With fairly early budburst, and despite frost in April and early May, the 2019 vintage seems to be off to a good start.
March was very clement, and the growth cycle began towards the end of the month. The earliest plots and varietals reached the mid-budburst phase during the first few days of April, making 2019 one of the earliest years in terms of the start of the growth cycle.
However, a spell of cooler weather during the first two weeks in April slowed down the vines’ development. This episode brought several nights of frost, resulting in varied amounts of damage in different sectors that is still difficult to quantify even weeks later. This short cold snap was, however, widely forecast, so wine professionals were able to take the necessary precautions.
As a result, the growth cycle was a little behind. In more tardy areas and with more tardy varietals, the mid-budburst stage was only reached during the last 10 days in April.
In the end, the mid-budburst stage in 2019 was similar to that observed in 2017 for the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise, and the Mâconnais. Only the Chablis and Grand Auxerrois regions lagged behind.
Winemakers are still confident nonetheless, and are now waiting for flowering before making any pronouncements on the harvest potential.
At your service
On 23 May, celebrate #ChardonnayDay
On Thursday 23 May, the world of wine comes together in the village of Chardonnay and across social media to celebrate Bourgogne’s native grape for white wine!
For the past five years, Bourgogne has become the leader for this exceptional day, invented in California a decade ago. Chardonnay may have conquered the world, but it is in Bourgogne that the grape has always revealed its most pure expression, on terroirs that allow all its subtleties to shine through.
Here, winemakers do not produce wines sold as Chardonnay. They make Chablis, Pouilly-Fuissé, Montagny, Auxey-Duresses, Bourgogne Tonnerre, and Mâcon, all from this single emblematic varietal. They may all be wine from the same grape, but between them, these delicate wines together express a thousand different factors involving geology, weather, and enology.
The Chardonnay experience goes digital!
This year, Bourgogne is encouraging everyone to celebrate #ChardonnayDay across social media. As such, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is offering a digital kit for personalizing photos. This fun, digital photobooth allows you to personalize your photos using Bourgogne and Chardonnay-themed graphics.
These photos are easily shared on Facebook, and can be saved to share across other social media at will.
The BIVB will also be publishing lots of exciting content across social media throughout Chardonnay Day on 23 May, with the #Bourgogne and #ChardonnayDay hashtags.
Live the Chardonnay experience in the village of Chardonnay
This village in the north of the Mâconnais region is gearing up for its fourth Chardonnay Day celebrations to remind wine lovers that it is the grape’s original home. #ChardonnayDay has become a key event in the village calendar, and especially so this year as the 2019 edition promises to be particularly rich in surprises.
In addition to the traditional tastings organized throughout the day, a Chardonnay Go game will be hosted in the village by guest star and the concept creator Dena Blizzard. The game takes its inspiration from Pokémon Go and has already been explored in a series of videos from this American comedienne.
The École des Vins de Bourgogne will also be in Chardonnay, and from 5:30pm will be hosting two training sessions for the general public entitled “A Chardonnay Masterclass: Back to Basics”, allowing guests to deepen their wine knowledge. The masterclasses (in French only) are by reservation only.
On 19 June, you have a “Rendezvous with Bourgogne Wines”
The next edition of the industry’s international show, “Rendezvous avec les Vins de Bourgogne”, will explore Régionale appellations with a geographical denomination.
The interactive “Rendezvous with Bourgogne Wines” show brings together hundreds of industry professionals, journalists, and influencers from around the world for every edition to explore one or more appellations or a specific topic relating to Bourgogne wines.
The next edition, set to screen on 19 June, will be dedicated to red Régionale appellations with an additional geographical denomination. This will be a perfect opportunity to discover appellations such as Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Mâcon-Igé, Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre, or the brand-new Bourgogne Côte d’Or. All these wines mark the first step towards an interpretation of the terroir, a notion that is unique to the DNA of Bourgogne wines.
The show lasts for one hour. The first 20 minutes are dedicated to presenting the theme of the show, including reports and interviews with winemakers. The second part involves a commented tasting of a range of wines, which participants at sessions hosted around the globe are invited to sample simultaneously with Jean-Pierre Renard, expert trainer at the École des Vins de Bourgogne. At the end of the show, he answers questions asked by participants on Twitter, via the #BIVBRDV hashtag.
The show is broadcast by satellite in 10 countries, in English at 9am, 11am, 6pm, and 10pm; and in French at 4pm (CET).
Journalists interested in participating in the show should contact the BIVB.
If a Bourgogne Wine Ambassador is hosting a session in your country, near to your location, we will cover your participation fees. You can take part in the tasting live.
If no “physical” participation is possible, we will send you a link to watch the show.
Japan - the Bourgogne Week Tokyo website is online
From 3-9 June, Bourgogne Week will be taking over Tokyo, with plenty of Bourgogne wine-related activities. All the information is now available on the website.
After London and Hong Kong, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is organizing a second Japanese edition of Bourgogne Week (cf. En Direct April)
Importers, winestore owners, restaurants and wine bars will be hosting plenty of events involving Bourgogne wines, including tastings, dinners with winemakers, and promotions both in-store and online. All these events, along with those organized by the BIVB, can be found on the new Bourgogne Week Tokyo website.
Bourgogne Week Tokyo will also be featured across the BIVB’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, where a promotional campaign will be run using the #BourgogneWeek hashtag.
More than 100 festivals and celebrations in a single online guide!
The first eBrochure dedicated to festivals, gourmet events, and cultural celebrations dedicated to Bourgogne wines is finally available.
This eBrochure is accessible to all and available for download from the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) website in the A Trip Through the Vines section, or from tourist offices. Travelers and locals can now take part in the full range of events that take place across the year in Bourgogne.
Regularly updated by the BIVB and local tourism representatives, you can be sure that the information included in the guide is as accurate as possible.
A festive, cultural, and gourmet program in the heart of the vineyards.
To ensure the greatest possible responsiveness, the BIVB wanted this guide to take the form of an annual e-brochure dedicated to festivities, gourmet events and cultural celebrations involving wine. These events, often driven by winemakers themselves, celebrate conviviality and sharing, important values in Bourgogne.
In total, more than 100 gatherings, from the unusual to the more formal, are listed chronologically. They are introduced with a short description along with useful information including times, locations, prices, contact details, and website addresses.
Download the full press release here.
Download the brochure here.
Where does the notion of Climats come from?
Jean-Pierre Garcia, Professor at the university of Bourgogne and specialist of the wine terroirs, has conducted with his team a study on the notion of Climat, specific to the Bourgogne wine region, in 2016.
3-7 June - Tokyo
Bourgogne Week Tokyo 2019 (see above)
7 June to 7 July - Bourgogne Climats Month (see below)
The full program is available online here
10 June - Shanghai
Masterclass on Régionale AOCs with a geographical denomination, followed by a Q&A with local press
19 June - Multiple countries
Rendezvous with Bourgogne Wines (see above)
3 July - Beaune
General Assembly of the BIVB (30th anniversary)
6 July - Cheilly-les-Maranges Paulée Picnic to celebrate the anniversary of the inscription of the Climats of the Bourgogne winegrowing region on the UNESCO World Heritage List (see below)
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
Those two Régionale appellations with a geographical denomination are growing more and more popular.
In the names of the Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits appellations, the word “Bourgogne” is critical. It reminds us that these wines are part of the great family of Bourgogne wines.
As for the words Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Nuits, these specify the terroir where these wines originate. In Bourgogne , place is key, as confirmed by the inscription of the Climats on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Today, thanks to more precise work in the vines and careful control of yields, the winemakers of the Hautes Côtes are producing higher-quality grapes. The results are some lovely examples of Bourgogne wines, each with their own unique characteristics that represent their terroir.
Accessible wines
For Nicolas Thévenot, President of the Syndicat des Hautes Côtes and owner of the Domaine Thévenot Le Brun & Fils in Marey-lès-Fussey, if there is one adjective to describe these wines, it’s “accessible”. Easy to taste, they offer an exceptional quality-price-pleasure ratio. Their producers are delighted to welcome visitors to their cellars to discover or rediscover their wines.
Looking down over the hill from Gevrey-Chambertin to Corton, the vines of the Hautes Côtes de Nuits are wild and beautiful. The wines are made in red, white, and rosé, with Pinot Noir used for the reds and rosés, while the whites are mainly made from Chardonnay, and occasionally include Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris.
The reds often reveal aromas of raspberry, cherry, licorice, and sometimes violet. They are perfect for lightly spiced cuisine and even sweet and sour flavors.
The whites often evoke notes of hawthorn, honeysuckle, apple, and lemon. These aromas marry well with steamed fish, snails, or foie gras.
The vines of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune look down over the Côte de Beaune from the west, from Maranges to Ladoix-Serrigny, and are made up of a series of hills and valleys. The vines, which grow at the foot of the limestone cliff, cover the sunny slopes.
The same colors and varietals are used here as on the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, but the geography is different and as such, the aromatic expression is not the same.
It is not rare to detect aromas of peony, rose, morello cherry, blackcurrant, licorice, undergrowth, and even spices from the reds. Try them with simple dishes like filet mignon of pork or roast leg of lamb.
The whites offer aromas of white blossom or honey that work well with fish.
Economic Update
The USA confirms its position as leading market for exports of Bourgogne wines
In 2018, the USA once again led the way in terms of Bourgogne wine exports, in terms of revenue and volume. They have held the top spot since 2014.
In 2018, the US was the leading importer of Bourgogne in terms of revenue, accounting for 23% of all exports of Bourgogne wines. It was also in first place in terms of volume, with 21% of all exports.
These strong results were driven by a favorable euro-dollar exchange rate. However, Bourgogne producers are remaining cautious with regard to the potential consequences of certain decisions taken by the Trump administration.
Exports of Bourgogne wines continue to grow:
Exports of Bourgogne wines continued to grow on the US market, for both whites and reds. Crémant de Bourgogne exports slightly slowed after several years of growth.
In total, exports of Bourgogne wines to the USA enjoyed new growth in 2018 compared to 2017:
Up 3.8% in terms of volume
Up 2% in terms of revenue
Key figures in 2018 for Bourgogne wines in the USA: Exports: 17.4 million bottles (up 3.8% on 2017); 211.8 million euros (up 2% on 2017)
Still white wine: 61%
Still red wine: 30%
Crémant de Bourgogne : 9 %
Over the first two months of 2019, exports were doing well, up 11% in terms of volume for all wines, and up 12.4% in terms of revenue over the first two months of 2018.
In terms of revenue, in 2018 Canada remained the fifth biggest export market for Bourgogne wines, behind the USA, Great Britain, and Japan, but ahead of Switzerland, with 6% of total revenue.
This market accounted for 9% of the volume of Bourgogne wines exported, making it the fourth biggest market by volume, just behind Japan.
A new record for Bourgogne wines in terms of volume:
Canada is a key market for Bourgogne wines. Exports have grown there for four years in a row and set a new all-time record by volume for the second year running. The weakness of the euro to the Canadian dollar contributed to this strong growth.
Exports of Bourgogne wines showed dual growth in 2018:
Up 9.7% by volume
Up 8% in terms of revenue
Key 2018 figures for Bourgogne wines in Canada: Exports: 7.15 million bottles (up 9.5% on 2017) for revenue of 53.67 million euros (up 8% on 2017). In terms of volume:
Still white wines: 60%
Still red wines: 33%
Crémant de Bourgogne: 7%
In the first two months of 2019, Bourgogne wines confirmed this healthy performance, up 28% by volume and 24.2% in terms of revenue on first two months of 2018.
The program for Climats Months is announced.
From 7 June to 7 July, Climats Month is back, with a large number of events being hosted from Dijon to the south of the Côte de Beaune.
A flagship annual event, the 2019 edition of Climats Month involves more than 70 events that are entirely dedicated to exploring the Climats of Bourgogne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With exhibitions, walks through the vines, guided tours, conferences, shows, and tastings, there’s something for everyone!
A little plus point: Most of the events have been created by local non-profits, organizations, and businesses, making Climats Month a veritable goldmine of great ideas and original concepts.
Affordability and originality ensure the success of Climats Month. The highpoint is always the anniversary of the UNESCO inscription, with the Climats en Fête event taking place this year on Saturday 6 July, guaranteeing family fun and conviviality. The association of the Climats of the Bourgogne winegrowing region and its volunteers are inviting participants to Cheilly-lès-Maranges in the heart of the Maranges AOC for the great Paulée Picnic, including concerts, and lots of entertainment for young and old alike.
As a preamble to the evening event, the winemakers of Maranges invite you to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the appellation’s creation with a gourmet stroll through the vines.
Pommard: Check out the program for the 3rd Rootstock festival
Join us on 13 and 14 July at the Château de Pommard for this music festival combining music and wine.
This new edition is set to be contemporary and cosmopolitan, with the festival headliners making for an eclectic program…
On Saturday 13 July, Malian singer Fatouma Diawara will be singing and playing guitar, Dutch band Jungle By Night will be riffing on some jazz themes, and J. B. Dunckel, part of French duo Air, will be performing some tracks from H+, his first solo album.
On Sunday 14 July, it will be the turn of French duo Ibeyi and rising Paris star Adam Naas to fire up the stage at Rootstock.
This festival in the heart of Bourgogne mingles jazz, electro and pop. Some 1,500 passes will be on sale for people to enjoy these two festive days. Festival-goers can expect the full musical experience.
Bourgogne vs. Burgundy: to re-affirm their identity, the region and the producers are reverting back to the original French iteration of the name, Bourgogne.
EN DIRECT 9 issues per year, published by
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