding wars of the bourgeoisie, but the French Revolution saw it sequestered and sold to independent ownership.
Its Grand Cru holdings include such internationally revered appellations as Chambertin, Clos Saint Denis, Clos de Vougeot, Échézeaux, Romanée-Conti and La Tâche to name just a few, and the Premier Cru holdings are also high-quality.
Côte de Beaune
The Côte de Beaune is situated around the town of Beaune and produces both white and red wines. Beaune, the second-largest town in the Côte d’Or, has been so closely associated with Burgundy’s wines that, for a time and well before the 1936 appellation was granted, all wines from this region were simply called ‘Beaune wines’. Because it is also based in the geographical heart of the wine trade industry, the area is one of the diverse few that offers a mix of farming and trade. Most of the activity takes place on the western side of Beaune as this is where the vineyards are located.
The appellation has a high proportion of Premier Cru plots, with over 40 ‘climats’ that stretch from north to south, uninterrupted by commerce or residential development. The wines from Beaune are predominantly red, but the trend towards Chardonnay has sparked a new increase in white wine production.
Côte Chalonnaise
Producing both ruby reds and graceful whites, Côte Chalonnaise lies to the south of the Côte de Beaune. A landscape punctuated by hills with southeast facing slopes, hot summers and generally dry weather sees grapes develop with excellent phenolic ripeness. Sharing similar soils to the Côte de Beaune, it is often considered a natural extension of the region.
Vines planted here are predominantly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but are also home to the Aligoté grape in select areas. The reds are clean and firm and, though austere in their youth, will handle ageing well. Whites are clear and floral with fleshy and lively bodies.
Côte Chalonnaise is home to such celebrated appellations as Montagny, Givry, Mercurey and Rully. Sporting a good number of Premier Cru ‘climats’ among them, these areas have a number of poignant historical claims, including that Givry’s wines were the favourites of the French King Henri IV. In the early 19th century, négociants with vines in Mercurey and Rully hosted a man from the Champagne region. Shortly after, sparkling white wines were produced and Crémant de Bourgogne was born.
Mâcconais
Mâcconais is the southernmost of the five wine-producing regions of Burgundy. It is a pastoral rolling landscape nestled between two valleys. With the Grosne to the West and the Saône to the East, it is home to stony outcrops of monumental proportions.
Historically speaking, the Mâcconais was shaped by its religious significance, with the Benedictine tradition of prayer and labour encouraging the monks of the Abbey of Cluny to cultivate vineyards in 909. Thanks to the wealth generated by these vineyards, which stretched further north than the Abbey’s southern location, another abbey, the abbey of Cîteaux, was later founded in 1098.
80% of the vines in the Mâcconais are planted as Chardonnay, with the remainder being largely Gamay and, to a much smaller extent, Pinot Noir. With its southern facing aspects it produces wines of tremendously rich and aromatic character and is home to such renowned appellations as Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Vinzelles, Saint-Véran and Viré-Clessé.
Looking for more? Read our Burgundy Regional Report, which delves into the fundamentals of this fascinating region and the development of its investment market.