What Is Burgundy Wine: Classification, Grapes, Regions

What is Burgundy wine? It is wine produced in the Burgundy region of east-central France. It comes specifically from the valleys and slopes west of the Saône. That river is a tributary of the Rhône. The most renowned wines from this region are dry red wines crafted from Pinot Noir grapes. They also include white wines made from Chardonnay grapes. Other varieties are also cultivated. They include Gamay for red wines and Aligoté for white. The region makes small quantities of rosé and sparkling wines too. Burgundy stands out as a terroir-conscious French wine region. Its classification system assigns quality levels to specific vineyards or geographical areas rather than to individual producers. This approach traces its origins to medieval times. It is prominently reflected on wine labels, where appellations take precedence.

What makes Burgundy wine unique?

Burgundy's classification system is geographically focused. A specific vineyard or region holds a given classification regardless of the wine's producer. This approach contrasts with Bordeaux. There, classifications are producer-driven and awarded to individual châteaux. This terroir-oriented philosophy means immense attention to the area of origin. It means the same attention to the specific soil types where a wine's grapes are grown.

The Burgundy wine region carries historical importance. Its climats system is unique. That led to sites in the region being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Monasteries of the Roman Catholic Church played a key role in developing the Burgundy wine industry. The Cistercians were the first to observe that different vineyard plots consistently yielded different wines. This observation laid the earliest foundation for the naming of Burgundy crus and the region's terroir thinking. You can explore the diverse terroirs of this region on our Burgundy map.

What are the main grape varieties in Burgundy?

The majority of Burgundy's famous red wines are made from Pinot Noir grapes. Most white wines are produced from Chardonnay. Dry red wines are made from Pinot Noir and white wines from Chardonnay.

Other grape varieties also contribute to Burgundy's wines:

• Red Grapes: Gamay is used for red wines, particularly in the Beaujolais region. Beaujolais is recognized as part of Burgundy. Its wines are usually referred to by their own name. The Pinot Noir grape was first mentioned as Noirien in 1370. It is believed to have been cultivated even earlier in the region.
• White Grapes: Aligoté is another white grape found in Burgundy. It typically yields more affordable wines with higher acidity. This grape is traditionally used for the Kir drink when mixed with black currant liqueur. Sauvignon Blanc is also grown in the Saint-Bris appellation. The list includes France as the country of origin for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Aligoté, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Rules for red Burgundy appellations run from regional to Grand Cru level. They generally permit blending in up to 15% of the white grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris. This practice is not widely practised today.

How are Burgundy wines classified?

Burgundy's classification system is hierarchical. It has four primary quality categories in descending order: Grand Cru, Premier Cru, village appellations, and regional appellations. This focus is reflected on wine labels, where appellations are most prominent. Producers' names often appear in smaller text at the bottom.

Here is a breakdown of the classification levels:

Classification Level	Production Percentage	Typical Yield (hl/ha)	Aging Recommendation	Labeling Characteristics
Grand Cru	2%	35 hl/ha	Minimum 5-7 years, best for 15+ years	Lists only vineyard name (e.g., Corton), plus "Grand Cru" term, not village name.
Premier Cru	12%	45 hl/ha	Often 3-5 years, best can keep longer	Village name, "Premier Cru" status, and usually the vineyard name (e.g., Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets).
Village Appellation	36%	50 hl/ha	Consumed 2-4 years after release, some keep longer	Village name (e.g., Pommard), and sometimes the name of the single vineyard or climat.
Regional Appellation	Not specified	55 hl/ha (for AOC Bourgogne)	Typically for immediate consumption, within 3 years	Covers the entire region or a significantly larger area than an individual village.

Producers are always allowed to declassify their wine in steps to a lower-ranked AOC if they wish. For example, a wine from a Grand Cru vineyard may be sold as a Premier Cru from that vineyard's village. This practice usually leads to a lower price. It can still be used to improve the quality of a Grand Cru wine by only including grapes from older vines. The wine from younger vines then sells as a Premier Cru. This strategy can help a producer maintain a higher average price for their wines.

In total, around 150 separate AOCs are used in Burgundy. They include those of Chablis and Beaujolais. This figure does not include the several hundred named vineyards (lieux-dits) at the Village and Premier Cru level. Those names may be displayed on the label. The total number of vineyard-differentiated AOCs that may be displayed is well in excess of 500. Understanding these classifications can be key to your fine wine investment strategy.

How is Burgundy wine produced and bottled?

Burgundy's vineyards, including Chablis but excluding Beaujolais, covered a total of 28,530 hectares in 2003. The Côte d'Or alone spanned 8,000 hectares. That figure covers Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Nuits. The core Côte de Nuits covered 1,700 hectares. Côte de Beaune covered 3,600 hectares.

In 2000, Burgundy had a total of 3,200 wine domaines. That was a significant increase from 50 in the early 19th century. Of these, 520 were in the department of Yonne, 1,100 in Côte-d'Or, and 1,570 in Saône-et-Loir. Generally, small growers sell their grapes to larger producers known as négociants. Those houses then blend and bottle the wine. Roughly 115 négociants produce the majority of the wine. They control only around 8% of the area. Individual growers hold about 67% of the area. They produce and market only about 25% of the wine. Some small wineries produce as few as 100-200 cases per year. Many producers make a few thousand cases annually.

Three terms identify grower/producer-made wines. They are "Mis en bouteille au domaine", "Mis au domaine", and "Mis en bouteille à la propriété". Négociants may use the term "Mis en bouteille dans nos caves" (bottled in our cellars). They are not entitled to use the estate-bottled designation of the grower/producers. Most négociants tend to use the term "Mis en bouteille par...". When you consider how to buy wine at auction, understanding these distinctions can be valuable.

What is the reputation of Burgundy wine?

Burgundy is home to some of the world's most expensive wines. They include those from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Henri Jayer, Domaine Leflaive, and Domaine Armand Rousseau. Its renown extends back many centuries. In 1522, Erasmus wrote: "O happy Burgundy which merits being called the mother of men since she furnishes from her mammaries such a good milk," as quoted. Shakespeare echoed this sentiment, referring in King Lear to "the vines of France and milk of Burgundy," also cited.

British wine critic Jancis Robinson has stated that "price is an extremely unreliable guide". She has also stated that "what a wine sells for often has more to do with advertising hype and marketing decisions than the quality contained in the bottle,". Grand Crus often command steep prices. Village level wines from top producers can still be found at lower price points. Some Burgundies are also increasingly valued as investment wines.

Fans of Burgundy wine have organized events celebrating its virtues for decades. The most famous is La Paulée de Meursault. In 2010, the Burgundy region saw increased internet coverage. Official efforts such as the online broadcast of the Hospices de Beaune drove it. So did independent wine aficionados like Bourgogne Live.

To track the performance of Burgundy and other fine wines, explore our live fine wine market index.