Exports: Bourgogne wines take a gamble on wine stores this summer
It’s a simple way to reach a wide number of customers in a few major markets for Bourgogne wines and allow them to discover our treasures!
Between now and the fall, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is partnering with various wine store chains and online outlets around the world to showcase its lesser-known appellations, including Bourgogne or Mâcon plus a geographical denomination, and Village wines such as Irancy, Auxey-Duresses, Rully, Viré-Clessé, etc.
Each partnership will be relatively similar in the four selected markets of the USA, Great Britain, Japan, and Hong Kong. The campaign will begin with promotion via newsletters or blogs, along with a dedicated space on the retailers’ website. It will also frequently feature a “Six Wines to Discover” formula with a menu offering six of these delightful AOCs.
In the USA, Flatiron Wines will offer in-store tastings and articles on their blog through until the end of the year. A similar campaign will run from 27 September to 4 October on wine.com.
In the UK, several chains and stores will be simultaneously promoting Bourgogne wines. They will take it in turns to ensure constant promotion through until the end of the year. House of Townend has just finished its campaign, and Tanners, Lea and Sandeman, Berry Bros. and Rudd, and The Wine Society will be taking over through until the holidays.
During Bourgogne Week in Japan, which runs from 28 June to 4 July, the online wine stores Takamura and Kyobashi Wine, and a certain number of stores in Tokyo in particular will be offering tastings and will be promoting lesser-known appellations.
In Hong Kong, wine afficionados will be able to enjoy a month of promotions involving Bourgogne wines at the 30 Watson’s Wine stores, from 29 June to 2 August. The BIVB will be revealing a special game of happy families for the event.
A not-to-miss event, the historical Hospices de Beaune wine auction runs on the third weekend of November every year. It draws a crowd of wine lovers and industry professionals from around the world for three days of festivities to celebrate the new vintage.
Several press events will also run, in conjunction with the sale:
- On the morning of Friday 19 November, the inauguration of the Fête des Grands Vins de Bourgogne will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Beaune, with a tasting of all Bourgogne AOCs from the 2020 and 2021 vintages
- On the afternoon of Saturday 20 November, there will be a tasting of the wines from the Hospices in the presence of winemaker Ludivine Griveau
- On Sunday 21 November, a morning press conference will be jointly hosted by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) and the Hospices de Beaune
- The sale will take place on Sunday afternoon at 2pm, hosted this year for the first time by the Sotheby’s auction house.
Invitations will be sent out in early October, but it’s never too early to book your trip!
This eLearning comprises six two-minute videos, each one with a three-question quiz at the end. Fast and fun, it is nonetheless extensive, and provides you with an electronic diploma at the end.
This tool was created to help industry professionals like hoteliers, restaurateurs, retailers, and winegrowers to discuss the Climats with their customers. It is accessible to all and is one of the best ways to understand the Climats and what their inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List means.
There are so many things to see and do in Bourgogne. The “A Trip Through the Vines” section of the Bourgogne Wines website is your best bet for easy discoveries!
The A Trip Through the Vines section of the Bourgogne Wines website brings together everything (or almost everything) you need to know about wine tourism in the region, from Chablis to Mâcon. And it’s a very useful tool for planning your trip to or through the region.
It includes:
> The Guide des caves Vignobles & Découvertes (see En Direct from May 2021)
> A calendar of wine-themed events
> A list of the best wine-tourism destinations the region has to offer
> Examples of itineraries for each of the five Routes des Vins de Bourgogne
> Contact details for those industry professionals offering more than just a tasting, such as meals, accommodation, and vineyard tours
This fall, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is offering two masterclasses in Oslo for wine professionals, journalists, and influencers.
Hosted by Official Bourgogne Wines Trainer Liora Levy, these two sessions will have different themes. The first will shine a spotlight on the Climats, unique to Bourgogne and providing the DNA to its wines. The second will showcase the sublime 2015 vintage.
Both classes will run on 22 September 2021, so put it in your diary right away!
Those two-hour “Strolls through vines and wines” classes take you on an exploration of the vineyards around Beaune and include commented tastings for an immersive discovery of Bourgogne.
Participants will be able to familiarize themselves with the terroir and Climats of the Bourgogne region and its many appellations, along with tasting techniques and some fascinating historical information about the region’s vines. Nothing has been forgotten!
This experience is ideal for helping you better understand Bourgogne wines. Considered to be complex by some, this patchwork of plots and appellations will soon reveal all its secrets.
These courses run on Saturday 24 July and Saturday 28 August, and cost €39 per person.
Over the past few years, we have witnessed an increase in interest for the lesser-known appellations in Bourgogne. Irancy, a Village appellation from Grand Auxerrois in the northern part of Bourgogne, is one of these.
In 1999, the INAO approved the reclassification of the Bourgogne Irancy AOC to the Irancy Village appellation. This event rewarded the efforts of Irancy winegrowers over several generations and underscores the recognition of the identity and character of the Irancy terroir.
Everything you need to know about the Irancy AOC:
Irancy wines are all red. It is mostly produced from the Pinot Noir grape, but it is also authorized to contain up to 10% César. The César varietal is an ancient grape that is rich in tannins with a particularly deep color that brings an intriguing character to Irancy wines. The color changes depending on the percentage of César in the wine.
Irancy wines are a deep purple color with hints of garnet. They have a very fruity bouquet of blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry, and blackberry, sometimes with floral, licorice or peppery aromas. On the palate, their tannins smooth away to reveal a firm and velvety structure.
These wines are perfect with strong-flavored, meaty dishes such as barbecued ribs or pâté en croûte, either hot or cold as its tannins balance out the rich texture of these gourmet dishes. Irancy wines also make a great accompaniment to cheeses such as Camembert, Cantal, Chaource, and Soumaintrain.
The Irancy appellation revealed through its geology and geography:
Bourgogne wines confirm their return to the UK in 2020
2020 was an excellent year for Bourgogne wines in the UK. So much so that this market has returned to top spot in terms of exports of Bourgogne wines by volume, ahead of the USA. It remains in second place in terms of revenue.
As we wait for the new rules related to Brexit to be introduced, the UK increased its wine imports in 2020, up 8.3% by volume and 1.2% in terms of revenue compared to 2019. This was particularly beneficial for French wines, which reclaimed market share and were up 6.6% by volume and 0.7% in terms of revenue compared to 2019.
A little more than 16 million bottles of Bourgogne wine were exported, up 9.6% over 2019, worth €164 million, up 12.4% over 2019:
* Still white wines: 82%
* Still red/rosé wines: 14%
* Crémant de Bourgogne: 4%
The first quarter of 2021 confirmed the good health of Bourgogne wines on this market, with an increase in revenue of 6.9%, worth some €2 million compared to Q1 2020. A slight decline in volumes of 4.8% during this period was mainly due to worries over changes to regulations at the beginning of the year.
This good performance has continued into 2021, with the recovery underway as of March.
Bourgogne reds experienced very good growth, by both volume and revenue, up 29.8% and 25% compared to Q1 2020.
After several months of closure due to the pandemic, the Château de Pommard can finally open its doors to the general public.
And better still, this renowned estate is celebrating the event by offering all visitors a free “La Route des Grands Crus” tasting until 30 June. This 45-minute experience allows participants to deepen their knowledge of the terroir, classifications, and history of the Bourgogne winegrowing region. It is accompanied with a tasting of five wines from the Carabello-Baum family, whose range includes some of the finest appellations of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, from Gevrey-Chambertin to Meursault.
From 1 July, the tasting will be charged at 18 euros per person.
Visitors can book their tasting on the estate's website or via its concierge service.
For an even deeper immersion into the wines of Pommard, visitors are welcome to take part in other experiences offered by the estate, such as the Clos Marey-Monge Vintages tasting at €41 and the Exceptional tasting at €94.
The Cave des Vignerons des Terres Secrètes is opening its doors to both art lovers and wine afficionados by hosting a collection of works by celebrated surrealist artist Salvador Dali throughout the summer. The exhibition at its site in Prissé runs from 15 June to 15 September.
This exhibition allows visitors to discover or rediscover the universe of this iconic artist through 30 original works, including major series such as “L'Art d'aimer d'Ovide”, “Mémoires du Surréalisme”, and “La Divine Comédie”. This is a unique and free opportunity to combine art and wine tasting in one visit.
Maison Albert Bichot joins forces with the Tara Océan Foundation
A scientific mission coupled with an unprecedented wine-ageing experience.
The Tara Océan Foundation is dedicated to our seas. In 2020, it created the Microbiomes mission with the aim of studying marine microorganisms. Over the space of two years, a laboratory vessel will traverse more than 70,000k of ocean to study both these tiny creatures and the ageing of wine.
Maison Albert Bichot, partner and sponsor of the Foundation, is taking advantage of the expedition to examine the influence of the ocean on how a wine evolves.
12 magnums containing six of the wine house’s emblematic cuvées including several Grand Crus, have been stowed on board, whilst identical magnums are kept in their historic cellars in Beaune. A comparative tasting will take place when the ship returns in September 2022.
Musique & Vin at the Clos Vougeot debuted in 2008 and has stood out ever since thanks to the alliance it forges between international artists and the great Bourgogne wine estates. Musical and wine-related excellence are intimately linked. And the 2021 edition marks a new chapter in the history of the event by welcoming new artistic management for the first time in its history. The musicians Gautier Capuçon and Jean-Yves Thibaudet have taken over the reins from David Chan and are planning a top-flight program.
The Château du Clos de Vougeot, the emblematic location for this festival, will host the opening concert in the Grand Cellier on Tuesday 22 June, featuring Gautier Capuçon and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
The festival’s exceptional program includes plenty for music lovers, featuring great artists such as Hugues Borsarello, Frank Braley, Charles Dutoit, and Charles Hervet, along with younger talents such as Julia Pusker, who will be performing at a free concert in the Halles de Beaune on Saturday 26 June.
This melodic week draws to a conclusion in the courtyard of the Château du Clos de Vougeot on Sunday 27 June, with a last concert given by the Orchestra des Climats de Bourgogne, conducted by Charles Dutoit.
Wine lovers will be able to share some wonderful opportunities for tasting prior to each concert, a mâchon or early morning dinner in the courtyard of the Château du Clos de Vougeot, and a musical paulée feast at the Château de Meursault, along with a sumptuous gala dinner on Sunday 27 June.
The Grand Prix d’Or for the Château du Clos de Vougeot
The Clos de Vougeot was awarded the Grand Prix d’Or for business and private events wine tourism at the 2021 edition of the Trophées de l’Oenotourisme.
A Grand Prix d’Or for the Château du Clos du Vougeot! On 3 June, the third edition of the Trophées de l’Oenotourisme was held at the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, organized by Terre de Vins and in partnership with a selection of wine and tourism stakeholders from the Pôle Oenotourisme d’Atout France.
Some 27 prizes were awarded in nine categories, underscoring excellence in French wine tourism. The prize for business and private events wine tourism went to the Château du Clos de Vougeot, judged according to specific criteria like value for money, diversity of the offer, and modernity.
This is yet more good news for the Château du Clos de Vougeot, whose summer season is shaping up to be “divine”, according to the theme it has adopted to label its events this year. The “Divine Summer” of 2021 at the Château will feature hikes, tasting lunches, festivals, and other cultural discoveries.
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
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DIRECTOR: SYLVAIN NAULIN
EDITOR IN CHIEF: CECILE MATHIAUD – cecile.mathiaud@bivb.com
TRANSLATOR: SARAH JACKSON
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