When we think of Beaune, we envisage the stunning architecture of the Hôtel-Dieu, or the vast network of silent cellars where local wine houses receive thousands of visitors each year.

But Beaune is also home to one of the most extensive vineyard on the Côte. Once known as “Pinot Vermeil” by the dukes of Bourgogne, the red wines have been reputed since the high Middle Ages for its youthful temperament, and its bouquet which packs a punch. The whites are scarcer, but bring out the best in these terroirs favorable for the Chardonnay varietal.
Beaune is a Village appellation on the Côte de Beaune which comprises 42 Climats classed as Premier Cru. The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée was created in 1936.

Depending on the position of the vineyards, nuances appear in the Beaune appellation: To the north of the town, the wines tend to be intense and powerful; to the south, they are typically soft and rounded.

The red wines have a bright, lively color which promises aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, cherry and redcurrant, underscored with humus and undergrowth. Truffle, leather, and spices develop with age. When young, the Beaune appellation offers a charming palette of crisp fresh grapes. Firm, forthright, it opens out into a very pleasing, well-structured wine.

The white wines have a soft color with greenish tinges. The bouquet is of almonds and other nuts, with fern and white blossom. Honey and cinnamon are also notes that can be found. The Beaune appellation is usually drunk quite young for those who like the fruit, or left to mature for those who prefer a fatty, richer wine.

Lunch is ready!

Red: The Beaune appellation exhibits great aromatic power and a full-bodied texture, which makes it ideal with full-flavored meats such as game, either roast or in casseroles. It suits stronger cheeses such as époisses, soumaintrain, munster, or maroilles.

White: Its crispness and floral nature go wonderfully with poultry and veal in cream sauce, fish tajines, grilled sea fish, and even sushi. After a few years’ ageing, a white Beaune makes a fabulous match for cheeses like cîteaux, comté, and certain goat cheeses.
To find out more, watch this video in which Jean-Pierre Renard, expert trainer at the Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne, explains the topographical and geological characteristics of the Beaune appellation.
Find the full appellation specifications here along with video by Edouard Labruyère, owner and manager of the Domaine Jacques Prieur, and Frédéric Weber, cellar master at Bouchard Père et Fils.