2022: The vintage that brings a smile back to Bourgogne's winegrowers
2022 gave us what Bourgogne does best: A high-quality, generous vintage!
After three good years with volumes unfortunately impacted by the whims of the weather, this vintage was very welcome indeed. It removes some of the pressure from the market and will allow producers to restock. There were a few disparities depending on the varietal, but overall, the vines stood up well to some fairly extreme weather, taking advantage of the slightest rainfall.
The wines are now embarking on the ageing process in cellars filled to two or three barrels high, and our winegrowers and négociants are happy: The 2022 vintage is sure to delight wine lovers the world over.
The weather over the year was once again intense, fluctuating between frost, heatwaves, and drought. Budburst was later than in previous years, which helped somewhat to protect the vines from the April frost. Then, thanks to the alchemy between vines and terroir in the Bourgogne winegrowing region, they emerged unscathed from four periods of heatwave and a general lack of rainfall.
In general, the musts were balanced, with a good degree of potential alcohol. The wines are beautifully crafted, with good concentration and perfect balance.
The 2022 is an astonishing vintage. Despite the heat over the year, its fresh fruit aromas and lovely vigor ensure it will have a fine future.
In this video, three young Bourgogne winemakers tell you about their year in the vines and in the cellar.
To download the full press release and details about the weather over the year, click here.
At your service
A new website targeting millennials at bourgogne-wines.com
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has completely redesigned its website to better meet the expectations of new consumers.
According to a study carried out in 2021 with Cabinet Kantar, Bourgogne wines have a real capital in terms of interest amongst millennials aged 25-45, which needs to be maintained with a shifting demographic. The language of wine, which can tend to the technical, may be intimidating for some.
As a result, the BIVB is providing more accessible information about Bourgogne wines through more immersive, streamlined, and dynamic communication.
The site now offers more fluid and simplified navigation, so visitors can better find their way around the various sections of the site. Some 64% of people who visit the Bourgogne wines website do so through their smartphone, and its layout has now been optimized for cellphones.
Key points:
* Rich and high-quality content with a vocabulary that speaks to the viewer
* Simple and fluid navigation making the site faster and easier to read
* Larger visuals to create a sense of immersion.
* Dynamic visual communication with a modern look and feel to guide the visitor’s eye
* Optimized for viewing on a smartphone
* An omnipresent footer with strategic links to the most useful information
The first area to benefit from this change is the Châtillonnais, and the Crémant de Bourgogne AOC. These signs are extremely helpful for visitors, enriching their journey across the region and helping them gain a better geographical understanding of its appellations.
A shift to a more modern feel is happening across Bourgogne, whose ambition to offer wine tourism par excellence is underscored by this project. Bourgogne is the only French winegrowing area to have such a network of signs.
The original signs for the appellations were introduced in the 1990s and were replaced between 2005 and 2007. Since then, they have aged, some have been damaged, and others have even become unreadable. Virginie Valcauda, Director of Marketing and Communication at the BIVB, explains: “The signs will be replaced over the next 12 months as they are approved by local authorities. We started with the Châtillonnais and are preparing to roll them out across the entire region.”
This network of signs, unique in France, is an undeniable asset for the development of wine tourism in the region and is part of a global approach to wine tourism. With the opening of the Cités des Climats et vins de Bourgogne in Chablis, Beaune, and Mâcon in the spring of 2023, the aim is to send tourists back into the region to meet with winemakers and négociants. “These signs will show Bourgogne’s different place names to help visitors discover our appellations. They are firmly rooted in our culture and it’s important to show them off,” said Christian Vanier, General Manager of the BIVB.
The 2021 vintage in Bourgogne: Delicate wines to enjoy right away
The 2021 vintage is coming to market, offering fresh and delicate wines.
The 2021 vintage was marked by frost in April which severely impacted the future harvest. It was also a rainy year and globally cooler than recent trends. Winegrowers had to redouble their efforts, as brutal shifts in the weather left them little respite. Fortunately, the lull in June allowed flowering to take place unhindered and véraison was good, thanks to fine weather from mid-August onwards.
Volumes were exceptionally low, with under one million hectoliters, but the winegrowers, who worked hard to the very end sorting the grapes both in the vineyard and in the winery, have produced fine wines reminiscent of older vintages, with degrees close to those of the 1990s. In the end, the 2021 vintage offers lively wines with delicate aromas that can be enjoyed in their youth.
The whites are expressive on the nose with lovely aromatic richness. Aromas of citrus and white blossom dominate in those from the north of the region, while the further south one goes, the more fruity the wines are, with hints of ripe and candied citrus, or even tropical fruit and spices.
With the reds, finesse has the upper hand over power, with lovely richness on the nose. One finds an explosion of red berries along with floral and spiced notes depending on the area. They can be enjoyed right now or be laid down for a few years.
Find out more about the characteristics of this vintage across Bourgogne by clicking here.
Bourgogne wines return to better volumes in a still-disrupted global environment
The arrival of the abundant and high-quality 2022 harvest has given Bourgogne new room for maneuver, guaranteeing economic sustainability and more wines on the marketplace.
Despite the good 2022 harvest (both in volume and quality), multiple global challenges in recent years are reshaping the international geopolitical environment and bringing fresh challenges to Bourgogne wines and their return to the market.
* The 2022 harvest, estimated at 1.75 million hectoliters, up 23% compared to the average over the past five years, comes as a relief to producers impacted by the small volumes of the 2021 vintage, which yielded just 0.9 million hectoliters, or around 133 million bottles. It will ensure the markets are able to relax a little towards the end of 2023.
* While stocks at the property at the end of July 2022 were well below the five-year average, equivalent stocks with the négoce business helped prevent any interruption to supplies.
* Exports have continued to grow and were up 12.6% over the first eight months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, while the lack of wine was reflected in volumes which were down 10.2%. However, the level of exports remains higher than in the pre-Covid period, up 8.5% in the first eight months of 2022 compared to the same period in the previous year.
The first event of the Hospices de Beaune wine auction weekend is the Young Talents 2022 award ceremony from the Groupe des Jeunes Professionnels de la Vigne et du Vin (GJPV), or Young Winegrowing Professionals Group.
On the evening of Friday 18 November during the Young Talents dinner, the association handed out seven awards to young winegrowers, who are either aged under 40 or who have been winemaking for less than five years.
Their wines were tasted ahead of the event by a jury of 60 wine professionals along with the patrons for this edition: Rachelle Lemoine, French journalist; and Fabien Espana, creator of Le Soufflot, Au Fil du Zinc, and Chablis Wine Not restaurants.
The seven winners for 2022 are:
* Clémence Verret from Domaine Verret in Saint-Bris-le-Vineux for the Grand Auxerrois Trophy
* Eléonore Moreau from the Domaine des Pérégrins in Poilly-sur-Serein for the Chablisien Trophy
* François Ambroise from the Maison Ambroise Frère & Sœur in Premeaux-Prissey for the Côte de Nuits Trophy
* Baptiste Guyot from the Domaine Baptiste Guyot in Beaune for the Côte de Beaune Trophy
* Charles-Antoine Danjean from the Domaine Danjean-Berthoux in Jambles for the Côte Chalonnaise Trophy
* Jean-Jacques Feral from the Domaine de Montbarbon in Viré for the Mâconnais Trophy
* Charlotte Perrachon from the Domaine Bonnet in La Chapelle-de-Guinchay for the Beaujolais Trophy
On 28 and 29 January 2023, the village of Couchey on the Côte de Nuits will be welcoming the 79th edition of the Saint-Vincent Tournante in Bourgogne.
This local tradition has existed since 1947 and celebrates Saint Vincent, the patron saint of winegrowers. Every year, it is hosted by a different appellation.
There will be seven cuvées available for tasting:
* Three reds (Marsannay Champs Perdrix 2018; Marsannay Champs Perdrix 2017; and Marsannay 2017)
* Three whites (Bourgogne Aligoté 2020; Marsannay 2020; and Marsannay 2018)
* One rosé (Marsannay 2022)
Saturday 28 January: 7:30am: Start of the procession of the 100 Brotherhoods of Bourgogne from the Rousseau cooperage to the village of Couchey. 8:30am: Ceremony and homage to the dead of Couchey (Cenotaph, Couchey cemetery). 10am: Religious ceremony at the church of Saint Germain d’Auxerre, also shown live on a big screen in the Couchey village square 11am: Opening of the tasting cellars and induction of new members of the Brotherhood of the Chevaliers du Tastevin from the village of Couchey, outside the town hall. 11am-5pm: Musical performances, street artists, and other entertainment 5pm: Closure of tasting cellars
Sunday 29 January: 10am: Opening of the tasting cellars 10am-5pm: Musical performances, street artists, and other entertainment 5pm: Closure of tasting cellars
More information is available on the Saint-Vincent Tournante 2023 website (In French only).
After having been postponed no fewer than three times, the 52nd Saint-Vincent Tournante du Chablisien will run on 4 & 5 February 2023 in Fleys, a typically Burgundian hillside village.
The vines of Fleys cover some 335 hectares in a terroir where the Chardonnay grape reigns supreme. They produce a range of cuvées of Petit Chablis and Chablis, along with two Chablis Premier Crus, namely Les Fourneaux and Mont de Milieu.
The event will respect tradition, with a banquet and dance on the Saturday night, a mass and procession on Sunday, and on both days, plenty of tastings, stands selling local produce, and other forms of entertainment.
New this year, a special “Crus & Vintages” cellar will be offering tastings of a range of wines from local producers along with a selection of vintages and appellations from across the Chablis region (Paid tasting)
More information and the full program are available on the website here(In French only).
The 11 Majors du Tastevinage for 2022 unveiled at the Château du Clos de Vougeot
The sixth ceremony of the Majors du Tastevinage ran on 17 November, in a homage to the expertise of Bourgogne’s winegrowers.
This wine tasting event allowed industry professionals, restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine buyers, and journalists to discover the Cre?mant de Bourgogne, two white wine, and seven red wine, Majors du Tastevinage rigorously selected from this year’s wine submissions.
The Majors selection was created in 2017, to showcase the favorites. It is a mark of excellence and the fruit of many months of hard work. It pays homage to the expertise of the winegrowers and to the exceptional quality of the winning wines.
The 11 Majors du Tastevinage 2022:
* Crémant de Bourgogne, Brut, Veuve Ambal
* Chablis Premier Cru, Fourchaume, 2019, La Chablisienne
* Santenay Premier Cru, Clos Faubard, 2020, blanc, Maison Patriarche Père & Fils
* Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, 2020, Domaine Françoise André
* Bourgogne Pinot Noir, 2020, Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret
* Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Les Dames Huguettes, 2020, rouge, Domaine Fribourg-Hacquard
* Marsannay Sampagny, 2020, rouge, Maison Pierre Naigeon
* Aloxe-Corton, 2020, rouge, Domaine Manuel Olivier
* Beaune Premier Cru, Clos du Roi, 2020, rouge, Maison Bouchard Aîné & Fils
* Pommard Premier Cru, Les Argilières, 2020, Les Héritiers Saint-Genys
* Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, 2020, Maison Patriarche Père & Fils
Find out more about the Majors du Tastevinage by clicking here (in French only).
A decade of patronage for the Climats de Bourgogne World Heritage site
A gala event was held on 8 November for the sponsors of the Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne; a key moment for the non-profit.
The Sponsors’ Soirée brought together private donors to thank them for their generosity, to show how their patronage is being spent, and to encourage them to continue supporting the Climats and the many associated projects. It was also a wonderful networking opportunity, with the emblematic Climats as a centerpiece.
On 8 November, more than 80 people came to celebrate 10 years of the Cercle des Mécènes and 10 years of public and private financing that enabled various missions and projects driven by the non-profit. These projects featured in a special video screened at the event.
Gilles de Larouzière, President of the Association des Climats, spoke about how this amazing adventure came into being. Then, alongside Vice-President Cyprien Arlaud, he presented some ambitious new projects in the pipeline.
This was a festive and somewhat-emotional event where the involvement and attachment of the sponsors was palpable.
After some initial confusion about the identity of the purchasers of the charity barrel in memory of Louis-Fabrice Latour, it is now clear that the lot was acquired by the Louis Latour and Joseph Drouhin wine houses, with the support of their fellow négociants.
These two Beaune-based wine houses are owned by families that have been friends for many years. They joined forces to acquire this charity lot for the sum of €700,000, with an additional contribution from members of the Fédération des Négociants Eleveurs de Grande Bourgogne (FNEB) during the sale, bringing the total to €810,000. A record.
Every year, the charity barrel is the subject of a tremendous show of solidarity among Bourgogne’s négociants, private enterprises, and well-heeled individuals, and every year, a new record seems to be set.
This year was no exception to that rule, but it was one of great emotion in the industry after the death of Louis-Fabrice Latour in September.
The Board of Directors of the Cave de Lugny and its president Marc Sangoy have announced the appointment of Stéphane Garrigue as General Manager, effective 2 November 2022.
Stéphane Garrigue takes over the role from Edouard Cassanet, who will leave his position on 31 January 2023. Edouard Cassanet has managed the Cave de Lugny for 25 years and will retire after a career entirely devoted to the world of cooperative wine production.
Stéphane Garrigue brings solid commercial and managerial experience to the Cave de Lugny, along with extensive experience and knowledge of the wine industry in which he has been working for 22 years.
The Cave de Lugny is part of the Mâconnais landscape and is particularly known for its emblematic plot of Les Charmes, located on a plateau in the middle of the village of Lugny.
It is proud of its origins and today, represents a committed and responsible Southern Bourgogne, where the priority is to place people and their development at the heart of a sustainable approach, whilst taking the utmost care to protect the Earth as the only true guarantee of a lasting future.
Find out more about Stéphane Garrigue and his ambitions for the Cave de Lugny by clicking here. (in French only)
The Domaine Mia, A new feminine approach and a deeper environmental commitment
Young owner, Mia Subotic, is very concerned about environmental issues, and works with a strong focus on the future.
The Domaine Mia is all about sharing ways of seeing and doing, combined with a renewal that brings in a fresh generation and new drive. And this new generation has a strong commitment to listening to Mother Nature’s demands to respect her rhythms, allow her resources to rest as necessary, to take a global overview of ecosystems, and allow the soil to breath over the long term: Everything involved in a biodynamic approach to winegrowing.
Heiress of a past to build upon for the future
On land in Bourgogne that has been dedicated to winegrowing since the Middle Ages, the Domaine Mia is one of the largest organic estates on the Côte Chalonnaise, with a history that dates back to 1860.
Mia brings a fresh dynamism to the estate and intends to push the Domaine Mia’s natural philosophy even farther but with a biodynamic approach. She is committed to winegrowing whilst being intent on breaking with certain codes.
Towards a biodynamic approach
Now having mastered organic cultivation, Mia is seeking to move towards a biodynamic approach for a greater respect of nature and life. She wants her legacy to be a greater understanding of how consumption and production need to change. She believes that the impact of human activity should be as minimal as possible on the surrounding environment.
Check out the full press release here (in French only).
Maison Jean Loron: Private visits and made-to-measure workshops
Share a very special moment with the Maison Jean Loron.
Tasting wine is about seeking emotions and La Boutique at the Maison Jean Loron is a place to buy wine and enjoy some very special experiences.
The Maison Jean Loron has four exclusive offers, by reservation only, up to 24 hours in advance. It also organizes a range of unique tasting workshops year-round for groups.
Tastings are offered in the cellar, the garden, and in the salon:
Signature Tour: Visit and tasting of five wines
Epicurian Tour: Visit and tasting of five wines with a gourmet assortment
360° Tour: Virtual reality experience and tasting of seven wines
Haute-Couture Tour: Visit and barrel tasting, and tasting of five wines
Wine Workshops: Tailor-made classes…
The team at the Maison Jean Loron puts all its tasting experience, oenological expertise, and knowledge of the Beaujolais and Mâconnais into these unique workshops suited to all.
Click here for the full press release (in French only).
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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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
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