Bourgogne wines: WinePilot sets the course for carbon neutrality
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) announced the launch of WinePilot, a platform developed in partnership with FoodPilot and Adelphe.
In June 2023, the BIVB established its goal of achieving carbon neutrality for the Bourgogne wine industry by 2035, and has now made the WinePilot tool available to all Bourgogne wine producers and négociants.
WinePilot will enable wine companies to measure their carbon footprint, plan actions to reduce it and simulate their impact on the environment. This initiative is part of the French wine industry's decarbonization strategy, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2035.
By associating WinePilot with the climate Objective project methodology, the BIVB aims to create a virtuous circle by encouraging companies to commit to more sustainable practices. This initiative reflects Bourgogne's commitment to playing a major role in the fight against climate disruption, and to preserving its winegrowing heritage for future generations.
The Vignobles & Découvertes Tourist Cellars Guide 2024 is the ideal companion for wine lovers wishing to explore the cellars in the Bourgogne vineyards. It lists 252 places from Chablis to Mâcon, carefully selected by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), all awarded the "Vignobles & Découvertes" label, promising an unforgettable experience.
The guide is 100% digital, and offers not only a detailed list of wineries, but also essential information on the vineyards, the national "Vignobles & Découvertes" label, the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne, and the Bourgogne Wine School. It features an educational approach to the vineyard, the winegrower's profession, the Climats, and gives the key figures for Bourgogne and its wines. It also highlights the industry's commitment to responsibility.
Download it free of charge from www.bourgogne-wine-cellars.com and you'll find it an indispensable tool for planning your next wine-tasting getaway in Bourgogne.
The "Vignobles & Découvertes" label
Wineries with the "Vignobles & Découvertes" label are committed to offering an authentic, friendly welcome, optimal wine-tasting conditions and guiding visitors towards responsible consumption. This is a national wine-tourism label that guarantees excellence and an unforgettable experience as you discover the heart of Bourgogne's winegrowing heritage.
The Bourgogne Wine Festivals Guide
This guide lists almost 100 wine events organized throughout the year in Bourgogne. From theater and concerts to gourmet walks and tastings, you'll be able to experience the essence of the region's way of life to the full.
Download it today from www.bourgogne-wines-festivals.com
Celebrate Chardonnay Day in Bourgogne!
In Beaune, Chablis and Mâcon, discover the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne’s line-up of activities related to this event, from May 23 to 26.
It's only natural that Bourgogne, the birthplace of the Chardonnay grape variety, should be at the heart of the Chardonnay Day festivities. The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne will be celebrating this emblematic grape variety from Thursday, May 23 to Sunday, May 26.
In Beaune: round table discussions, workshops, an after-work session with winegrower Louise Panay, and a spotlight on the Chardonnay grape variety at the "Les Accords" wine bar. In Chablis & Mâcon:
- A special after-work session beginning at 6 pm on Thursday with the live broadcast of the Beaune round-table discussion dedicated to the Chardonnay grape variety.
- A special Chardonnay tasting workshop at 3pm on Saturday.
- The bar will feature wines made from Chardonnay from Thursday to Sunday. Click here to discover the 2024 program of the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne (available in French only).
June 19: follow the show which will be dedicated to the Vézelay VillageAOC, with interviews, tasting sessions and wine tasting from the comfort of your own home!
On Wednesday June 19, the program "Rendez-Vous avec les vins de Bourgogne" promises a captivating dive into the heart of the Vézelay appellation.
• Hosted by Robin Kick (Master of Wine), the first part of the show will reveal the highlights of this winegrowing region, with exclusive reports and interviews with local winegrowers.
• The second part invites viewers to enjoy a unique sensory experience with a guided tasting of several emblematic Vézelay wines. Viewers will be able to ask questions live and interact with the presenter and winegrowers via online chat.
To take part in this experience, you can register to receive a box of Vinottes (wine samples) to taste during the show. Registration, although not yet open, is required due to the limited number of available wine-tasting kits. This is an event exclusively for wine professionals (contact Cécile Mathiaud to register).
For those who prefer a face-to-face experience, you can join one of the sessions organized by our Official Bourgogne Wine Ambassadors.
Don't miss this exceptional event on June 19 at 4pm (French session) and at 9am, 11am and 7pm for the English sessions (Paris time, UTC+2).
The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne is offering an exceptional workshop combining wine tasting and bouquet creation. This is your opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and advice of our experts to develop your senses and creativity.
This workshop is divided into two parts:
- Floral composition: Camille Barnier, florist at Calice & Cie, will guide participants in composing their bouquet of seasonal flowers.
As part of the Slow Flower concept, Calice & Cie is committed to promoting French flowers in the most sustainable way possible, and to raising public awareness of environmentally-friendly practices.
- Wine tasting: A tasting specialist will present three different Bourgogne wines for a multi-sensory experience: a rosé, a white wine and a wine aged in amphora.
This introduction to wine tasting is inspired by themes that are shared with floral arrangements, such as color, aroma and composition.
Urban art at the Cité until May 29
An exhibition and sale will feature some thirty works, including sculptures, canvases, wood paintings, in both small and large formats. In 2020, the Appartelier gallery asked French urban artists to design works inspired by a wine theme.
The "Fleurs de Vigne" festival, first held in Auxerre in 2005, attracts some 15,000 wine lovers every year to discover the delights of Auxerre and Chablis wines. This emblematic event brings together winegrowers from the various appellations of the Yonne department, and offers visitors an entire day of tastings and events dedicated to wine and terroir.
Saturday, May 25: Wine tourism activities in the town of Auxerre and in the vineyards invite visitors to explore the region's winegrowing history. Guided tours, touring the vineyards on the Oenobus, and discovering the Clos de la Chaînette estate are just some of the ways to immerse yourself in the local wine heritage. And in the evening, a countryside setting in the gardens of the Abbey of Saint-Germain is the perfect place to taste Bourgogne Chitry wines in the company of the local winegrowers.
Sunday, May 26: On the banks of the Yonne in Auxerre, local producers will be offering food and drink showcasing local produce, accompanied by wines from the Chablis and Grand Auxerrois appellations. Visitors can also take advantage of a variety of activities, including a parade of wine brotherhoods, food and wine matching games, introductory wine tasting sessions, culinary demonstrations and guided tours.
The "Fleurs de Vigne" festival offers a unique opportunity to discover the richness of the wines and products available in the region. It features an olfactory trail, games based on wine and aromas, guided tastings and events focusing on the different grape varieties.
The 3rd edition of Art In Situ on the Route des Grands Crus (Côte d’Or) promises a spellbinding fusion of contemporary art and the terroir of Bourgogne.
Organized by the association La Route des Arts, this event takes the form of a sensory trail along the Route des Grands Crus, showcasing three new wineries open to contemporary art.
Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the works of fourteen new artists, offering a variety of styles and visions, from sculptures to abstract paintings. The association also offers an immersive experience with audio recordings in which the artists describe their works, adding a personal dimension to the visit.
This edition underlines La Route Des Arts' commitment to promoting contemporary art and Bourgogne's winegrowing heritage, offering participants a unique and enriching cultural experience.
Right now, it's time to turn our attention to the 2024 vintage, which kicks off with the onset of the vegetative cycle, as soon as the sap flows back into the shoots.
Thanks to the mild weather in February (+3.6°C compared to average) and March (+1.5°C compared to average), the vegetative cycle resumed early from the south to the north of Bourgogne. The very first green tips on the Chardonnay vines, in early-ripening areas, were observed around March 22.
A cool spell between March 23 and 27 eased the vegetation's ardor somewhat, before the return of very mild temperatures, particularly over the Easter weekend at the very end of March. Since then, budburst has continued at a steady pace.
The first leaves are now spreading thanks to cool weather, alternating between showers and bright sunshine. Although April's new moon did not trigger any frost, everyone is still being vigilant between now and May 11-13, which marks the end of the frost season.
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Economic news
Bourgogne is well positioned for continued success in its markets
Bourgogne is back on track with another generous harvest from 2023. Find out how it is preparing its future in both domestic and international markets.
Bourgogne has significantly rebuilt its stocks thanks to a generous harvest in 2023. With a 12% increase in available stocks compared to the 5-year average, the region has a significant amount of leeway to anticipate future contingencies and maintain its market share.
Nevertheless, the challenge persists to relaunch Bourgogne's development in the markets. Despite an increase in bulk wine sales (+8%), the region must contend with export uncertainties, notably due to the geopolitical context and shifting consumption patterns. In 2023, exports were down 6% compared to 2022, although sales remained stable.
In the domestic market, the challenges are just as great. While sales to French supermarkets have declined (-5.6% for AOC wines), traditional distribution channels have experienced a dynamic upturn. In 2022, sales generated by wholesalers and Cash&Carry surged by 37% compared to 2021.
Bourgogne is well aware of the many challenges it faces: Maintain its production over the long term, preserve an economic model that enhances its value, and collectively deploy all available resources to remain at the forefront of new consumption patterns.
Although Bourgogne's yields have fluctuated considerably since 2008, the generous 2023 harvest raised the 5-year average. However, this average still remains below the 1.5 million hectoliters mark for nearly 32,000 hectares of planted vineyards.
At nearly 1.9 million hectoliters (equivalent to 253 million bottles), the 2023 harvest demonstrates Bourgogne's impressive production potential, when conditions are right:
• + 9% compared to the 2022 harvest
• + 29% compared to the average of the last 5 vintages (2018-2022)
This boon affects all Bourgogne wines, categorized by color:
• White wines: 1,122,124 hl, excluding VCI (+5% / 2022)
• Red wines: 518,846 hl, excluding VCI (+9% / 2022)
• Rosé wines: 5,563 hl, excluding VCI (-2% / 2022)
• Crémant de Bourgogne : 253,265 hl, excluding reserves (+32 % / 2022)
Thanks to two generous harvests (2022 and 2023), the start of the 2023-2024 sales campaign is off to a slow start, both for the upstream market and for French and international markets. Sales will be driven by demand rather than fear of shortage.
Maison Albert Bichot embarks on an environmental initiative with the first ever voyage of its wine to New York aboard a cargo sailboat called Grain de Sail.
Maison Albert Bichot, a long-standing producer of Bourgogne wines, continues to innovate to reduce its carbon footprint. Recently, it revamped its packaging to offer more eco-responsible bottles. Now, it is taking an additional step by opting for sustainable sea transport.
On March 15, 2024, the cargo sailing vessel Grain de Sail left the port of Saint-Malo for its maiden voyage to New York, after nearly four years of research and development. This crossing, 99% of which will be completed under sail, will considerably reduce CO2 emissions compared with conventional freight. Albert Bichot entrusted the sailboat with transporting a pallet of wines, thereby aligning itself with its already well-established sustainability policy.
Albert Bichot's environmental approach extends beyond transportation. Its estates in the Côte d'Or, the Côte Chalonnaise and Chablis are committed to environmentally-friendly practices, with organic certifications and biodiversity initiatives. The company also actively supports the Tara Ocean Foundation, demonstrating a comprehensive commitment to preserving the environment.
The Grain de Sail represents an innovative and sustainable transport solution, constructed entirely from aluminum and utilizing green energy for cargo refrigeration. After its stopover in New York, it will head for the Caribbean to load its hold with chocolate and coffee, continuing its environmentally respectful journey across the oceans.
The Vaudoisey-Creusefond estate, under the management of Alexandre Vaudoisey since 2009, stands out for its environmental commitment.
Abandoning herbicides and prioritizing biodiversity, the estate began a new chapter by switching to organic farming. And for its wines from the 2022 vintage, the estate has made a bold choice: All bottles will henceforth be reusable.
In collaboration with a dedicated bottle recycling organization, the estate is joining the movement for total reuse. This approach offers numerous environmental benefits, including waste reduction and lower energy, water and CO2 consumption associated with the manufacture of new glass bottles.
In practical terms, when a customer buys a bottle of wine from Domaine Vaudoisey-Creusefond, they pay a small deposit surcharge of 50 cents. Once the bottle is empty, the customer rinses it and returns it directly to the winery or to one of the nearby collection points, where they then receive their deposit back. This simple and effective system encourages bottle reuse, thereby contributing to environmental preservation.
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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