Burgundy (General Knowledge)

Question 1

Is Burgundy renowned for its blends or single-varietal wines? What grapes are the most significant?

Answer 1

Single-varietal wines made from Pinot Noir (red wines) and Chardonnay (white wines)

Question 2

When does Burgundy’s viticultural history begin?

Answer 2

Some time during the Roman Empire’s control of the region

Question 3

What is a climat? When did the term originate? By whom?

Answer 3

An individually named vineyard plot. The concept originated during the time of the great Catholic monasteries, around 1,000 CE.

Question 4

Burgundy comprises which winemaking areas?

Answer 4

Chablis

Côte d’Or

Côte Chalonnaise

Mâconnais

Beaujolais

Question 5

Where is Burgundy situated?

Answer 5

The Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais occupy a relatively narrow strip of land running approximately north to south between Dijon and Mâcon (roughly 130 km).

Chablis is 110 km northwest of Dijon around the town of the same name in the Yonne departément.

Beaujolais is south of Mâcon.

Question 6

What are the divisions of the Côte d’Or?

Answer 6

Côte de Nuits

Côte de Beaune

Question 7

From north to south, name the villages of the Côte de Nuits.

Answer 7

Marsannay

Fixin

Gevrey-Chambertin

Morey-St.-Denis

Chambolle-Musigny

Vougeot

Flagey-Echezeaux

Vosne-Romanée

Nuits-St.-George

Question 8

From north to south, name the villages of the Côte de Beaune.

Answer 8

Pernand-Vergelesses

Aloxe-Corton

Ladoix-Serrigny

Savigny-Les-Beaune

Chorey-Les-Beaune

Beaune

Pommard

Volnay

Monthelie

Saint-Romain

Auxey-Duresses

Meursault

Puligny-Montrachet

St. Aubin

Chassagne-Montrachet

Santenay

Question 9

Excluding Beaujolais, what plantings dominate Burgundy’s vineyards?

Answer 9

Chardonnay (50%)

Pinot Noir (41%)

Aligoté (6%)

Other (3%)

Question 10

What is the quality level and pricing of Burgundy wines?

Answer 10

Wide range of quality levels, but typically good to outstanding from mid- to super-premium pricing.

Question 11

What factors have led to the average prices of Burgundy remaining high?

Answer 11

Limited supply and surging worldwide demand.

Question 12

What percentage of Yonne département plantings comprises Chardonnay?

Answer 12

80%

Chablis is produced in the Yonne departément

Question 13

What percentage of Côte d’Or plantings comprises Pinot Noir?

Answer 13

Over 60%

Question 14

What is a négociant in Burgundy?

Answer 14

In Burgundy, négociants traditionally purchased wine to elevate and/or bottle, or purchased grapes to turn into wine, to sell to retailers.

Today, négociants have started to purchase land which has blurred the lines between négociants and domaines.

Question 15

What is a domaine in Burgundy?

Answer 15

A domaine is the collective holdings of a wine producer. Some domaines are beginning to purchase wines from other producers, blurring the distinction between domaines and négociants.

Question 16

Where do many of the red and white Burgundy clones originate from?

Answer 16

The Dijon family of clones developed at the University of Burgundy in Dijon.

Question 17

What is the profile of cool climate white Burgundy?

Answer 17

Apple, pear, lemon, and lime aromas with stone notes, medium body, and high acidity. This is the typical style of Chablis.

Question 18

What is the profile of moderate climate White Burgundy?

Answer 18

Ripe citrus, melon, stone fruit, with medium to medium (+) body and medium (+) to high acid

Question 19

What is the profile of red Burgundy?

Answer 19

Strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, light oak notes (village or above), low to medium tannins with medium (+) for some Grand Crus, medium alcohol, high acidity

Question 20

What is the quality hierarchy of Burgundy wines?

Answer 20

Regional or Generic Appellations

Village Appellations

Premier Cru*

Grand Cru

*Premier Cru wines are not their own AOC but are rather released under the Village AOC. Nonetheless, these climats are recognized as an improvement in quality.

Question 21

Excluding Beaujolais, how many appellations are there in Burgundy? How many are Grand Cru, Village, and Regional?

Answer 21

84 appellations, of which there are

33 Grand Crus

44 Village Appellations

7 Regional Appellations

Question 22

In Burgundy, how are wines that come from more than one 1er Cru in the same village labelled?

Answer 22

Village 1er Cru. There is no vineyard named.

Question 23

In Burgundy, all Grand Cru vineyards are a distinct AOC except where?

Answer 23

Chablis. Chablis Grand Cru is an AOC that includes 7 climats.

Question 24

Do 1er Crus belong to their own appellations?

Answer 24

No. They are additional geographic denominations of Village Appellations.

Question 25

How many Premier Crus are there in Burgundy?

Answer 25

640

Question 26

Is the quality hierarchy in Burgundy indicative of quality?

Answer 26

Yes and no. Wines higher in the hierarchy are considered better than those lower in the hierarchy, but some top-tier appellations are larger than others which leads to high variability among those wines.

Question 27

How does the classification system in the Côte d’Or reflect the position of the vines in the region? Where are these classifications most often found?

Answer 27

It largely is indicative of where in a slope the vineyard sits.

Hautes Côtes appellations are generally on the higher flat lands above the slope.

Generic appellations are usually located in the lands at the bottom of slopes.

Village appellations are typically on the lower part of the slopes.

Grand Crus are predominantly in the middle of slopes with 1er Crus surrounding them.

Question 28

Where are the Hautes Côtes appellations located (geographically) and how does this affect quality?

Answer 28

In Burgundy on the high, flat lands above the slopes. The grapes experience cooler temperatures, poorer sunlight interception, richer soils, and a lack of protection from weather. Vine vigor is higher, wines are less concentrated, and grapes can even struggle to ripen in cool years.

Question 29

Where are Burgundy’s village appellations located (geographically)? How does this affect quality?

Answer 29

At the lowest part of a slope, typically above Village level wines. The soils are richer and less well drained than 1er Cru and Grand Cru sites. The fruit does not reach the same level of ripeness as 1er Cru and Grand Cru wines, but still produces very good, characterful wines.

Question 30

Where are Burgundy’s generic appellations located (topographically)? How does this affect quality?

Answer 30

They are usually on the flat land at the bottom of a slope. The grapes here are often used in Crémant production though they can also produce good quality still wines.

Question 31

Where are Burgundy’s Grands Crus and 1er Crus located (topographically)? How does this affect quality?

Answer 31

The Grands Crus are typically found in the middle of a slope with 1er Crus surrounding it. Full ripeness is achieved nearly every year. Soils are shallow and less fertile, there is good sunlight interception, and good drainage. With good winemaking, this leads to wines of exceptional concentration, complexity, and longevity.

Question 32

Why are some villages in Burgundy hyphenated?

Answer 32

To celebrate the Grand Cru vineyard connected to the village.