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13/02/2024
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre appellation, 15 estates will be taking up residence at the Abbey of Saint-Germain d’Auxerre for an exceptional tasting.
The Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre appellation was created in 1993, providing recognition for centuries of winemaking and a new impetus for future generations. Some 30 years on, these winemakers are delighted to invite you to celebrate this ongoing tradition in a magical setting. This tasting will be held on the eve of the Grands Jours de Bourgogne event, which kicks off in Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois on 18 March. It offers a unique chance to discover the range of Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre wines in the company of those who know them best.
Sunday 17 March
2pm to 7pm
Abbey of Saint-Germain d’Auxerre
Contact: +33 (0)6.87.20.77.27
evenementscotesdauxerre@gmail.com
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WHY CÔTES D’AUXERRE with a « S » ?
To specify that they are multiple, each with its own specificity. And also that in time, every terroir can eventually be classified.
A YOUNG APPELLATION WITH A LONG HISTORY…
Behind the Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre appellation lies the story of a centuries-old vineyard that was almost forgotten. Since the first vines were planted near Auxerre some 2,000 years ago, vinegrowing has shaped the northern part of Burgundy. But it wasn’t until the impetus of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint-Germain that Auxerre wines enjoyed an unprecedented boom. From the Middle Ages onwards, they were transported by waterway to Paris and Northern Europe, establishing a solid reputation. Until the end of the 18th century, winegrowing was a way of life, and Auxerre and the surrounding villages lived according to the rhythm of the vines. There were 1,800 hectares under vine back then, with terroir and lieux-dits already recognized for their unique characteristics.
Phylloxera and the arrival of the railroad plunged this economy into turmoil. The Yonne winegrowing region, so highly acclaimed just a few decades previously, ended up a shadow of its former self. Almost everywhere, vines were replaced by fruit trees and urbanization. The story might have ended there but for the audacity and determination of a handful of winegrowing families, who had retained a few plots and decided to replant vines on the hillsides in the 1960s and 1970s. At a time when Chablis was coming into its own, the Auxerre region was just waking up. And the terroir was finally rewarded through the INAO’s recognition of the appellation just a few year later.”