The wines of Burgundy

Burgundy is considered the best terroir in the world for the production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. That's why some of its wines are among the most famous and expensive on the market. We say some because the region is also home to tasty wines sold at affordable prices. To better understand what makes the wines of this region so fascinating, we will take a look at the quality of the Burgundian terroir, the classification of its vineyards, its numerous appellations and its main producers in this guide.

Look back at the history of Burgundy's terroir

Located about two hours southeast of Paris, the Burgundy wine region accounts for only 3% of French wine production. It may be small in area, but its influence in the wine world is enormous. This basic guide would be incomplete without an explanation of the formation of the region's limestone and marl soils, which makes it so complex. Indeed, Burgundy was part of a vast tropical sea millions of years ago. Then time transformed the seabed to make way for the soil that gives Burgundy wines their minerality and complex aromatics, unique qualities that make them so unique. The history of the wine of this region goes back in the mists of time, to about 50 years before Christ. Over the centuries and generations, the Celts, Romans, Benedictine monks and the Dukes of Burgundy developed the terroir and flavors of Burgundy wines. There are two main grape varieties grown in Burgundy: Pinot Noir for white wine and Chardonnay for red wine. The quality of the terroir is so important in the creation of Burgundy wines that the vineyards are classified into 4 levels according to the character of their plot of land for viticulture. One of these classifications is indicated on the bottle label: With these classifications, one should not forget that even a regional wine deserves to be appreciated because it is produced in one of the best wine regions of the world. That's why we sell a wide range of wines from the great Burgundy wines to the more expensive to the more affordable. They are all good buys, perfect for special occasions or for a bottle to drink every day.

The numerous appellations of Burgundy wines

The wine regions of Burgundy are divided into 5 main regions including Chablis, Côte des Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, not to mention Beaujolais and Châtilonnais. There are currently 44 communal appellations in Burgundy. Each wine bears the name of the village in which it is produced. The classification of the appellations is done according to the delimitation, the yield, the minimum degree of the natural harvest and the grape variety. We present here a non exhaustive list of the Burgundy wines appellations and their specific characteristics: