Burgundy’s most well known wines are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but it is much more than wine that makes this region of France so special. The food is incredible, featuring gastronomic powerhouse cities like Dijon and Lyon; the castles, churches and art galleries that are spread throughout the region and add insight into the historical background of both France and Europe, and above all, the gorgeous scenery. When visiting vineyards, you are more likely to taste straight from the barrel than you will from an open bottle, as many of the winery owners are not as eager to provide tastes without the promise of a sale. As with most of the other wine regions of France, it is best to call or email ahead and prior to your visit to ensure accessibility.

Burgundy or Bourgogne in eastern France is a region where red and white wines are equally important. Burgundy is divided into the largest number of appellations of any French region. The burgundy wines are divided into three subdivisions:
La cote de Nuits ( Marsannay-La-Cote to Nuits-Saint-Georges)
La cote de Beaune (Beaune To Santenay)
La cote Chalonnaise (Givry, Rully and le Maconnais)
Beaujolais and Chablis are sometimes considered as separate regions although they fall into the Burgundy region. There are three main varietals used in Burgundy wine; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the not so well-known grape, Aligoté, most frequently used as a component of Kir.

The Burgundy region runs from Auxerre in the north down to Lyon (if the Beaujolais area is included as part of Burgundy.) Chablis, a white wine made from Chardonnay grapes, is produced in the area around Auxerre.

Some way south of Chablis is the Côte d’Or, where Burgundy’s most famous and expensive wines are grown, and where all Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy (except for Chablis Grand Cru) are situated. The Côte d’Or itself is split into two parts: the Côte de Nuits, which starts just south of Dijon and runs till Corgoloin, a few miles south of the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges, and the Côte de Beaune, which starts at Ladoix and ends at Dezize-les-Maranges.

The best wines - from “Grand Cru” vineyards - of this region are usually grown from the middle and higher part of the slopes, where the vineyards have the most exposure to sunshine and the best drainage, while the “Premier Cru” come from a little less favorably exposed slopes. The relatively ordinary “Village” wines are produced from the flat territory nearer the villages. The Côte de Nuits contains 24 out of the 25 red Grand Cru appellations in Burgundy, while all of the region’s white Grand Crus are located in the Côte de Beaune.

Further south is the Côte Chalonnaise, where again a mix of mostly red and white wines are produced, although the appellations found here such as Mercurey, Rully and Givry are less well known than their counterparts in the Côte d’Or. Below the Côte Chalonnaise is the Mâconnais region, known for producing large quantities of easy-drinking and more affordable white wine. Further south again is the Beaujolais region, famous for fruity red wines made from Gamay.

One of my first wine tasting trips in 1985 was in this region when my older brother was living in the region as an exchange student. I fondly recall his stories of traveling from vineyard to vineyard with a backpack stuffed with baguettes, taking naps under trees along the wine route and thoroughly enjoying the hospitality of the French people. For those wishing for more information on Burgundy, the magazine Wines Terroirs is the wine magazine of the region.