Do you fancy a trip to Bourgogne? Then follow our guide!
The 2020 edition of the Tourist cellars guide in Bourgogne is now available in both digital and paper versions. It is the perfect way to discover or rediscover the Bourgogne winegrowing region, with its 84 appellations and many dedicated winemakers. Produced by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), it lists all the tasting cellars in the region that have signed up to the De Vignes en Caves welcome charter.
This guide is designed to help facilitate your searches and simplify the organization of your visits, through the six tourist trails that crisscross the region. The 2020 edition lists 371 cellars with the De Vignes en Caves label (up 4% on 2019), proof that there is nothing fleeting about wine tourism and that this is a lasting trend in Bourgogne.
To fully immerse visitors in the experience, the guide takes an educational approach, fully explaining the work of the winemaker, presenting the national Vignobles & Découvertes label, the De Vignes en Caves welcome charter, and the École des Vins de Bourgogne. In addition, it lists all the information you need about every wine-related festivity across the region, along with QR codes to help you access the latest information you need.
To further simplify things, the A Trip Through the Vines section of the Bourgogne wines website at bourgogne-wines.com is there to help you tailor your trip – perfect for a long weekend in the Bourgogne winegrowing region!
By becoming a sponsor of the Bronze level of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is underscoring its support for this organization and its overall commitment to learning.
The WSET is the biggest wine and spirits training body in the world, with four levels of qualification taught by a network of trainers across 70 countries and in multiple languages.
As for the BIVB, it trains thousands of market influencers every year around the world – more than 7,000 in 2019 alone – as well as the general public through the École des Vins de Bourgogne and its network of Official Ambassadors.
Throughout the year, the École des Vins de Bourgogne organizes and hosts tasting classes and training about Bourgogne wines. But that’s not all!
It also hosts wine-themed trips, discovery tours and plenty more besides, covering every aspect of the Bourgogne winegrowing region. Most sessions are available in multiple languages and are tailored to both groups and individuals.
There is something for everyone at the École des Vins de Bourgogne. With a roster 14 Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassadors, the school also offers private sessions tailored to your needs. From a simple stroll through the vines with a picnic to explore the Climats to a multi-day tasting tour from Chablis to Mâcon, your tasting dreams can become a reality!
Respectively in 9th and 18th positions in terms of value of exports of Bourgogne wines, Sweden and Norway are on the schedule for a wine tour at the end of April.
On 27 and 29 April, Bourgogne wines will be visiting Stockholm followed by Oslo for a series of masterclasses and press meets. Sweden and Norway are two very loyal markets for Bourgogne wines, particularly for those from Chablis, representing the 7th and 8th biggest export markets respectively.
On 27 April, Sweden will be hosting a masterclass with Michel Jamais, dedicated to lesser-known Bourgogne appellations. The aim will be to give wine professionals and journalists an opportunity to discover these accessible, varied, and high-quality wines.
In Norway on 29 April, the focus will be on Chablis wines, which have always been very popular in Scandinavian markets, mainly because they are so well-suited to local cuisine. A masterclass will be dedicated to exploring the entire range from Petit Chablis to Chablis Grand Cru, and will be hosted by Liora Levy, Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador.
François Labet, co-President of the BIVB will be in attendance to meet the press at two dinners. He will also attend tastings organized by the Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region’s Chamber of Commerce on Monday 27 April in Stockholm and Wednesday 29 April in Oslo. Around 20 winegrowers and négociants from the Bourgogne and Jura regions will be in attendance to meet key players from each market, including importers, wholesalers, state monopoly buyers, retailers, wine merchants, restaurateurs, F&B managers, sommeliers, journalists and bloggers.
Destination Australia!
Bourgogne wines are heading Down Under for a day of training and press meets!
Bourgogne wines will be back in Australia in May for a day of training dedicated to industry professionals and wine journalists.
The day will involve three tasting sessions and a masterclass. For now, the themes of these session are a closely guarded secret, but rest assured that the full range of Bourgogne wines, from Grand Cru to Régionale appellations will be covered.
Andrea Priztker, Master of Wine and Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador will be present to answer all your questions.
A representative of the Bourgogne winegrowing region will also be present to talk with local media and discuss the Australian market which is growing slowly but surely. Indeed, after several years of growth, exports to Australia went up 13.9% by volume and 11.7% in terms of value over the first 11 months of 2019. It stands in 14th place in terms of revenue for all Bourgogne wine export markets.
Everyone in the industry knows that there is a constant need for manpower in terms of production. And as such, the Bourgogne wine industry is making efforts to provide a framework for both employers and potential employees, and to ensure that training programs meet the needs of businesses.
In response to growing demand, the Confédération des Appellations et Vignerons de Bourgogne (CAVB) and the Union des Maisons de Vins de Grande Bourgogne (UMVGB) have set up an action plan for training and job hunting, with the support of the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB). “Vita Bourgogne / Les métiers du vin : votre avenir!” aims to attract and train future employees and connect them with potential employers.
Vita Bourgogne is based on a communication strategy to attract future candidates to training programs and to companies that are recruiting. The sector has already committed to investing some 150,000 euros and is also hoping to attract the participation of local authorities and organizations with this exciting development opportunity for the region.
Puligny-Montrachet, where white wine is king, will be hosting the Saint-Vincent Tournante 2021, in partnership with the winemakers of Corpeau and Blagny.
In 2021, the most famous wine celebration in Bourgogne will honor three appellations, including Puligny-Montrachet (see below), providing the perfect opportunity for a little study session.
• An ideal terroir for Chardonnay
Puligny-Montrachet shares with Chassagne-Montrachet one of the best terroirs for the Chardonnay grape in the whole of the Bourgogne region. Just meters away from the Grand Cru vines, this AOC, established in 1937, produces a white wine with a distinct character and lofty reputation.
The Pinot Noir grape also enjoys some favorable terroir here, but can only be found on just 0.75 hectares, making it a real curio.
• Sommelier’s tips
The white wines of this appellation have a brilliant golden color with green highlights, which intensifies with age. On the nose, you can find various aromas such as ripe grapes, marzipan, hazelnut, amber, lemongrass, and green apple. Dairy flavors like butter and warm croissants, along with mineral flinty aromas are also common, along with a touch of honey.
When served at the table, this wonderful aromatic complexity requires delicate yet rich dishes such as fine poultry in sauce or veal fried with mushrooms. For an even more exceptional experience, try pairing Puligny-Montrachet with foie gras, lobster, or crayfish. Grilled or pan-fried sea fish are also perfectly suited to its wonderful qualities.
Hong Kong: A mature market that appreciates top-of-the-range Bourgogne wines
Hong Kong, the fourth biggest market for Bourgogne wines in terms of revenue, is gradually opening up to lesser-known Bourgogne appellations.
Over the first 11 months of 2019, exports of Bourgogne wines were up 11.2% to €61.8 million compared to the same period in 2018. This is a new record in terms of revenue, after three consecutive years of strong growth.
A rather rare phenomenon in Asia, where markets are traditionally oriented towards red wines, Hong Kong imported as much red (49.8%) as white Bourgogne wine (49.6%) last year. Both colors were doing well, although reds offer the higher added value, with the Grand Crus of the Côte de Nuits proving particularly popular.
Over the first 11 months of 2019, the volume of white Bourgogne wines exported to Hong Kong continued to grow, reaching the equivalent of 539,594 75cl bottles. Revenue was also very strong, at €15.47 million, up 14.9% compared to the first 11 months of 2018.
Red Bourgogne Régionale appellations dominated the market, accounting for 30% of exports in terms of volume, down 26.4% on the first 11 months of 2018.
Village and Village Premier Cru appellations from the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits came in second, with 26% of export volumes and 33% of revenue, up 28.9% for the first 11 months of 2019.
The Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges 2020 wine sale will take place on Sunday 8 March at the Château du Clos de Vougeot. From now on, this event will always be held on the second Sunday in March, in order to fit in with the international industry calendar, not happening too close to Prowein, and to act as a curtain-raiser for the Grands Jours de Bourgogne, which takes place in years ending with an even number.
Furthermore, the sale will be enjoying a makeover for this, its 59th edition.
A new team is now in place with a brand-new duo running the show, namely auctioneer Hugues Cortot and wine expert Aymeric de Clouet. In agreement with François Poher, Director of the hospital that benefits from the sale, they have decided to change the way the auction is run to simplify things and make it more accessible to buyers around the world. It will no longer be a traditional auction by candle, rather a live online broadcast with the individual sale of each lot.
For this edition, the prestigious charity barrel will be a traditional 228-liter pièce of Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Les Didiers Cuvée Fagon 2019. All profits from this lot will go to the France Alzheimer charity.
Although this sale is not yet on a similar scale to that of the Hospices de Beaune, the quality of the wines on offer – mainly reds from the Côte de Nuits – and this year’s modernization of the auction should make it an event not to be missed.
Around 250 Bourgogne wine professionals, including producers, sommeliers, brokers, restaurateurs, representatives of cooperative cellars, and journalists will be selecting the most representative wines by appellation and vintage from nearly 400 submissions, with a focus on quality, pleasure, and authenticity.
This spring 2020 edition will be presided over by actor and director Éric Laugérias.
22 winners at the Chablis Wine Competition
The 34th edition of this competition was strict yet fair, naming just 22 medal-winners out of 366 samples submitted across all four Chablis AOCs.
This year’s Chablis Wine Competition was presided over by Gaëtan Bouvier, Best Sommelier in France 2016 and sommelier for the Institut Paul Bocuse.
The winning wines are used by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) for marketing and training purposes in France and abroad. The 22 medal winners will act as worthy ambassadors for Chablis winesin 2020.
In order to obtain a medal, they must be both representative of their appellation and of their vintage. This year, there were Petit Chablis, Chablis, and Chablis Premier Cru wines from 2018 in competition, with only Chablis Grand Cru wines representing 2017.
For the 17th edition of the Printemps de Monthelie, around 15 estates will be opening their doors to wine lovers over the Easter weekend.
The small hilltop village of Monthelie is just a stone’s throw from its illustrious neighbors, Meursault and Volnay.
Visitors will be able to appreciate its historical past, including a 12th-century Romanesque church, the 16th-century Château de Monthelie, and an ancient wash house. They will also be able to taste all the wines from its various terroirs.
In addition, there will be tours of the vineyard by 4x4, on a route covering the 15 Climats classified as Premier Cru. Children and the less energetic may enjoy trips around the village by horse-drawn carriage.
The village's bread ovens will also be fired up for the weekend, and visitors will be able to sample fresh bread and gougères.
Local artisans will be throwing open their cellars and barrel-making demonstrations will allow young and old alike to learn about this ancient craft so important for the ageing of wine.
Price: €7 buys an engraved tasting glass that can be used all weekend.
A Saint-Vincent Tournante that is all about sharing
Preparations are already underway in Corpeau, Puligny-Montrachet, and Blagny to welcome the next edition of the Saint-Vincent Tournante. This, the 77th edition, will be hosted by these three neighboring sites on the Côte de Beaune. This joint effort bears witness to the Bourgogne spirit of togetherness and reflects the diversity of the region.
The official glass unveiled in early February
The official glass is a Lehmann Absolus 28, perfect for sampling red and white wine, and thus ideal for this event where multiple cuvées will be offered for tasting. The logo on the glass was created by Patrick Combolin, graphic designer in Beaune, and features a winegrower’s hut on the hill of Montrachet.
The diversity of the Bourgogne winegrowing region is honored
All levels of appellations will be honored during this great weekend of celebration: Régionale, Village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru appellations. The event’s organizers are determined to introduce visitors to all the diversity and richness of Bourgogne wines.
The four elements – essential to the vine
The festivities will be organized around the four elements, because Bourgogne wines are born from an essential and intricate balance between earth (the terroir), water (which gives the grape juice), air (which creates the living space around the vine), and fire (the sun that ripens the grapes).
A brand ambassador for the 2020 edition of the Simone Awards
Created by the Château de Pommard in 2018, the annual Simone Awards honor women committed to supporting good causes.
Named after the Simone cuvée, one of the estate's most prestigious wines, the Simone Awards were created in 2018 to highlight women committed to supporting good causes. The causes of the prizewinners then receive 10% of the profits from sales of the Simone cuvée.
For this third edition, the Simone Awards committee has invited Ludivine Griveau, winemaker for the Hospices de Beaune, to be the ambassador for the Simone Awards 2020.
Responsible for the 60 hectares of vines belonging to the Hospices de Beaune for more than five years now, Ludivine Griveau is the first woman to hold this role in the history of the estate. Her job is to ensure the continuity of the Hospice’s mission; in particular through the legendary wine auction that takes place annually in Beaune.
At the same time, she is carrying out the necessary changes at the estate to reflect a world where sustainability and the environment have become priorities for all.
Last year, the Simone Awards recognized three women involved in causes as diverse as ocean conservation, violence prevention in Canada, and grad student grants for young Americans.
Winemakers and Maisons
Buxy winegrowers commit to more sustainable farming practices
The Cave de Buxy winegrowers’ commitment to an agro-ecological transition was recognized at the second edition of the Trophées de l'Agriculture.
A dozen winegrowers from the Cave de Buxy on the Côte Chalonnaise have committed to farming practices that are more respectful of the environment, particularly with regard to plots of land close to the Voie Verte (a touristic lane dedicated to nature). This reflects their commitment to the societal and environmental expectations of customers and local residents.
Efforts are being made in three areas: Environmental, with a reduction in the use of phytosanitary products; economic; and social, through a communication campaign both via the cooperative and also directly with the general public.
In November 2019, this commitment earned them a Digital and Connected Agriculture Trophy at the Trophées de l’Agriculture from the Saône-et-Loire.
The jury was particularly impressed by how these winegrowers have set up weather stations and introduced decision-making tools to help winegrowers take a more sustainable approach to using phyto-sanitary products on a day-by-day basis.
These practices, which are being developed across the vineyards of the Bourgogne region, are rewarded each year at the Trophées de l'Agriculture. The event is organized by the Journal de Saône-et-Loire newspaper along with a range of public and private partners, including the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB).
The Joseph Drouhin wine merchant celebrates its 140th anniversary
For its 140th anniversary, the Drouhin family has produced a new video that explores its passion over generations.
This celebration is symbolic of the longevity of the Bourgogne winegrowing region where the Joseph Drouin wine house has been established for 140 years, its history closely linked to that of the region as a whole.
The Drouhin family has long been passionate about the Bourgogne region. Between 1880 and 2020, it has built up an estate that stretches from Mâcon to Chablis, and which obtained organic certification more than 30 years ago.
In 1987, Joseph Drouhin’s pioneering spirit led the estate to expand into Oregon in the USA, to reveal a different side to the Bourgogne winegrowing region’s two flagship grape varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
You can follow all the anniversary celebrations that will be taking place over the year via the #InsideJosephDrouhin hashtag.
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
Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne
12 Boulevard Bretonnière - BP 60150 - F-21204 BEAUNE CEDEX
Tel. 00 33 (0)3 80 25 04 80
DIRECTOR: SYLVAIN NAULIN
EDITOR IN CHIEF: CECILE MATHIAUD – cecile.mathiaud@bivb.com
TRANSLATOR: SARAH JACKSON
For access to our press release archive and thousands of rights-free photos,
go to our on-line pressroom at: www.bourgogne-wines.com
COPYING OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS NEWSLETTER FOR FAIR USE IS AUTHORISED