Burgundy, France

Climate & Grape varieties

Uniquely, the wine classification system in Burgundy is based on the quality of the terroir rather than the grape variety with grapes from premier cru vineyards being able to fetch a higher price even if they are less popular. One of the primary benefits to Burgundy as a growing area is the fact that it used to be a seabed millions of years ago. Marine floors have a famously varied composition, and this variety of soil types continues into the modern-day. Some of the best vineyards in Burgundy lie on top of limestone, known as Kimmeridgian soil and formed from fossilized oyster shells, and chalk which provides excellent drainage meaning that no irrigation is needed during the growing season, allowing vines to focus solely on ripening. The two primary grapes grown in Burgundy, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, prefer different spoils, with Pinot Noir preferring limestone and Chardonnay preferring a mixture of limestone and clay. The unique variation found in the soil of Burgundy means that both of these grapes can thrive side by side in the region. Burgundy is one of France’s less straightforward regions to grow grapes, with winemakers needing to be mindful of frost threats during wintertime as well as a high risk for hailstorms throughout the growing season. Grapes for red wines are often harvested slightly earlier than those used in white wine production. This practice preserves the natural acidity found particularly in Pinot Noir and is almost always done with mechanical harvesting as most Burgundy vineyards do not have access to grape-pickers. The climate itself is continental, which translates to warm summers and cold winters. The differing orientation of the vineyards in the area, coupled with the variety of soils, leads to each vineyard creating its own micro-climate. The combination of factors means that grape growers in Burgundy need to take a very hands-on approach with growing grapes, particularly when it comes to vineyard layouts and training vines. The primary growing regions in Burgundy are Chablis, which is famous for its Chardonnay wines, Mâconnais, which produces red wines from Pinot Noir, and Côte de Chalonnaise, which produces both red and white wines with a distinctive fruity character and Côte d’Or. Côte d’Or is further subdivided into Côte de Nuits, which produces red wines from Pinot Noir, and Côte de Beaune which produces white wines. Côte d’Or is the largest and most highly-regarded of the three regions and produces some of the most expensive wines in the world from some of the most recognised vineyards. The primary growing regions in Bordeaux are Médoc, which is famous for its red wine blends and Graves de Vayres, Sauternes and Barsac which produce sweet white wines (Sémillon) from Semillon grapes. In addition to these main growing regions, Burgundy encompasses a number of smaller appellations known as “lieux-dits”, including Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Puligny-Montrachet and Vosne-Romanée. Burgundy’s terroir is one of the most celebrated in France, with producers utilizing techniques such as “cuvaison” or extended skin contact to bring out wines’ fruity flavours and fine tannins. Burgundy wines are often referred to as ‘wines with soul’ because they are highly reflective of their environment, with each wine exhibiting different characteristics depending on the climate conditions in which they are grown.