What is Burgundian Wine?

 

The What, Where, and Why of Burgundian Wines

For years I wanted to see the lush interior of France, more specifically the vineyards of Burgundy.  Still, it was the wines I was most interested in exploring.  Wines from Burgundy don't carry the clout of their nearby cousins in Bordeaux, but they are some of my favorites.  Since the wine was a huge draw for me to visit, I took every opportunity to learn more while in that special place.  What follows is what I learned. 

Grapes, Grapes Everywhere & Quite a Bit to Drink

Burgundian wines are primarily made from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.  Yum!  Like most French wines, the name of the wine is based on the area or region and not the varietal as is common here in the U.S.  

The white wines of Burgundy—made with Chardonnay grapes—come from these regions: Chablis, Mâconnais, Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune—some of the best.  Wines from Chablis are a dry Chardonnay with a mineral flavor delivered by the limestone soil in which it is grown.  Those labeled Premier Cru are an enormous step up with Grand Cru Chablis topping them all. 

Located in south Burgundy, is home to the Mâconnais wine region—named after the provincial town of Mâcon—that grows mostly Chardonnay; also some Gamay and Pinot noir.  Besides, the elegant and pricy Pouilly-Fuisse and Vire-Clesse wines, most wines from this region are typically very affordable, and I in my opinion, scrumptious.  

A regional sparkling wine, Cremant de Bourgogne, is also made here.  It is an excellent value and yummy to boot.  I drank it every day while in France.  Magnifique!

The red wines of Burgundy, made primarily with Pinot Noir grapes, come from these regions: Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, Côte de Nuits.  Those two are some of the best.  Pinot Noirs from Côte Chalonnaise are a good value.  Most are good table wines, with a few designated as Premier Cru. Mâconnais produces a small amount of lighter, fruity reds from the Gamay grape.

What are the Burgundian Wine Regions?

There are five main wine regions of Burgundy: Chablis, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.  It's important to note that the best-regarded reds come from Côte de Nuits and the best whites from Côte de Beaune.  These two regions combined are better known as Côte d'Or.  Having been there myself, I'd say it's some of the most beautiful countries as well.

What Indicates a Good Bottle?

Most burgundies I tried were good to great.  However, the French rate their wines with an easy-to-understand standard.  Grand Cru is the highest rating, Premier Cru is next best, and Villages third.  Lastly, the lowest quality references the name of the family who grows the vines.

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