Bourgogne Wine Press Conference on March 11 in Beaune
The 18th edition of the Grands Jours de Bourgogne is fast approaching. From March 9 to 13, Bourgogne’s winegrowers and négociants will welcome more than 2,000 professionals from around the world (retailers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, importers, distributors, journalists, and others) for a deep dive into the region’s terroirs and diversity.
Organized every two years for over 30 years, this event remains one of the most highly anticipated gatherings in the sector. In a tense economic and political climate, visitors are seeking strong, clearly defined, and sustainable appellations.
Bourgogne benefits from an image of quality, rarity, and authenticity that reassures markets. This event positions its wines not in terms of volume, but in terms of value and diversity.
Industry Briefing and Market Outlook
As part of the program, Raphaël Dubois, President of the Grands Jours de Bourgogne, together with Laurent Delaunay and Michel Barraud, Co-Presidents of the Bourgogne Wine Board, will host a press conference on Wednesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the Palais des Congrès in Beaune.
Topics will include:
• Initial attendance indicators for this edition of the Grands Jours de Bourgogne
• Bourgogne wine markets:
- The 2025 harvest and upstream market overview
- 2025 results in France and export markets
- 2026 outlook
• Bourgogne wines: confident communication aimed at younger consumers
• Technical innovation: projects addressing the effects of climate change
• Horizon Hautes Côtes: an innovative, collaborative study defining the vineyards of tomorrow
• Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne: updates and new developments
Please confirm your attendance by emailing cecile.mathiaud@bivb.com no later than Friday, March 6.
If you are not attending the Grands Jours de Bourgogne tastings, a special entry pass to the Auditorium will be granted upon providing your name at the entrance of the Palais des Congrès.
The Grands Jours in numbers
• 13 tastings over 5 days across 9 different sites
• Nearly 1,000 exhibitors
• Approximately 2,400 visitors representing nearly 60 nationalities (around 60% international)
Meeting at the end of January, at the Palais des Congrès in Beaune, the General Assembly elected its new Permanent Committee.
At its head, two Co-Presidents representing the two professional families for a four-year term:
• Laurent Delaunay, reappointed as Co-President representing the négociants sector.
• Michel Barraud, elected Co-President representing the winegrowing sector, succeeding François Labet.
The General Assembly was marked by a clear-eyed assessment of the sector’s current situation. Laurent Delaunay immediately set the tone, describing “a year of transition, a year of intense reflection,” and calling for introspection regarding the role, missions, and resources of the Bourgogne Wine Board in the face of mounting challenges.
He emphasized that “the wine world has entered a genuine depression,” citing climate disruption, economic and geopolitical uncertainty, trade tensions, societal and demographic shifts, and the growing stigmatization of wine consumption in many countries. Although Bourgogne wines continue to occupy a distinctive position, current indicators nevertheless call for vigilance and collective mobilization.
Michel Barraud, newly elected Co-President representing the winegrowing sector, called for “unity within the structure and across the entire region, from north to south,” expressing his determination to foster cohesion throughout his mandate.
In closing, Barraud summed up the spirit of this new term with a quotation from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “The future is nothing more than the present to be put in order. You do not have to foresee it, but to enable it.”
The export campaign “Take a Closer Look at Bourgogne Wines” launches its second year in Australia in mid-March.
Journalists and influencers from the country’s second-largest city will join Anne Moreau, spokesperson for Bourgogne wines, and Andrea Pritzker, Master of Wine and Official Bourgogne Wine Ambassador, for a curated tasting experience.
Moving beyond clichés associated with iconic Bourgogne wines, the campaign highlights lesser-known appellations that are accessible, offer greater availability, and fully reflect the region’s history and expertise.
In Melbourne, two families of wines will take center stage alongside food pairings:
• Bourgogne and Mâcon plus a geographical denomination (aka Bourgogne+ or Mâcon+), such as Bourgogne Côte d’Or or Mâcon-Lugny, whose diversity of expression and approachable pricing appeal to both enthusiasts and professionals.
• Petit Chablis and Chablis, globally recognized names that remain accessible while offering remarkable range and depth.
The event will begin with a walk-around tasting of 28 wines, followed by two masterclasses pairing Bourgogne wines with Australian specialties.
By invitation only.
Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne: New Season Highlights in Beaune
From February 7 through April 5, the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne in Beaune is presenting a new temporary exhibition titled Four Seasons of the Vine: The Work and the Rhythm of the Year.
Created by artist Anne Le Maître, this series of watercolors explores Bourgogne’s vineyard landscapes and the vine’s transformation throughout the seasons, capturing shifts in light, color, and rhythm. The exhibition is enriched with poetic texts written by various authors as part of a collective collaboration with Atelier des Noyers. A family workshop titled Vineyard Sketchbook will take place on Saturday, February 21 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., offering an introduction to watercolor techniques.
At the same time, a new scenographic installation enhances the visitor experience.
A 5:30-minute immersive video highlights the cultural and international reach of Bourgogne wines, drawing on literary, audiovisual, and pop culture references — from the poetry of French author Alphonse de Lamartine to the animated series The Simpsons.
Led by Insoon Lee, Official Bourgogne Wine Ambassador, the session will explore the diversity, identity, and market relevance of Bourgogne wines for South Korea. It will spotlight wines that combine terroir expression, precision, and accessibility, beyond the most familiar references.
The first segment will invite participants to take a fresh look at Bourgogne wines through a selection defined by a strong value proposition, demonstrating the region’s capacity to support attractive, well-structured portfolios.
The second segment will focus on Chablis wines, made exclusively from Chardonnay. Participants will explore the stylistic diversity and finesse of the appellation, renowned for profiles often described as mineral and for its exceptional versatility at the table.
The first part of the program, presented by Robin Kick, Master of Wine, will explore key aspects of the appellation through reports and interviews with winegrowers.
The second part will feature a guided tasting of several wines. The presenter, joined by winegrowers, will answer live questions submitted via chat.
Two ways to participate and interact:
• Join an in-person group session led by one of our Official Bourgogne Wine Ambassadors. Contact them directly to register.
• Connect from home without tasting and use the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the appellation via www.rendez-vous-vins-bourgogne.live. Register by completing the online form.
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Auxey-Duresses appellation.
News of the vineyard - Save the Date: Fleurs de Vigne - May 30 & 31, 2026
This annual celebration of the wines of northern Bourgogne is organized by the Auxerrois Tourist Office in partnership with the Bourgogne Wine Board. Producers will be grouped by appellation, allowing visitors to compare styles side by side.
After purchasing a tasting glass, visitors can sample the wines presented and engage with the winegrowers in attendance. No wine sales will take place on site, though orders may be placed.
The 2026 edition will feature two main highlights: • Saturday, May 30: a program of wine tourism activities in Auxerre and throughout the surrounding vineyards • Sunday, May 31: from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., along the banks of the Yonne - tastings, wine-themed activities designed for families, gourmet stands, a parade of traditional wine brotherhoods, and a gougère competition
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.
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DIRECTOR: SYLVAIN NAULIN
EDITOR IN CHIEF: CECILE MATHIAUD – cecile.mathiaud@bivb.com
TRANSLATOR: SARAH JACKSON
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