What grape varieties are used in Burgundy wines?

Welcome to our Guide to grape varieties ! We're going to introduce you to all the great grape varieties of the Burgundy vineyards.

Burgundy's vineyards boast ideal climatic conditions and a unique terroir for its different grape varieties. Its history goes back a long way, with the first official description dating back to the year 312. Visit Great Burgundy wines are world-renowned, with star grape varieties such as pinot noirthe chardonnaythe gamay and thealigoté. In the guide to French grape varieties, we must not forget the césarthe pinot gristhe sauvignon blanc or the sacythe melon or the pinot beurot.

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What grape varieties are used in Burgundy red wines? ?

 

• Pinot Noir

It is certainly one of the best grape varieties, but also one of the most difficult to grow. It offers a wide range of aromas and expressions, depending on the terroir from which it comes. As a result, the name of its place of production is preferred to its name on the label. This is the grape variety used by the most great red Burgundy wines. Pinot Noir is known as an unstable and problematic grape variety, and it is certainly the work of selection that explains its good adaptation to Burgundy conditions. Pinot Noir wines have a color that is not very intense, but which can be maintained with age. Their ageing potential varies according to vintage, producer and terroir.

• Gamay

This variety accounts for 11 % of Burgundy's wine-growing area. It is mainly found in the Mâconnais region, either alone or blended with pinot noir. Unlike Pinot Noir, the best Gamay wines are produced on acidic, granitic soils. Gamay wines have a purplish-red color, low tannin and good acidity. They generally have a fruity character (red and black fruits) but little aromatic complexity.

• The Caesar

Combined with Pinot Noir, Caesar is planted in the Auxerrois region. This variety accounts for less than 1 % of Burgundy's vineyard surface. It produces a fruity wine (cherry and red fruit) with a strong presence of tannins.

 

What grape varieties are used in Burgundy white wines?

• Chardonnay

This white grape variety from Burgundy is one of the most widely planted in the world, as it adapts easily to its environment. Depending on the region of production, there are 3 main styles of Chardonnay.
- The Chablis grape variety offers a very dry, lively wine. You'll find great vintages of Chablis grape variety like Blanchot, Bougros or Les Clos.
- In Mâconnais, the wine is soft, fresh and lively, with characteristic aromas of white flowers.
- It's in the Côte de Beaune that the wine is denser, racier and more complex, with grands crus.

• Aligoté

This grape variety is native to the region and dates back to the 17th century. It benefits from an AOC village Bouzeron cru in the Côte Chalonnaise and a regional AOC Bourgogne-Aligoté.

• Sauvignon

This Burgundy appellation in the Auxerrois region produces a light, fruity wine called Saint-Bris (village appellation).

 

Burgundy vineyards in figures

The vast majority of Burgundy wines are produced in single-varietal. Each parcel and each vintage has its own personality. You'll find :

• 84 appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC)
• 6 "regional" appellations
• 45 communal or "village" appellations (with 562 "premiers crus" denominations)
• 33 "grand cru" appellations
• 1,463 climates, including 1,247 along the Côte d'Or

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