Everyday Wine Drinker’s
Guide to Burgundy
Intro to Burgundy Wines
Even wine drinkers with a fairly basic knowledge of international wines
have probably heard of the famed Burgundy wine region. For such a tiny
area of France, it packs a ton of wine history and prestige. Casual wine
drinkers and devoted collectors alike share an enthusiasm for the uniquely
delicious wines of this region. For a region that almost exclusively grows
only two grapes (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), it’s remarkable how
different one wine might taste from another depending on the
specific plot of land the grapes came from.
All the hype surrounding
some of Burgundy’s
biggest stars can make
the region’s wines seem
intimidating and out of
reach for the average wine
buyer. Fear not! With a
little bit of knowledge and
inside scoop from industry
experts, everyone is able
to access remarkable
wines from Burgundy. This
guide is designed to
demystify and better
explain the region and it’s
incredible wines.
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You Learn Something New Everyday:
Fun Facts About Burgundy
3% Burgunduy
For a region that’s so well known, Burgundy
produces a tiny amount of wine: about 3% of
97% Everywhere France’s overall wine production.
Else in France
Burgundy has been producing wine since the
Roman Empire in 52 B.C., making it one of
France's oldest wine regions.
Burgundy is famous for its cuisine, which includes
coq au vin, beef bourguignon, fondue bourguignonne,
escargots de Bourgogne, and gougères.
The Cistercian monks arrived in the region in the
12th century and played a significant role in
shaping Burgundy’s winemaking. They meticulously
documented the best vineyard sites, which laid the
foundation for Burgundy’s renowned terroirs.
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Quick Glossary of
Burgundy Terms
Whether trying to decode a Burgundy wine label, decipher an award-winning wine
list at that popular restaurant, or keep up with the wine blogs and articles, it helps
to have a basic understanding of some key French wine terms.
A.O.C.
Appellation d'origine contrôlée is a system used to certify French wines to
guarantee the characteristics of the wine including the specific terroir where the
grapes are grown and the way it is made (with some very strict steps and
restrictions). To earn the AOC stamp on the label, the wine is rigorously checked
at each step of the process from the vineyards to the finished wine in the bottle.
Bourgogne
French for Burgundy, also used on regional appellation wine labels
Climat
A particular parcel of land or vineyard with certain attributes
Clos
A plot of vines traditionally surrounded by stone walls
Côte
Translates to slope or hill and is used all over France to
describe some noteworthy hillsides where vineyards tend
to thrive. One famous example is the Côte d’Or, the
“Golden Slope”.
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Quick Glossary of
Burgundy Terms
Cru
Translates to “growth” and is used throughout France to denotes quality (with
different parameters depending on the wine region)
Domaine
Can be defined as both an estate or an “area of control”, often denoting a parcel
of land under a winemaker’s control.
Mise en bouteilles
“Bottled at…” Typically seen on the label
to indicate if a wine was bottled at a
single estate, or perhaps at a third party,
négociant (see next page).
Monopole
A plot of land with a single owner - a rare
feat in Burgundy where Napoleonic
inheritance laws have often caused
vineyards to be divided among inheritors,
sometimes down to a single row of vines
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Quick Glossary of
Burgundy Terms
Négociant
A wine merchant or wholesaler who buys grapes or wine from other producers
and sells the finished product under their own name. The négociant system is
common in Burgundy and was established as a way to help smaller vineyard
owners focus on growing grapes and making wine, while négociants took on
tasks like marketing and selling the wines.
Terroir
The quintessential French wine term which simply put defines a “sense of place.”
A wine’s terroir encompasses the geology, soil, climate, aspect, elevation and
topography as well as the human influence on the land
Village
Yes, it means the same in English, a village is a small town but in Burgundy it’s
also used in the classification of a wine’s quality
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Get to Know the Wine Regions of
Burgundy
Dijon
It’s difficult to really
understand Burgundy
without knowing a bit
about the major wine
Lyon
regions. Stretching
from Dijon to Lyon,
there are 225 miles and
six distinct regions.
BURGUNDY
PRIMARY WINE REGIONS
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Get to Know the Wine Regions of
Burgundy
Chablis
Set apart from the otherwise contiguous stretch of the rest of Burgundy’s wine
regions, Chablis offers unique elements that foster some of the world’s most
notable Chardonnay. Its cool climate and distinct kimmeridgian clay (soil
containing fossilized marine life from 150 million years ago) are key to
producing the lean, dry Chardonnays that pair so beautifully with seafood.
Chablis actually has its own classification system apart from the rest of
Burgundy (learn more on page ?)
Chablis Côte de Nuits
Beginning just south of the city of Dijon, the
Côte de Nuits Côte de Nuits makes up the northern half of
the Côte d’Or, a name you might recognize
Côte de Beaune from wine lists. This tiny region can be
traversed in under an hour but is home to
some of the most famous red wines in the
Côte Chalonnaise
world. Vineyards and wineries nestled
among limestone quarries carry famous
names like Gevrey-Chambertin, Clos de la
Mâconnais Roche, Clos St. Denis, Les Musigny, and
probably the most prestigious Pinot Noir
made in the world, Romanée-Conti. While
there are a few white wines produced here,
Beaujolais Pinot Noir is the star with styles ranging
from muscular and robust to refined and
elegant.
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Get to Know the Wine Regions of
Burgundy
Côte de Beaune
The southern half of the Côte d’Or takes its name from the medieval city of
Beaune, also Burgundy’s capitol. Well known for both red and white wines, the
long skinny stretch of vineyards is dotted with world-renown vineyards. Pinot
Noir is planted around the town of Beaune, with famous producers like Volnay
and Pommard with elegant wines featuring aromas of blackcurrant and cherry
and an earthy minerality. Chardonnay can be found around Corton and Meursault
and is often round and supple with bright acidity, citrus notes and a golden color.
Chablis
Côte de Nuits
Côte Chalonnaise Côte de Beaune
Overshadowed for centuries by
neighboring Côte d’Or, the wines of this
Côte Chalonnaise
region aren’t as well known but due to the
rising popularity of Burgundy, can be a
great place to find hidden gems. Most
vineyards are clustered around five Mâconnais
villages and produce a mix of red and
white wines, including Burgundy’s second
white grape, Aligoté - an unoaked, light
wine with a fruity bouquet of citrus, white Beaujolais
peach and hazelnut. Pinot Noir produced
near the villages Mercurey and Givry tend
to be early drinking, fruit-forward wines.
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Get to Know the Wine Regions of
Burgundy
Chablis Mâconnais
A beautiful region nestled between two
valleys and centered on the town of
Côte de Nuits
Mâcon. There has been a lot of interest
and investment in the area recently
Côte de Beaune
leading to an overall increase in quality
but is still considered a great place to
Côte Chalonnaise find affordable wines. Nearly 80% of the
region planted to Chardonnay and its
best known examples come from Pouilly-
Mâconnais Fuissé. It has a rather complicated
classification system because most
every village wanted their name on the
label. So there are a lot of labels that
Beaujolais display ‘Macon + village name’. A little bit
of red is produced with Gamay and Pinot
Noir. A fantastic region to seek out
reasonably priced wines.
Beaujolais
While still technically in Burgundy, Beaujolais is often considered its own
unique wine region due to the the completely different climate and soils, the
primary grape grown and the style of wine made there. The Gamay grape is
nearly the only grape grown here and produces a bright, juicy red wine which is
grown in mostly granite soil. There are four categories for red Beaujolais:
Beaujolais Cru, Beaujolais Superior, Beaujolais Village and Beaujolais Nouveau.
Those last two categories are produced using a method called carbonic
maceration which results in a light, fruity, slightly effervescent wine.
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Burgundy Wine
Classification System:
4 levels of AOC in Burgundy
Unless you’re studying to become a Sommelier, there’s no need to learn all the
specific AOCs (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) of Burgundy.
It helps to understand the four different classification levels and the location of
the wine, which should give you a pretty good idea of quality and the specific
grape inside the bottle.
Regional Appellation
Village Appellation
Première Cru
Grand Cru
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Burgundy Wine
Classification System
Grand Cru
Makes up only 2% of the total wines
produced in Burgundy, including both Première (1er) Cru
red and white wines. Wines produced from a single plot
There are 33 world-renowned Grand within a Village appellation. These
Crus all located in the Côte d’Or plots are also referred to as Climats.
region, each one a unique example of The name of the commune will come
Burgundian excellence. first on the label, “Chablis Première
If you can find one of these bottles, Cru.”
expect to pay an arm and a leg for it! There are over 600 unique ‘climats’
accounting for just over 10% of the
total wines produced in Burgundy.
Village Appellations
Account for about a third of
Burgundy’s wines, including red, white Regional Appellations
and a little bit of rosé. An excellent entry point to Burgundy’s
44 villages take their names from the wines including red, white and a small
commune where the grapes are amount of rosé.
grown, like “Mercurey,” “Pommard,” There are 23 AOCs making up about
and “Nuits-Saint-Georges.” half of Burgundy’s wine production.
With a few pricey outliers, there are a
Makes for the perfect everyday wine
lot of affordable options in this level
to share with friends.
that allow the wine drinker to really
experience the terroir of a specific
village reflected in the glass.
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Chablis Wine
Classification System
A region completely devoted to one grape, Chablis is planted to 100% Chardonnay. They have
their own classification system to help distinguish the different quality levels found here.
Grand Cru Chablis
Only 7 plots (known as climats) produce Grand Cru Chablis and all are located on the same
slope of land located on Serein river across from the town of Chablis. These Grand Cru
vineyards have perfect sun exposure for ideal ripening and a hefty vein of kimmeridgian
clay soil. The more intense flavors and aromas as well as varied winemaking techniques
result in no two Grand Cru Chablis wines tasting the same.
Première (1er) Cru Chablis
Accounting for only 15% of vineyards in
Chablis, these plots have superior soils and
excellent exposure to the sun. There are
about 40 premier cru categories in Chablis.
Chablis
This is the ‘village’ level appellation and
accounts for the majority of the wine
produced in the region. Chardonnays from
here tend to have citrus, pear and more
exaggerated mineral notes.
Petit Chablis
The ‘regional appellation’ Chablis, tends to be grown on the outer edges of the region with
more variable landscape and soil with little, if any of the famed kimmeridgian clay soil. The
wines are bright, refreshing, with more citrus and less mineral notes. Can be a great value.
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A Burgundy
For Every Budget
While there are numerous examples of ridiculously expensive and rare Burgundy
wines, savvy wine buyers know that there is a wide range of price points available
from this legendary and prestigious region. You’ve just got to know what to look for!
There are generally two main factors determining the price:
1. The quality level of the wine
2. Where the grapes are grown (ranging from the entire region down
to a specific vineyard in a certain town on an unique patch of dirt).
$20-$50/bottle $40-$1000+/bottle
Regional level wines are The Premiere Cru level wines
considered Burgundy’s entry coming from specific
level wines and are typically vineyards (climats) can vary
going to be the most in price quite a bit depending
affordable, coming from $4000 on the producer.
anywhere in Burgundy.
$200-$4000+/bottle
$40-$100/bottle The 33 Grand Cru level wines
denote the highest quality
Village level wines come
from the most unique and
from a specific village or
sought after vineyards. Often
commune, some of the more
demanding top dollar, many
prestigious villages will
are only available through
demand a higher price.
auctions and private brokers.
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What About those Rare and
Expensive Burgundy Wines?
A number of factors contribute to the rarity and expense of some
Burgundy wines.
Scarcity Climate
Burgundy's small production scale, Unpredictable weather like drought,
limited vine acreage, and growing extreme heat waves, frost, and hail
global demand mean there's not can all negatively impacted
enough wine to meet the demand. production further limiting the
available wines in the market.
Labor
Making Burgundy wine is labor intensive due to the small vines with grape bunches
close to the ground requiring workers to hunch over to prune and harvest the grapes.
Reputation Vintage
Burgundy wine has always enjoyed Some vintages are more expensive
a well-respected reputation around than others, especially older wines
the world and it is only growing with available at auction. For example, in
the introduction to social media 2018, a 1945 Romanée Conti sold for
and a more pronounced online $558,000 at Sotheby's, making it the
presence for the region. world's eighth most expensive wine at
the time.
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How to Read A
Burgundy Wine Label
Why can’t it be easier to read? Ever been stumped by a French wine label and
have no idea what you’re going to find once you pull the cork? You are not alone.
The most noticeable element missing from a
French wine label is the name of the grape. In
France, the region where the wine comes from
will give you an idea of the grape or blend
inside the bottle. In Burgundy that means
you’re primarily looking at two grapes.
White wines are almost always Chardonnay
and reds are overwhelmingly Pinot Noir.
The rest of the information can tell you
specifically where it was grown, the year
the grapes were harvested, the quality
level and who produced the wine.
VIN DE
2022
BOURGOGNE
1. Wine from Burgundy
Domaine Fancy Pants
2. Vintage
3. Name of vineyard
4. Regional wine level
BOURGOGNE 5. “AOC” designation
APPELLATION BOURGOGNE PROTÉGÉE 6. Winemaker
VINIFIÉ. ÉLEVÉ ET MIS EN BOUTEILLE PAR 7. Location
J. COUSTEAU ET FILS
VOLNAY, CÔTE-D’OR, FRANCE
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How to Find
Burgundy’s Hidden Gems
Burgundy may be a very well-known wine region but remember that it's
incredibly small, accounting for only 3% of the total wines produced in France.
The region is also comprised of many very small producers, making it a
challenge to find those great quality and value wines. Here are a few tips to
unearthing those hidden gems for yourself.
Get to know your local independent retailer
Rather than the big box stores that tend to purchase larger allotments to spread
out among their stores, the independent retailer can sometimes get their hands
on those smaller producers you just won’t find anywhere else.
Wine Magazines
Whether physical or digital, many of the more popular wine magazines will have
articles or even entire issues dedicated to Burgundy. Offering wine reviews and
often where to purchase.
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How to Find
Burgundy’s Hidden Gems
Online retailers specializing in Burgundy
More and more states are allowing customers to receive wine delivered right to
their door. Big online retailers like Wine.com or Total wine carry wines from all
over the world including this region. Specialist burgundy wine online retailers
like burgundywine.com have strong relationships directly with ‘hidden gem’
winemakers. They include a lot of information about the wines and producers
they’re bringing onto their site.
Look for wine clubs or membership opportunities from these online
sites. Some include exclusive opportunities to purchase from tiny
producers or even to get access to some of those elusive and rare
Premièr Cru and Grand Cru wines.
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Best Burgundy
Wine & Food Pairings
Whether channeling your inner Julia Child for the classic, traditional
French dishes, or opting for more international fare, Burgundy wines
are excellent paired with lots of foods.
Traditional International
Wine French Cuisine Options
Salade Lyonnaise
Beaujolais Baba Ganoush & Pita Bread
A juicy and bright fruit- Poached Salmon
Veggie Stir Fry with Oyster Sauce
forward wine made from
Vegetable Ragoût with
Gamay grapes. Butternut Squash Ravioli
Garlic & Crispy Ham
Chévere & Brie Cheeses
Bourgogne Red (not too stinky) Seared Ahi Tuna with Sesame Crust
Light bodied Pinot Noir, with
bright red and black fruit Duck breast, citrus, Mushroom and Spring Pea Risotto
flavors. Pairs with light, fennel & hazelnut salad
BBQ Ribs
simple fare. Cantal Cheese and Tomato Tart
Top Tier
Pan-Seared Wild French Squab
Reds Braised Pork Belly
Pinot Noirs with berry flavors Duck Breast with a Roasted Rack of Lamb
and some earthier notes like Quince Paste Sauce
mushroom. Pairs with Peking Duck with Orange Sauce
heavier, more complex Boeuf Bourguignon
dishes.
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Best Burgundy
Wine & Food Pairings
Traditional International
Wine French Cuisine Options
Gougère (Cheese Puffs)
Chablis Cheese Dosa (crepe-like Indian dish)
Chardonnay with floral and Steamed Mussels & Pomme Frites
Cod Fish and Chips
distinct chalky mineral Snails with a Parsley Puree
notes. Perfect with seafood. Pork Gyro Bowl with Quinoa
and Tomato Coulis
Pouilly-Fuissé Délice de Bourgogne Cheese Goat Cheese and Beet Salad
Fruit forward Chardonnay Foie Gras with Cassis and Dill Creamy Chicken Alfredo
with excellent acidity pairs
well with rich, buttery foods. Slow Roasted Bresse Chicken Sushi & Sashimi
Bourgogne Crab Salad with Scallops with Nori and
Whites Chili Mint Vinaigrette Ginger-Soy Beurre Blanc
Most likely Chardonnay with Warm Fava Beans and Peas Grilled Pizza with Lemon
light citrus and apple flavors. with Goat Cheese and Arugula
Easy drinking and affordable,
Roast chicken with Lemon Orange Olive Oil Cake
a great summer sipper.
Top Tier
Whites Smoked Trout Croissants Beef Ho Fan
From prestigious regions
Poulet Au Comté Baked Stuffed Crab Shell
like Côte de Beaune,
Chardonnays with oak Coq Au Vin Blanc Wild Mushroom Risotto
aging, notes of hazelnut,
vanilla and ripe yellow apple.
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Hosting A
Burgundy Tasting Party
What better way to learn more about Burgundy wines than
discovering and sharing with friends!
Start with Good Glasses
Believe it or not, the type and quality of glass can make a big impact on the wines you’re
drinking. There are a couple easy rules to follow
Opt for crystal rather than glass. Crystal has a more porous surface (not smooth
like glass) and causes the wine to cling to the side of the glass, greatly improving
the aromatics
Ensure the glasses are clean and free of any detergent or sanitizer that could taint
the wine
Make it a Group Effort
There are a few ways to relieve some
of the hosting challenges like assigning
each guest to pick up a certain bottle
to bring, asking guests to contribute to
the costs, or request that guests bring
different dishes that will pair well with
the wines.
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Hosting A
Burgundy Tasting Party
Select 5-6 Different Wines to Compare
Rather than just picking all Burgundy wines, try selecting a theme for the wines, like:
Different type of white Burgundies (i.e. a couple different Chablis, Pouilly-Fuisse,
Aligote, Bourgogne Blanc, etc.)
All red Burgundy Village wines from different parts of Burgundy to compare how
different Pinot Noir can taste depending on where its grown
Price points, a couple under $40, some mid-range, and one or two over $100. Let
everyone try them without knowing the costs and see how folks rank them from
least to most expensive - the results might surprise you!
Don’t Forget to Feed Them
You’ll want to make sure nobody’s tasting multiple wines on an empty stomach. Plan for
foods that include carbs and protein (cheese, meats, seafood) which will fill them up but
also allow the group to see how pairings can enhance or alter the wines.
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Hosting A
Burgundy Tasting Party
Educate by Telling Stories
It can be very difficult to keep folks focused for too long. Plan to spend just a few minutes
talking about each wine as it’s being poured for everyone. A quick story or anecdote about
the wine, winemaker, or region can be a lot easier for guests to digest than a formal
presentation on soils and French wine laws. It will require a little research using burgundy
themed blogs or Google searches. Better yet, reach out to your trusted and knowledgeable
Burgundy wine retailer.
A Great Ambiance Leads to a Memorable Party
Plan for some background music that still allows everyone to hear about each wine as its
being poured. Candlelight is great, but you will want to make sure they are unscented (to
avoid interfering with the wine’s aromas) and that the room is bright enough to actually
see the wines.
Santé!
(Cheers!)
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