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List of designations

Côte de Beaune vineyards

From Ladoix-Serrigny to the Maranges hillsides, Côte de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Beaune unfold their charms over a 20 km stretch, stretching from north to south. Follow the Route des Grands Crus through the list of wine appellations and explore this incredible terroir!

These vineyards, bathed in morning sunshine, occupy land that rarely exceeds a few hundred meters in width.

Winegrowing Burgundy is an incredible geological jumble, preserved by a clear hierarchy of appellations, making it easy to find your way around the different communes and vineyard plots, also known as “Climats“.

No fewer than 84 Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) are listed in Burgundy! These appellations are divided into four main categories: Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Village (or Communale) and Régionale.

Appellation

Grands Crus

Dive into the discovery of red and white wines with character, such as the emblematic Montrachet, one of the world’s most famous Grands Crus.

Unlike the Bordeaux region, the Grand Cru appellation is not awarded to wine estates, but to parcels of vines (or “climats“) benefiting from a particular terroir quality.

You can discover Burgundy’s not-to-be-missed Grands Crus on the Route des Grands Crus, which crosses the most prestigious part of the Burgundy vineyards.

Come and savor the excellence of the winemaking tradition in this haven of oenological delights.

The Grands Crus of the Côte de Beaune
Appellation

1er Crus

Premiers Crus” wines come from renowned vineyards with Village appellation status.

These vineyards, known as“Climats“, produce wines of superior quality to standard Village appellation wines.

Village Premiers Crus appellationsare complementary geographical denominations.

The “Premiers Crus” label is reserved for wines produced on specific territories, delimited by a single climat. There are currently 662 climats classified as Premiers Crus in Burgundy.

The Premiers Crus of the Côte de Beaune
Appellation

Villages

Our destination’sVillages appellation (AOC) covers two Burgundy departments, Côte-d’Or and Saône-et-Loire.

This appellation covers red (Pinot noir) and white (Chardonnay) wines produced in 17 villages on the Côte de Beaune.

Beaune has two distinct appellations:Beaune and Côte de Beaune. The Côte de Beaune appellation covers plots in the hills above Beaune.

A final appellation, Côte de Beaune – Villages, covers parcels in 12 communes around Beaune. Here, the grape variety is exclusively Pinot Noir to produce red wines. These parcels, or Climats, are different from those that bear the appellation of their own villages.

For example, in the commune of Aloxe-Corton, we can find :

  • The Aloxe-Corton – Village – Les Bruyères appellation
  • Les Boutières, an appellation of Aloxe-Corton – Côte de Beaune – Village.

The labels may or may not show this Côte de Beaune – Village appellation, depending on the parcels and winemakers concerned. Why not take an oenology course to find out?

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Villages of the Côte de Beaune

Village appellations are sometimes named after the localities where the vineyards are located. These sometimes poetic, unusual, surprising and naughty names are also the hallmark of Burgundy wines. Lose yourself between les Combes and les Grands Champs, turn les Vireuils upside down, leave La Rue aux Vaches or au Porc, and with a Trot Garnier step join our Climats for an adventure as literary as it is gustatory.

Appellation

Regional

de Bourgogne

A regional appellation designates a geographical area of Burgundy defined by specific characteristics.

As with all AOC appellations, wines from regional appellations must meet strict production criteria, such as plot delimitation, yield and grape quality.

This appellation represents the highest level of wine quality, and accounts for more than half of Burgundy’s wine production. Although less prestigious than the others, it is just as interesting from a gustatory point of view.

Burgundy's regional appellations

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