Bourgogne AOCs - Regional and Classifications

Question 1

How many regional apellations in Bourgogne?
What % of the region’s production?

Answer 1

There are 7 in total:
THREE cover a wide range of regional dry wines;
Bourgogne AOC; Macon AOC; Coteaux Bourguignons AOC;
FOUR are for specialty style or grapes:
Crémant de Bourgogne AOC; Bourgogne Mousseux AOC; Bourgogne Aligoté AOC; Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains AOC.
Regionals Produce 52%.

Question 2

What are the wine categories of Bourgogne AOC?

Answer 2

Bourgogne AOC - dry white, Rose, red;
Bourgogne Gamay;
Bourgogne plus DGC.

Question 3

Wine labelled purely as “Bourgogne” can be sourced from where?
What can be shown on regional wines label only?

Answer 3

They can be made from grapes grown anywhere in the region. However there are some from specific parcels of land with no other AOC.
REGIONAL WINES CAN SHOW THE GRAPE VARIETY ON THE LABEL.
They will also include the word “Bourgogne” or “Macon” in the name.

Question 4

Can a regional Bourgogne Blanc be labelled as a regional Macon?

Answer 4

No. The grapes can be sourced from anywhere in Bourgogne or from a specific area.
A Macon can be named as a Bourgogne Blanc but a Bourgogne Blanc CANNOT use the regional Macon appellation UNLESS all of the fruit hails from the Maconnais.

Question 5

What is the requirement to be labelled “Bourgogne Gamay”?

Answer 5

NOTE :This is not a separate AOC but is part of Bourgogne AOC.
The wine must be 85% Gamay grapes sourced from the Beaujolais Crus.

Question 6

When was Bourgogne AOC awarded?
Which wine styles permitted?
Which primary grape varieties permitted?

Answer 6

Awarded 1937 for Dry white, red and Rosé.
White - (P) Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc;
Rosé/Gris -
Red - (P) Pinot Noir

Question 7

How many DGC in Bourgogne? What is the requirement to be labelled “Bourgogne + DGC?

Answer 7

NOTE :This is not a separate AOC but is part of Bourgogne AOC.
There are 13 DGCs each representing a defined area of Bourgogne AOC. Make red, white and rosé mostly.
Grapes must come from the DGC and the word Bourgogne” must precede the DGC on the label.
Eg Bourgogne Epineuil.

Question 8

What are the main grapes in Bourgogne Blanc/Red/Rose? Can other grapes be used?

Answer 8

White - normally 100% Chardonnay;
Red - normally 100% Pinot Noir
HOWEVER - they can contain Pinot Blanc/Gris.
Some can contain CÉSAR if grown in north near Chablis. The red can also contain Gamay from Beaujolais Crus.
Rosé - normally Pinot Noir but as for reds may be other grapes.

Question 9

What are three classifications within Macon AOC?

Answer 9

Macon AOC;
Macon DGC;
Macon-Villages

Question 10

When was Macon AOC Awarded? What is its defined area?
Which wine styles permitted?
Which primary grape varieties permitted?

Answer 10

Awarded 1937 for the Maconnais sub-region.
Dry red, white and rosé.
White - (P) CHARDONNAY ONLY;
Red - (P) Pinot Noir, Gamay ( often blended).

Question 11

How many Macon DGCs? How are they labelled? Which grapes are permitted

Answer 11

There are 26 DGC for white wines and 20 for red and rosé wines. The DGC can append its name to Macon on the label eg Macon+ DGC.
WHITES MUST USE ONLY CHARDONNAY.
REDS AND ROSÉS MUST USE GAMAY NOT PINOT NOIR.

Question 12

How is a Macon-Villages wine labelled? What grapes are permitted?

Answer 12

Macon-Villages and must be Chardonnay only.

Question 13

Which grape varieties are permitted for Coteaux Bourguinons AOC wines?

Answer 13

White - (P) Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Aligote, Melon;
Rosé/Gris - (P) Pinot Gris;
Red - (P) Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cesar (in Yonne).

Question 14

What are the three styles of Cremant available from Bourgogne?

Answer 14

Cremant de Bourgogne, plus Premium styles - Eminent and Grànd Eminent

Question 15

How long is Cremant de Bourgogne aged?

Answer 15

Nine months sur lies plus a numberof months after disgorgement to integrate the dosage.

Question 16

How does Eminent differ from Cremant de Bourgogne?

Answer 16

Eminent must be aged for 24 months sur lie compared to 9 months for Cremant.

Question 17

How does Grand Eminent differ from general Cremant and Eminent?

Answer 17

A Grand Eminent must undergo a minimum of 36 months aging sur lie plus spend 3 months in the cellar between disgorgement and release. It is of Brut style, must receive less than 1.5%/15g/lof dosage and attain a minimum 10% abv.

Question 18

Which grapes are permitted for the Grand Eminent wines - White/Rose? What juice is used?

Answer 18

Whites can be made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir only. Rosé can include up to 20% Gamay.
Only the first 75% of the juice from the press can be used for Grand Eminent.

Question 19

When was Bourgogne Mousseux AOC awarded?
Which wine styles permitted?
Which grape varieties permitted?
How long is it aged?

Answer 19

Awarded in 1943 for the production of Sparkling Red ONLY.
White - (S) Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Aligoté, Melon;
Rosé/Gris - (S) Pinot Gris;
Red - (P) Pinot Noir, Gamay.
Note: it is normally made from Gamay and/or Pinot Noir.
Must age 9 months on lees and have at least 3.5 atms.

Question 20

When was Bourgogne Aligote AOC awarded?
Which wine styles permitted?
Which grape varieties permitted?

Answer 20

Awarded 1937 for dry white only made from the Aligoté grape.

Question 21

When was Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains AOC awarded?
Which wine styles permitted?
Which primary grape varieties permitted?
Which are normally used?

Answer 21

Awarded 1937 for dry Red and Rosé
Red - (P) Gamay, Pinot Noir
PTG must be at least 30% PN and 15% Gy. Other varieties can be used if they are in a field blend.

Question 22

What are the two classifications within the Bourgogne Village wines?

Answer 22

Village - made from grapes from within a specific zone of production surrounding a specific village. It is narrower than a regional zone and demonstrates a blend of terroirs, and typicity of that smaller zone.

Village plus named “climat/lieu dit” - made with grapes from a single vineyard.

Question 23

How many Bourgogne village AOCs are there?

Answer 23

44 representing 37% of production (2019).

Question 24

What is Premier Cru? What does it signify? Are they separate AOCs? How many are there in Bourgogne?

Answer 24

Premier Cru is a designation which is a part of the Village AOC. There are 662 PC climats within the Villages AOC. They are not separate AOCs.
Premier Cru climats have a reputation for producing high-quality wine.

Question 25

How might 1er Cru appear on a label?

Answer 25

It can appear in two ways:
1. If the wine is from a single vineyard the vineyard name will appear on the label along with the village name. It is not obligatory to include vineyard name but most producers do;
2. If the label says 1er Cru plus Village name only it is a blend from more than one Premier Cru vineyard.

Question 26

What is meant by Grand Cru on a label?

Answer 26

Grand Cru represents a single vineyard with a reputation for producing truly exceptional wine.
Only the name of the vineyard appears on the label. (Except for Chablis which appears on all of its Grand Cru)

Question 27

How many Grand Cru in Bourgogne?

Answer 27

33 representing 1% of total production (2019)

Question 28

Which grapes are used for each style of Coteaux Bourguinons AOC wines?

Answer 28

White wine can be made from any of the white grapes.
Rosé wines, also known as Clairet, can be made from red grapes plus Pinot Gris.
Reds will be Pinot Noir and/or Gamay.