Top wines in 2019: Indulge yourself with Bourgogne’s 33 Grands Crus
There are 33 Bourgogne Grands Crus wines. Some are the stuff of legend, such as Romanée Conti or Bâtard-Montrachet. Others are more accessible, like Chablis Grand Cru or Clos de Vougeot. But all have one thing in common: They represent the essence of the Climats of Bourgogne and symbolize 2,000 years of winemaking history.
Now you can share in this priceless heritage. The Ecole des vins de Bourgogne is offering a single training session per year to explore these 33 outstanding appellations, including the rarest of them.
“The Ultimate Bourgogne Wine Tasting: The 33 Grands Crus” is run in English by two experts, one in tasting, the other in geology.
The program includes reading the landscape in the field, estate visits, and commented tasting sessions, which together will provide a unique insight into these celebrated wines. These three days combine learning with pleasure.
And as an additional treat, participants will be invited to the exclusive Paulée of the Musique & Vins Festival on Friday 28 June at the Château de Meursault!
Dates: 27 to 29 June 2019 (plus an introductory evening on 26 June).
Limited to 15 places
Price: 2,500 euros
Wine Paris: More than 80 exhibitors from Bourgogne
For the third edition of the trade show, the format has been revised and expanded, with 84 Bourgogne producers showcasing their wines.
The Wine Paris trade show has published the list of exhibitors who will present their wines from 11 to 13 February in Paris. Some 2,000 producers, estates, négociants and wine stores have signed up for the event. Among them are 84 representatives of Bourgogne, a significant increase on the 2018 edition, which went under the name of VinoVision. The level of participation underlines the growing appeal of this international trade event.
Wine Paris is exclusively reserved for wine industry professionals, and features numerous tastings, conferences, and masterclasses. The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is staging two masterclasses: One on the Climats, and a second on lesser-known Bourgogne wines.
Further information will be available on the Wine Paris site during January.
Watch the video presentation on Wine Paris:
For the list of participants, click here and to register here.
Coming soon: Bourgogne Week Hong Kong
From 25 February to 1 March, Hong Kong will be flying the flag for Bourgogne wines.
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) initiated this promotion and encourages all stakeholders in the market to get involved and organize events, such as dinners with Bourgogne winemakers, tastings, and restaurant promotions. All these events will be listed and widely promoted in BIVB communication, especially on the dedicated website www.bourgogneweek-hk.com (online from mid-February).
The BIVB is also hosting its own events to bring together importers, the media, and market influencers around Bourgogne wines.
• One Day for Bourgogne Wines (26 February)
The week’s flagship event is being held for the fourth year running. The BIVB is inviting importers to present to the press and sommeliers their latest wines due to come to market in May. For the most part, these are the 2017 and 2016 vintages. This is an opportunity for the media to gain a first impression and for influencers to discover some of the lesser-known appellations and make some initial orders. By invitation only.
Highly anticipated after its good reception during the Bourgogne Week London, the 2017 vintage will thus be making its first steps into Asia.
• Chablis White Cocktail (28 February)
Another highlight of the week underlining the conviviality of Bourgogne wines, this prestige evening is dedicated to the various Chablis appellations across several vintages. By invitation only for media and influencers.
Besides the creation of a dedicated website, the visibility of these operations will be boosted on social media via the hashtag #BourgogneWeek. Follow Bourgogne wines (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) and Chablis (Twitter and Instagram).
Some dates for your diaries
Don’t miss out on any upcoming events involving Bourgogne wines and their producers.
• 27 and 28 January, Vézelay Saint-Vincent Tournante 2019, 75th edition (see below)
• 21 February, Saulieu The Bourgogne Côte d’Or Baptism
The BIVB and the Bourgogne ODG are inviting the press to a lunch at the Côte d'Or restaurant in Saulieu (part of the Bernard Loiseau Group) to discover the first vintage of Bourgogne Côte-d’Or wines through an exceptional tasting.
• 11-13 February, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Wine Paris (see above)
• 25 February - 1st March, Hong Kong Bourgogne Week Hong Kong (see above)
• 6 March, Oslo Bourgogne Wines press dinner
Economic updates
Bourgogne: AOCs: there is one number to remember…
... and this number is 84!
It’s a key question - how many AOC wines are there in the Bourgogne winegrowing region?
Clue n°1: The Bourgogne Côte d’Or and Vézelay appellations were created in 2017
Clue n°2: The Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire appellation no longer exists
And the correct answer is… 84!
To reach this figure, you simply need to add the number of specifications that officially define each AOC:
• 7 Régionale AOCs (including Bourgogne Côte d’Or, which is a Bourgogne AOC with an additional geographical denomination)
• 44 Village AOCs: Vézelay was the 44th Village AOC in the Bourgogne region
• 33 Grand Cru AOCs
7 + 44 + 33 makes a total of 84 AOCs - it all adds up!
But what about the Premier Cru appellations?
The Premier Crus refer to particular Climats within each Village AOC that are noted for their unique characteristics. They are not AOCs per se because they don’t have a particular specification. They are what we refer to as Bourgogne wines with an additional geographical denomination.
The same applies to Bourgogne and the Mâcon appellations with additional geographical denominations, such as Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre, Mâcon-Lugny, Mâcon-Péronne, etc. They are covered by the Bourgogne and Mâcon AOC specifications.
Another potential source of confusion is the Chablis Grand Cru appellation, which is unique in that it covers seven additional geographical denominations, namely the Climats where it is produced: Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, and Vaudésir. So, in fact, there’s just one Chablis Grand Cru and not seven, as some might claim.
These appellations seem to have found an audience.
In 2017, exports of Bourgogne wines by volume were down 5.7% to some 15 million bottles, after two years of growth: Up 7.4% in 2016 and up 1.5% in 2015. The volumes exported remained historically low.
This situation is the result of several factors, including a tricky market for certain appellations, a lack of available wine for others, successive increases in taxes on wine, and economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Revenue continued to grow for the third consecutive year: Up 12% in 2017 over 2016, and up 11% in 2015 over 2014.
For the first nine months of 2018, volumes exported dipped 8.6% on the same period in 2017. For the first time in three years, revenue was impacted by this drop in volume: Down 2.6% over the same period in 2017.
Régionale Bourgogne appellations continued to grow, up 3.3% by volume for the first nine months of 2018. This did not make up for the loss in market share of the Chablis appellations (down 20% on the same period in 2017), still impacted by low available stocks, and of Régionale Mâcon appellations, down 3.8% after healthy growth by volume since 2016.
Mainly producing red wines, the Givry appellation also has some whites to offer. This little gem on the Côte Chalonnaise is certainly worth getting to know.
An historic appellation
They say that Givry was the favorite wine of King Henry IV. One of the five jewels of the Côte Chalonnaise, the Givry AOC is made in the villages of Givry, Dracy-le-Fort, and Jambles. This little paradise for vines was awarded its AOC in 1946, clustered around a fortified settlement established in the Middle Ages.
Terroir
The brown limestone and calciferous soil was created here by alternate layers of Oxfordian limestone from the Jurassic and clay-limestone. Most of the vines face east-southeast and south, growing at 240-280 meters above sea level, although the summit of Les Bois Chevaux is slightly higher than that.
Jean-Pierre Renard, expert trainer at the École des Vins de Bourgogne, will introduce you to the geographical and geological specifics of the Givry appellation.
Sommelier’s tips
The closed structure of the reds hides a delicate aromatic register suggesting obvious harmonious parings with pâtés, savory tarts, terrines, cured ham, and delicate cold cuts. Its distinction and solid structure nonetheless make it a great partner for slow-cooked meat dishes and steak, as well as braised veal and poultry stews. A roast Bresse chicken would marry well with its dense tannins. It is also ideal with soft-rind cheeses like Camembert, Brie de Meaux, and Reblochon.
Serve at around 15°C.
The whites are a fine match for fish in light sauce, pike with beurre blanc, and poultry. Cheeses with pressed rinds such as Saint-Nectaire and Cantal also make for a good combination.
Serve at between 11-13°C.
Between a young Gérard Depardieu and a prima ballerina: Givry as seen by Véronique Drouhin
For Véronique Drouhin, enologist at Joseph Drouhin, the Givry appellation now offers wines that can easily be described as elegant, far from their former “rustic” reputation. Easy drinking, they also offer excellent value for money and drinking pleasure, making them favorites for restaurant professionals around the world.
The 44th Bourgogne Village appellation, created in 2017, Vézelay invites you to an event rich with fresh content.
Like a mid-winter break, the annual Saint-Vincent Tournante celebration marks the return of longer days and the rebirth of the vines. In 2019, for the first time in its history, the event will be hosted by the town of Vézelay on 26 and 27 January. It will provide the chance for this UNESCO heritage site to celebrate its recent promotion to the status of a Village appellation.
After Prissé in the Mâconnais, it’s the turn of Vézelay in the Grand Auxerrois to inaugurate the new winegrowing year. And the winemakers of Vézelay have seized this opportunity to introduce wine lovers to their appellation.
Festivities begin at 7:30am on Saturday 26 January with the parade of the Confréries, whereby winegrowers from all the winegrowing villages across the Bourgogne region walk through the vines and the village carrying their patron saint and banners, until they reach the famous basilica of Vézelay. Given the huge space offered here, this will be the first time that all 80 winegrower brotherhoods will be able to attend mass in the same place at the same time.
Tasting cellars will be open from 11am on the Saturday and 10am on Sunday. Visitors will be able to taste the wines of the Vézelay appellation from all the producing communes.
Tasting kits will be available on site for €18, including a glass, a glass holder, seven tasting tickets, and the official map.
St. Vincent’s day falls on 22 January, but the celebrations are traditionally held on the last weekend in January. This has been the case since 1938 when the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin created the Saint-Vincent Tournante de Bourgogne event.
Come celebrate 20 years of the Bouzeron appellation
A major event open to the public to run on Sunday 14 April.
Following on from the event held for professionals in November 2018, the BouzeronAOC is continuing to celebrate its 20th anniversary, this time with an event open to the general public.
The winemakers of the appellation are inviting wine lovers to join them on a unique gourmet trail. Throughout the day, groups will make their way through the vines to discover the world of the winemaker and the Aligoté varietal, interspersed with gourmet breaks. This is the perfect opportunity to discover these sumptuous landscapes.
At the end of the trail, which lasts around two hours, walkers will be met with a tasting of food and wine pairings, rich in different flavors.
Departures every 20 minutes from 9:30am to 4pm
Price: €25 per person
The fruit of a great deal of hard work on the part of the entire appellation.
This map was designed to allow the winemakers and winegrowers of the Saint-Véran AOC to spread the word about their terroir. This visual tool underpins out their presentations to customers, journalists, sommeliers, and traders.
In addition to the appellation area and its lieux-dits, four levels of mapping are available. These can be overlaid onto aerial photos of the different plots and reveal:
- Soil type
- Height above sea level
- Aspect
- Slope
This interactive map is now available to all, at www.saint-veran-bourgogne.com or by clicking here.
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