This area is dedicated to wine professionals including sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine store owners importers and trainers. Welcome to your very own BIVB website where you can find all the tips and tools you need. You will find documentation, photography, training tools and all kinds of other useful information here to facilitate your search. You can also browse our events and training calendar and you are welcome to attend any that appeal. If you require any further information then don’t hesitate to contact us!
Who are the winners of the 2023 Cave de Prestige awards?
The 52nd awards ceremony for the Bourgogne Wine Board’s (BIVB) Cave de Prestige took place on Tuesday, June 20. BIVB presidents François Labet and Laurent Delaunay, were delighted to congratulate the 97 Caves coopératives, Maisons de Négoce and Domaines selected for the 2023 list.
Among the winners were some familiar names, as well as 48 newcomers, appearing for the first time or making their return. In total, 168 wines were awarded the famous label, representing 19% of the wines submitted.
The Cave de Prestige has been an annual industry event for more than 50 years! The selection is a true mark of quality celebrating the excellence and diversity of Bourgogne wines.
Its standards are rigorous: of the 884 wines entered, only 19%, or 168 wines, were awarded the precious label.
Wines from the Cave de Prestige are served at every workshop or event organised by the BIVB in France and abroad (VIP receptions, press trips, wine tasting courses at the Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne, training courses for those in the business, gastronomic evenings etc). The wines are true ambassadors for the next 12 months, bearing the official label of the selection.
François Labet, President of the BIVB, opened the evening by greeting his colleagues: "I'm so proud of these wines - we are celebrating your work!” He went on to say: “It's a fine selection, bearing in mind that each winning vintage must pass the strict judgement of three juries! These are exacting standards that meet the expectations and requirements of our market partners and the wine connoisseurs, to whom we owe an irreproachable level of quality.”
Some 48 new names have been honoured for the first time, or are returning to the selection after an absence of one or more years. This reflects the dynamism of Bourgogne’s wine-growing industry, which is continually striving to improve the quality of Bourgogne wines.
More than 15,000 bottles will be ordered to support the profession's promotional and training activities in 2023/2024.
It all began on May 29, 1923 with the extract of the judgment of Chalon, made official on May 30, which delimited the area of the Mercurey appellation.
Edouard de Suremain, a winegrower in Mercurey but also chairman of the Bar, along with Antoine Rousseau of Saint-Martin-sous-Montaigu and their winegrowing friends from the three villages of Bourgneuf-Val-d'Or, Mercurey and Saint-Martin-sous-Montaigu, went to the Tribunal de Chalon to denounce the fact that winegrowers from certain neighbouring villages (Rully & Givry) were producing Mercurey on demand, when it suited their businesses.
This was the time when the notion of appellation contrôlée, with all its traditions, had just been established by the law of 1919. The case was an important first in France, but especially in Bourgogne.
Today, the Mercurey appellation, in the Côte Chalonnaise region, is one of the most important wine appellations in Bourgogne. It produces mainly Pinot Noir-based red wines, but also Chardonnay-based white wines. Some 32 Climats are classified as Premier Cru.
In this video, wine instructor Jean-Pierre Renard talks about the geographical and geological characteristics of the Mercurey appellation.
Here, winemaker Amaury Devillard talks about the importance of Mercurey's terroirs, and shares a few stories about the variety of wines in this appellation.
Mercurey reds are full-bodied, ripe, fruity wines. The tannins can sometimes bring a mineral firmness in their youth. There is a lovely fleshy roundness on maturity.
Mercurey white wines are tasty and generous with a touch of minerality.
On the dinner table!
Red: rich and fleshy, Mercurey adds depth to rib steaks, cuts of beef and lamb, braised or in a sauce. Roast pork is a good pairing, because of its aromatic richness, as well as slow-cooked poultry and exotic dishes. When it comes to cheese, the Mercurey appellation is equally suited to soft and mature cheeses.
White: The spicy, floral or mineral notes of the Mercurey appellation make it a natural pairing for grilled fish or fish in sauce, cooked seafood, Asian cuisine and hard cheeses. White Mercurey can also be enjoyed as an aperitif.
In Chablis, the Chardonnay grape variety expresses its character like nowhere else. For many, it is also one of the purest forms of Chardonnay.
However, it is difficult to put into words the purity and minerality of Chablis wines. Photographers, jewellers, designers, video-makers and musicians have already tried to capture the sensations and emotions experienced when drinking a glass of Chablis through their art.
This year, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) invited Japanese artists to produce a three-dimensional creation encapsulating how the experience made them feel.
More than 40 artists applied to take part in this event, and ten were selected to present their projects. A jury will decide which works best reflect the profile of Chablis wines. All the works of art, including the winners, will be unveiled to the press at the ‘When Pure Chablis meets Art’ event in Tokyo on July 25.
A mini masterclass will be held alongside the presentation to introduce the different Chablis appellations, with a free tasting in the midst of the works. Participants will be able to choose the work of art which, in their opinion, best reflects the profile and minerality of Chablis wines.
Adresse: LA COLLEZIONE - 〒107-0062
Tokyo, Minato-ku, Minamiaoyama,
6 chōme−1−3 南青山コレッツィオーネ 3F
Unlock Chablis, the interactive game to know more about Chablis wines
Whether you're a sommelier, a wine importer or a distributor, Unlock Chablis tests your knowledge by taking you on a journey through northern Bourgogne.
In an increasingly digital world, the question of how to teach people about wine is an important one. Chablis wanted to tap into this realm by transporting wine professionals virtually to the region, which is how "Unlock Chablis" was born.
The game takes you on a virtual journey to one of the purest expressions of Chardonnay. As you play the game, you’ll learn about the history of Bourgogne, the Climats, winemaking methods, some food and wine pairings etc Designed as a digital Escape Game concept, Unlock Chablis tests your knowledge of Chablis.
Developed and tested by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), the game strikes the perfect balance between posing a challenge and entertainment.
Unlock Chablis now has a fourth section devoted to climatic hazards, and spring frosts in particular. It explains, in a fun way, what the winegrowers of Chablis, in northern Bourgogne, need to do to limit the impact of the cold.
The game is available to play individually or as a group with your team via live video streaming.
The Bourgogne wine Official Ambassadors are the representatives of Bourgogne in their markets. The prestigious community of Official Bourgogne Wine Instructors is a large family of 58 people (18 ambassadors on the American continent, 22 in Europe and 18 in Asia-Pacific).
They train professionals (sommeliers, wine merchants, importers, etc.), aspiring professionals (students in hotel schools, WSET centres or aiming for certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers) and informed enthusiasts.
They provide master classes, themed tastings and broadcast the programme Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne, produced by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB). They can also organise study trips in the region. They teach a variety of subjects. These range from a simple introduction to the key concepts of Bourgogne wines to the most advanced master classes on specific concepts, such as the geology of Bourgogne wines.
The accreditation process for candidates wishing to become an Bourgogne wine Official Ambassador is demanding and only the best are awarded a diploma at the end of the selection process.
In June 2023, following a whole week in Bourgogne, nine new ambassadors graduated from several countries around the world (Brazil, Vietnam, USA, etc.) and will join the prestigious community of Official Bourgogne Wine Instructors. See the full list here.
Are you looking for information about Bourgogne wines?
Look no further: access key tools and documents in a flash, thanks to our "digital folder"!
Are you a wine professional, an instructor or have you attended a Bourgogne wine training course? The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has designed a digital folder for you to download from the ‘professional’ section of its website, so you can easily access key information and documents relating to Bourgogne wines.
You can find:
- The Essentiel Bourgogne Wines guide
- Key facts and figures relating to Bourgogne
- Maps of the Bourgogne wine growing areas
- The shop and downloads
There’s also a shortcut to the pages most likely to be of interest and use to you:
- Bourgogne Maps, our impressive interactive atlas
- Fact sheets for 84 appellations
- Details of each vintage
- E-learning
Navigation is easier with this tool, which you can download and save on your digital devices (computer, tablet, smartphone)!
A Chablis version of this digital folder is also available! download here
Economy
Market update, consult the full economic report
Find the complete press released with all the results for 2022.
The year 2022 set a new sales record for Bourgogne wines, despite limited volumes. At the same time, at almost 1.75 million hectolitres, the 2022 vintage provides a good basis in terms of both quality and quantity for an upturn in sales volumes.
And yet, while the situation for Bourgogne wines may seem enviable, there are major challenges ahead.
Following on from the initial news published in the April issue of En Direct, you can download the full report here
EVENTS CALENDAR
The 29/11/2023
INTERNATIONALLY - Rendez-vous avec les vins de Bourgogne - Montagny Premier Cru
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.
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
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