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Winegrowing Burgundy: great wines, small vineyards

30,000 hectares of vines
4% of the French AOC vineyards
5 winemaking regions
84 appellations
Find out all about

the winegrowing regions of Burgundy

The winegrowing area of Burgundy covers several vineyards which are all worth exploring, from the most famous names such as the Côtes de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits, to the lesser known Tonnerrois, Jovinien and Vézelien vineyards.

To make it easier for you to explore this mosaic of vineyards, they have been grouped together as destinations with the Vignobles & Découvertes label. This French label is awarded to showcase the work carried out by the winegrowers and tourism professionals who ensure that visitors experience the very best in welcome services and information, for the most pleasurable and enjoyable experience exploring Burgundy.

 

The Vignobles & Découvertes destinations

-        The Vignobles de l'Yonne destination which includes the Chablisien, Tonnerrois, Auxerrois, Jovinien and Vézelien vineyards,

-        The Route des Grands Crus (Route of the Great Wines) destination which includes the Côtes de Nuits and Côtes de Beaune vineyards,

-        The Bourgogne destination: Couchois, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais,

-        The Châtillonnais destination,

-        the Sancerre-Pouilly-Giennois destination, the most Burgundian of the Loire vineyards.

Find out more about Burgundy’s wine tourism destinations
Alain Doire / BFC Tourisme
Vignobles & Découvertes
A label

You couldn’t go wrong!

The ‘Vignobles & Découvertes’ label More than 600 fantastic establishments bearing the Vignobles & Découvertes label are open to visitors in Burgundy. A national label that guarantees visitors will be provided with top-quality experiences and discoveries, for a successful wine tourism getaway guaranteed. This label will help you choose the best establishments for your holiday, with winegrowing estates to visit, festivities that are worth the detour, restaurants where you’ll be presented with the best wine & food pairing experiences, and much more.

If you see the green logo, you can’t go wrong!

Sandrine Baverel - BFC Tourisme
Grape varieties and terroirs

The land of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

The vines are well-known and very old in Burgundy. 90% of the plantations represent Pinot Noir (red wine) and Chardonnay (white wine), the region’s iconic grape varieties. The rest of the vineyards are planted with Gamay (red wine), Aligoté (white wine) and a few other lesser known grape varieties.

 

Make note!

In Burgundy, the wines are traditionally made using one single grape variety (monocépage). There are only a few exceptions to this rule, such as the Crémant de Bourgogne or the excellent Saint-Bris.

Alain DOIRE / Bourgogne-Franche-Comte Tourisme
Key figures

Production in the local area

62% Production of white wines that are dry and fruity
29% Production of red wines that are full-bodied, with spice and berry aromas
9% Production of Crémant de Bourgogne white or rosé
1% Production of rosé wines
Alain DOIRE / Bourgogne-Franche-Comte Tourisme
ORGANIC wines

Vineyards pending environmental certifications

Organic wines have been officially regulated since 2012, by a charter of European specifications. Organic wines are produced from vines that have not been treated with any synthetic products or insecticides. They must also have a sulphite content that is lower than 100 mg/litre sulphur.

To produce these wines, some vine-growing and wine-making procedures are still authorised but the regulations for wines that are more respectful of the environment and for health are constantly evolving.

You can also discover biodynamic wines or natural wines in which at least the original product has been modified. To take this even further, there are also wines that abide by the S.A.I.N.S. charter, i.e. wines without any added input or sulphites.

In 2014, the association BIO BOURGOGNE included 270 estates that were either certified organic or pending certification in the Burgundy vineyard.

 

En résumé