Climate: Varied with continental
cool climate in Chablis to a significantly warmer climate in Maconnais
further south. Temperatures vary within each vineyard due to elevation.
Soil: Varied, Chablis- limestone,
Cote d'Or- limestone with marl and flinty clay, Beaujolais- granite.
Appellations: Aloxe-Corton, Auxey-Duresses,
Beaujolais, Beaune, Bourgogne, Brouilly and Cote de Brouilly, Chablis,
Chambolle-Musigny, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chenas, Chiroubles, Chorey-Les-Beaune,
Clos de Vougeot and Vougeot, Cote de Beaune, Fixin, Fleurie, Gevrey-Chambertin,
Givry, Hautes-Cotes de Beaune and de Nuits, Juliena, Ladoix, Macon,
Maranges, Marsannay, Mercurey, Meursault, Montagny, Monthelie, Morey-St.
Denis, Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Nuits-St. Georges, Pernand-Vergelesses,
Pommard, Pouilly-Fuissé, Puligny-Montrachet, Régnié,
Rully, St. Amour, St. Aubin, St. Romain, St. Veran, Santenay, Sauvignon
de St. Bris, Savigny-les-Beaune, Volnay and Vosne-Romanée
(*** many other small appellations are in Burgundy).
Production: 111,000 (45,000 ha);
390 million bottles.
Burgundy is the simplest and simultaneously the most
complex region of France. The red wines of Burgundy vary in color,
flavor, influence of oak, tannin and aging requirements. Pinot Noir
is the principle red grape and is made into world-famous wines along
with Chardonnay made into world-famous white wines. Two areas, Beaujolais
and the Mâconnais also produce red wine from the Gamay grape.
This region includes approximately 74,600 acres that
are arranged between five main districts; within these districts are
a complexity of soil and climate conditions. Here there are over 500
appellations that produce small quantities of wine with distinct terroir
and AOC specific and complicated specifications. Because of these
divided vineyards, négociants have played a crucial role in
the development of the finished wine.
The northern portion of the region is Chablis famous
for Chardonnay grapes. Some of Burgundy's most famous wines come from
Côte d’Or (coat-DOR) or "Golden Slope" extending
north and south of the city of Beaune. The northern section, Cote
de Nuits, makes wines predominately from Pinot Noir and the southern
section makes red and white wines but white is the best-known wine
made with Chardonnay.
Côte Chalonnaise (coat sha-law-NAZE) is situated
south of Côte d’Or, named after the city of Chalon-sur-Saône
and produces primarily Pinot Noir and some whites from Chardonnay
and Aligoté. Mâconnais (mah-co-NAY), also known as the
Mâcon, south of Côte Chalonnaise produces some of the
best whites in Burgundy like Pouilly-Fuissé and Mâcon
Villages. The southern portion of the Burgundy region lies the vineyards
of Beaujolais located just north of the city of Lyon; here Beaujoais
red wines are produced primarily from the Gamay grape.
