To many red wine lovers, the Burgundy region of France is one of the finest wine-growing regions on the planet. It is certainly one of the most established, having been producing fine red wines for centuries and there is no questioning the fact that the vineyards of Burgundy continue to produce some classic wines. Located just a couple of hundred miles from that other legendary French wine region, Bordeaux, Burgundy is home to countless small-scale vineyards, dotted along a wine growing trail that runs from Auxerre, in the north of France, to Lyon, in the south of the country.
The region is remarkable not only because it is dominated largely by small wineries rather than large-scale producers, but also for the fact that it is clearly divided into distinct sub-regions, each of which produces a notably different wine to its neighbours. While Chablis is perhaps the most famous of all Burgundy’s white wine producing regions, it is of little interest to the red wine lover, who should turn their attention instead to the Côte de Nuits, which has a reputation for producing the finest reds to come out of Burgundy. The sub-region’s wines tend to be a little on the pricey side and are good for cellaring, while more affordable bottles, to be drunk young, hail from the Mâconnais sub-region at the far south of Burgundy. The entire region benefits from a continental climate, with long, warm summers that see plenty of rainfall and cooler, drier winters. The climate lends itself well to the cultivation of red wine grapes and the most impressive red burgundies are made from just a single varietal, rather than a blend of grapes. Typically, a single-grape red Burgundy will be made from the Pinot Noir grape, although cheaper bottles may be made from Gamay red wine grapes.
The wine-growing region of Burgundy is a paradise for red wine enthusiasts and wine tours of the region are increasingly popular. However, the sheer number of small appellations, combined with a less-than-simple quality grading system, can make getting to know the wines of Burgundy a little confusing for the beginner. Simply speaking, the wines are labelled according to a hierarchy that is based on the quality of the vineyard. The crème de la crème of the Burgundy red wines are the Grand Crus, with bottles bearing the name of the vineyard alone and not of any wider wine-producing ‘village’. You might have to take out a second mortgage to buy a bottle, but should you come into a fortune, vineyards to look out for include Echezeaux, Musigny and Montrachet. They may cost the earth but, to dedicated (and wealthy) red wine lovers, the sheer quality makes it money well spent.
Occupying the next rung down on the quality ladder are the Premier Crus, with The Individual Vineyard Premiers Crus being the pick of the bunch. These are made from the grapes of just one vineyard and both quality and price are generally very high. The name of the vineyard will be displayed on the label. A little more affordable are Individual Village Premier Crus, wines made from a blend of several high quality vineyards of a specific wine-producing village.
Next on the quality ladder are the Village AC wines, which will be made up of blends from several vineyards within a village. Despite this ‘pick-and-mix’ approach, most Village red wines are still of a good quality and provide a good introduction to Burgundy reds. One rung down are the Regional Appellations, which group together the wines of several villages. It’s not unreasonable to expect a high quality red Burgundy from a Regional wine and one to look out for in particular is AC Côte de Nuits – Villages.
Red wine buyers looking for an affordable, every day red Burgundy will probably be buying AC Bourgogne (the French name for Burgundy) wines. This generic appellation applies to all the wines of the region that don’t qualify for higher classification and, while far from the finest wines the region has to its name, many are very palatable and deliver good value for money.
Whatever your price range, Burgundy is a red wine producing region that is bound to have something to suit. Although justly famous for its fine wines, many affordable Burgundies are extremely drinkable and for those who do have cash to burn will find that the Premier Crus and Grand Crus deserve their reputation as some of the best red wines to be found anywhere in France.
