Burgundy - Côte d'Or, Côte Challoinnaise & Maconnais - Vineyard Classification

12 important questions on Burgundy - Côte d'Or, Côte Challoinnaise & Maconnais - Vineyard Classification

When did the classification of Burgundy's vineyards started?

The medieval monks started the delineation, but much of the current classification, categorisation by lieu-dits (named places) was formalised in the 1930s

What are the classifications of Burgundy's vineyards based on?

  • Soils
  • aspects,
  • microclimates

In brief...Terroir!

Which appellation in Burgundy is a wine made from grapes from more than 1 vineyard

Village + Premier Cru without vineyard name
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How about the sizes of the appellations in Burgundy

They vary, e.g.
  • Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is slightly over 50 ha
  • La Romanée Grand Cru is the smallest with 0,84 ha

Why is the classification system of Burgundy not a guarantee of quality

As a result of Napoleonic inheritance (each child has the right to an even big part of the land in case of inheritance) the majority of the vineyards in Burgundy are owned by more than one domaine.
>  range of quality differs
> Clos de Vougeot > 50 ha > different qualities, depending of the spot where the grapes come from: top, middel, bottom of the hill.

Principal appellations in the Côtes de Beaune and red or white

  • Aloxe-Corton AOC, Pernand-Vergelesses AOC, Ladoix-Serrigny AOC
    • cluster round the hill of Corton
    • villages / premier cru mostly red
    • Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru= famous hill exclusively white
    • Corton Grand Cru AOC mostly red
  • Beaune AOC
    • mainly red
  • Pommard AOC
    • red (most prestigious premier cru Clos des Épeneaux
  • Volnay AOC
    • red
  • Meursault AOC
    • white
  • Puligny-Montrachet AOC
    • white
  • Chassagne-Montrachet AOC
    • small amount or red village/premier cru
  • Saint Aubin
    • white (En Remilly)

What are the percentages of the appellations in Burgundy in volume?

  • 84 appellations
  • 33 Grand Cru 1%
  • 44 Village appellations
  • 640 Premier Cru 47%
  • 7 Regional appellations 52%


Each Grand Cru in Côte d'Or is a individual appellation
In Chablis the climate are part of Chablis Grand cru

In Burgundy appellations can be followed by an additional geographical denomination, give some examples.

  • Regional aoc + general area
  • Village aoc + name of premier cru vineyard
  • Macon aoc + village
  • Grand cru vineyard + name climat

What are the principal Appellations in the Côtes de Nuits. Which styles of wine are made per appellation?  White and/or red wine? Name some Grand crus.

  • Gevrey-Chambertin AOC; the largest village
    • red
  • Morey-Saint-Denis AOC
    • almost red only
    • Grand crus: Clos de Tart, Clos de la Roche
  • Chambolle-Musigny AOC
    • red
    • Bonnes Mares, Musigny
  • Vougeot AOC (tiny)
    • red and white
    • Clos de Vougeot
  • Vosne-Romanée AOC
    • red
    • La Tâche, Romanée Conti
  • Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC
    • almost red only
    • No grand crus but premier crus

What style of wines are produced in Puligny Montrachet and Chassagne Montrachet? Name some Grand crus.


  • Puligny-Montrachet AOC
    • white only
  • Chassagne-Montrachet AOC
    • small amount of red village and premier cru
  • Grand crus: Le Montrachet and Bâtard Montrachet
    • for white only

What are the appellations within Côte Chalonnaise? Which style of wines are produced and what is the percentage of Premier crus?

More red than white
No Grand Cru's
  • Bouzeron AOC
    • 100% Aligoté
  • Rully AOC
    • more white than red
    • 25% premier cru
  • Mercurey AOC
    • more red than white
    • largest producer of comm appellations in Côte Chalonnaise
    • 25% premier cru
  • Givry AOC
    • more red than white
    • 40% premier cru
  • Montagny AOC
    • white only
    • 66% premier cru

Which is the only village in the Côte d'Or producing rosé and why?

Marsannay is the most northerly village in the Côte d'Or
  • gentle slope > less protection form cold winds coming from the south-west
  • cooler than rest of Côte d'Or

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