Vin Blanc de Bourgogne : Our Selection

Which grape varieties characterize Burgundy white wines?

White Burgundy is strongly linked to Chardonnay, the region's historic Grape variety - and one of the many offspring of the Pinot noir X Gouais blanc pairing. With global warming, Grape variety Aligoté is gaining in quality and popularity. It's making its way into some of the world's finest restaurants, and is no longer condemned to end its life as a Kir. For the sake of completeness, Sauvignon has long been established in Saint-Bris. It is so highly appreciated that it has been given its own appellation.

What accounts for the diversity of Burgundy's white wines?

Burgundy's vineyards stretch over a 360-kilometer vertical strip from Auxerre to the south of Beaujolais, resulting in very different wines, even if they come from the same grape Grape variety.

What characterizes Chablis wines?

On the Chablis side, acidity is more pronounced and barrel ageing is in the minority. The result is fresh, taut wines that can be rather austere when young. The aromatic palette revolves around lemon, white fruit, lime blossom, mousseron and oyster shell.

Côte de Beaune: Burgundy white wine at its best

In the Côte de Beaune, the great white appellations follow one another within a few kilometers: Corton, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin... As Chardonnay is a real "terroir sponge", it succeeds not only in reflecting the specificities of each appellation, but also of its climate - a Meursault-Perrières doesn't resemble a Meursault Gouttes d'or. Here, Grape variety is at its most expressive, combining ripe substance with freshness and great aromatic complexity: buttery roasted white fruit, dried fruit (hazelnut, almond), warm brioche, toast...

The Côte Chalonnaise: an excellent alternative

As soon as we cross into Saône-et-Loire, we're in Côte Chalonnaise, with three appellations dedicated to Chardonnay (Mercurey, Rully, Givry) and one to Aligoté (Bouzeron). The wines are reminiscent of the Côte de Beaune at its most sober - more Puligny than Meursault.

Mâconnais: often richer wines

Arriving in the Mâconnais and even more so in Beaujolais (where 42 communes can produce white Burgundy), the wines often gain in fullness and richness, taking on notes of pineapple and yellow fruit, without losing too much freshness.

So, as you can see, white Burgundy comes in all shapes and sizes: it's up to each individual to find the one that best suits his or her dishes and circumstances.