Following a mild winter, the 2025 growing season got off to an early start in Bourgogne, with April’s warm weather pushing the vines into action. After an initial burst of growth, the pace has eased slightly in early May.
Winter brought no major extremes, and the vines were quick to emerge from dormancy. March was a balancing act between warm spells and lingering cold, but by early April, buds had already begun to swell in the earliest-ripening areas. With temperatures well above average, budbreak progressed rapidly.
On average, mid-budbreak occurred around April 8—right in line with the 31-year norm—though there were some regional variations.
After Easter, growth surged again: within a week, vines had produced two to three new leaves. A few storms swept through without causing much harm—just some gaps in the foliage in the Mâconnais and northern Bourgogne.
May began on a cooler note after a nearly summer-like stretch, giving growers a welcome breather. Vegetation is already well advanced, and grape clusters are clearly visible. Vineyard crews are hard at work to keep up with canopy management: debudding is underway, often alongside trellising, which in some parcels is happening simultaneously.
At your service
Bourgogne Carbon Neutrality 2035: The Bourgogne Wine Industry Steps Up Its Action Plan
100 partners gathered for a collaborative seminar to build shared initiatives and commit to carbon neutrality.
On April 23, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) brought together around 100 industry stakeholders - glassmakers, transporters, cooperatives, technical organizations, and more— to accelerate discussions around the sector’s carbon reduction trajectory.
The goal: to strengthen the Bourgogne Neutrality 2035 action plan by coordinating efforts across the industry and sharing best practices.
On Wednesday, June 18, the Rendez-vous with Bourgogne Wines webinar (Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne) will spotlight the Fixin appellation.
Recognized since 1936, this lesser-known Village appellation from the Côte de Nuits is located just north of Gevrey-Chambertin. Planted on clay-limestone slopes, Fixin benefits from an outstanding terroir that offers remarkable diversity. The appellation also boasts several Premier Cru Climats - including “Clos Napoléon” and “Les Hervelets” - which contribute to its reputation.
This session, led by Master of Wine Robin Kick, will feature:
- A presentation of the appellation’s key characteristics through video reports and interviews with passionate local winegrowers
- A guided tasting of several Fixin wines that capture the character of the appellation
Live broadcast times (Paris time):
- In French at 4:00 PM
- In English at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 7:00 PM
Please check your local time to avoid scheduling issues.
Two ways to take part and join the discussion via the live chat:
- Attend an in-person session with one of our Official Ambassador. Contact them directly to sign up.
- Join from home without tasting and take this opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the appellation via www.rendez-vous-vins-bourgogne.live. No registration required.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the treasures of Fixin and meet the winegrowers who bring them to life.
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has just launched Feeling Bourgogne, an emotional campaign in the UK aimed at modernising the image of Bourgogne and Chablis wines among young British consumers.
At the heart of the campaign are two immersive short films that showcase the wines through authentic, everyday moments, whether it's dinner at home or a night out on the rooftop with friends. The films reflect Bourgogne's ambition to make its wines more accessible and relevant to today's consumers.
The campaign focuses on the most accessible expressions of the region - Bourgogne and Mâcon wines with geographical designation, and Chablis wines - through powerful emotional hooks:
- “Manifest Your Bourgogne Energy”
- “Bring Chablis to Every Party”
The ‘Feeling Bourgogne’ campaign will be rolled out through key consumer activities across the UK, including Taste of London and After Works at Humble Grape.
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) invites you to dive into the diversity of Bourgogne and Chablis wines and to take a fresh look at appellations that are both accessible and aligned with the preferences of younger generations - particularly Millennials.
Two exclusive events await you this June, led by our two Official Ambassadors, Paulo BRAMMER and Alexandra CORVO:
• RIO DE JANEIRO – June 11
• SÃO PAULO – June 12
Another masterclass, this time dedicated to the Chablis appellations, will also take place in June. It will be led by our Official Ambassador, Alexandra CORVO, with a presentation ranging from Petit Chablis to Chablis Grand Cru.
• SÃO PAULO - 26 June
Limited seating – register now and don’t miss this unique opportunity to take a closer look at Bourgogne and Chablis wines: tantonio@hopscotchgroupe.com
The Cités des Climats et vins de Bourgogne Launch the Spring Season
On April 5, the Chablis and Mâcon locations of the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne reopened their doors, kicking off a 2025 season centered on accessibility, conviviality, and strong local connections.
Both sites have introduced “Easy to Read and Understand” features to make the visitor experience more inclusive. They are also continuing to build regional partnerships with exclusive joint offerings—including with the Abbaye de Pontigny, Hameau Dubœuf, and Musée des Ursulines - as well as offering special pricing for local residents.
The 2025 programming promises to be diverse and engaging: brunches, lectures, after-work gatherings, theatrical tours, and activities focused on archaeology and cultural heritage.
Dates to note: The European Archaeology Days on June 14-15.
Climats’ Month is in full swing across Bourgogne! From now until July 3, nearly 70 events are bringing life to the winegrowing villages of the Côte d’Or - from Dijon to the southern edge of Beaune - highlighting the Climats of the Bourgogne vineyard, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The 2025 edition features a rich lineup: tastings with winegrowers, guided tours through Bourgogne's historic cellars, vineyard walks, performances, exhibitions, and talks on the history of the vine and the region.
These events blend culture, nature, and conviviality—a wonderful opportunity to (re)discover the cultural wealth of the Bourgogne vineyards through diverse, immersive formats accessible to all.
The 2025 tasting for the Prix d’Excellence des vins des Hautes Côtesde Beaune et de Nuits was held in Beaune on April 18. For over 70 years, this key event has honored the finest cuvées from these two Régionale appellations, sourced from Bourgogne’s high-altitude vineyards.
This year, 120 different Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits were submitted - an impressive increase over 2024, reflecting the growing commitment of producers to elevate these cool-climate terroirs, known for their challenges and their promise.
In total, 40 wines across all colors were awarded for their excellence - a selection that highlights the diversity and vitality of these two dynamic Régionale appellations.
See the full list of 2025 winners on our website. (In French only)
Winegrowers & Maisons
Art Meets Wine: Veuve Ambal Partners with the Beaux-Arts School in Beaune
Maison Veuve Ambal invites young artists to reimagine the label of its iconic cuvée.
As the leading producer of Crémant de Bourgogne, Maison Veuve Ambal once again brings together winemaking tradition and contemporary creativity. In 2025, the house invited preparatory students from the Beaux-Arts de Beaune (Beaune’s fine arts school) to design an original label for its flagship Grande Cuvée Brut.
The goal? To blend artistic expression with brand identity, while celebrating local talent and regional heritage. Following a design competition held in partnership with the school, four projects were selected by a jury of industry professionals and faculty members.
These designs will begin circulating in the fall, depending on the distribution channel (export, supermarkets, or wine shops). A bold and original showcase of Bourgogne’s savoir-faire—right down to the label.
Located just outside Beaune, in the heart of the Bourgogne vineyards, the Wine Studio at CHATEAU DE BLIGNY is celebrating 10 years of expertise in the service of wine.
Founded by Dominique Lafon and Pierre Meurgey, two well-known figures in the Bourgogne vineyards, the studio was conceived as a collaborative, high-end facility offering access to top-tier winemaking and aging tools. With a decade's worth of experience in supporting a wide range of wine-making projects, this new phase concentrates the offer on all professionals, collectors and enthusiasts wishing to benefit from a comprehensive, personalised wine-making service.
Designed as a genuine space for creativity and oenological rigour, the Wine Studio at CHATEAU DE BLIGNY offers a modern, flexible and confidential technical environment, perfectly suited to the needs of winemakers, Artisan négociant houses, wine start-ups or passionate investors and collectors wishing to produce or simply mature their own cuvées, in Bourgogne.
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
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