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!
Discover the wines selected for the Cave de Prestige 2019
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB)’s Cave de Prestige offers a rigorous selection of wines. These wines become the region’s ambassadors for the period of one year, offered during promotional and educational activities organized by the BIVB, in France and abroad. This year, the President of the BIVB hailed the ever-increasing quality of the selection.
• An edition that counts!
The 2019 edition is one of the most select, with just over 12% of the submissions being chosen, making a total of 190 wines. Almost every one of the 84 Bourgogne appellations is represented, from Régionale wines to Grand Crus.
This year, 1,528 samples were submitted for tasting, from vintages between 2015 and 2018. This represents a rise of 34% compared to 2018 and is perhaps not surprising given the very fine 2017 vintage, from which 66% of submissions hailed. The 2017 vintage was more generous than 2016 for the majority of Bourgogne appellations, and 2018 looks to be more promising still.
To make up the Cave de Prestige, the BIVB purchases the selected wines. In 2019, around 14,500 bottles will be acquired.
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits are two Régionale appellations with an additional geographical dénomination that are becoming more and more popular!
In the names of the Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits appellations, the word “Bourgogne” is critical. It reminds us that these wines are part of the great family of Bourgogne wines.
As for the words Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Nuits, these specify the terroir where these wines originate. In the Bourgogne region, place is key.
Today, thanks to more precise work in the vines and careful control of yields, the winemakers of the Hautes Côtes are producing higher-quality grapes. The results are some lovely examples of Bourgogne wines, each with their own unique characteristics that represent their terroir.
Accessible wines:
For Nicolas Thévenot, President of the Syndicat des Hautes Côtes and owner of the Domaine Thévenot Le Brun & Fils in Marey-lès-Fussey, if there is one adjective to describe these wines, it’s “accessible”. Easy to taste, they offer an exceptional quality-price-pleasure ratio. Their producers are delighted to welcome visitors to their cellars to discover or rediscover their wines.
Watch this video about the Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Nuits, as seen by Nicolas Thévenot.
• Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits:
Looking down over the hill from Gevrey-Chambertin to Corton, the vines of the Hautes Côtes de Nuits are wild and beautiful. The wines are made in red, white, and rosé, with Pinot Noir used for the reds and rosés, while the whites are mainly made from Chardonnay, and occasionally include Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris.
The reds often reveal aromas of raspberry, cherry, licorice, and sometimes violet. They are perfect for lightly spiced cuisine and even sweet and sour flavors.
The whites often evoke notes of hawthorn, honeysuckle, apple, and lemon. These aromas marry well with steamed fish, snails, or foie gras.
• Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune:
The vines of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune look down over the Côte de Beaune from the west, from Maranges to Ladoix-Serrigny, and are made up of a series of hills and valleys. The vines, which grow at the foot of the limestone cliff, cover the sunny slopes.
The same colors and varietals are used here as on the Hautes Côtes de Nuits, but the geography is different and as such, the aromatic expression is not the same.
It is not rare to detect aromas of peony, rose, morello cherry, blackcurrant, licorice, undergrowth, and even spices from the reds. Try them with simple dishes like filet mignon of pork or roast leg of lamb.
The whites offer aromas of white blossom or honey that work well with fish.
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Economy
Japan: A loyal market for Bourgogne wines
In 2018, Japan remained the 3rd biggest export market for Bourgogne wines against a backdrop of falling sales of French wines.
The free-trade agreement between Japan and the European Union which came into force on 1 February 2019 should lead to an improvement. Bourgogne professionals are hoping for a return to the export levels of 2012, when more than 10 million bottles were shipped. The initial signs in 2019 are fairly positive, notably for Chablis wines, with growth by volume of 7% over the first two months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
In 2018, Bourgogne wines accounted for 16.4% of the volume of French AOC wines exported to Japan, for 23.6% of the revenue.
Since then, revenue from Bourgogne wines has grown (up 7.5% in 2018 compared to 2013) to reach 102 million euros. Both red and white wines showed good performance up 7.8% and 7.7% respectively on 2013 by revenue. In 2018, export volumes were, however, down to 7.356 million bottles (down 3.2% on 2017).
Crémant de Bourgogne was stable in 2018, after several years of growth, down 21.8% on 2017 to 281,410 bottles.
Key 2018 figures for Bourgogne wines in Japan: Exports: 7.356 million bottles (down 3.2% on 2017), for 102 million euros (down 1.5%). By volume :
• Still white wines: 54%
• Still red & rosé wines: 42%
• Crémant de Bourgogne: 4%
China matures as a wine market as each year goes by. Dominated by French wines, it is also open to wines from other countries, being the world’s fifth biggest wine importer.
In 2018, Bourgogne wines accounted for 1.8% of the volume of French AOC wines exported to China, for 5% of the revenue.
In terms of revenue, exports of Bourgogne wines were up 9.9% in 2018, beating the record set in 2017, across all colors.
However, volumes exported to China were down 10.6%, totaling 1.6 million bottles. But after the strong growth seen since 2015, volumes were nonetheless up 5% on the average over the past five years.
Key 2018 figures for Bourgogne wines in China, the 10th biggest market in revenue and volume for Bourgogne wines: Exports: 1.6 million bottles (down 10.6% on 2017), for 23.5 million euros (up 9.9% on 2017), by volume:
• Still white wines: 27.8%
• Still red & rosé wines: 71.7%
• Crémant de Bourgogne: 0.5%
Here is a new opportunity to have your word! “Ma Tribune” is a space where lovers of Bourgogne wines and wine professionals can say their piece.
From restaurateurs to wine store owners, and from sommeliers to importers, professionals and wine lovers alike of all nationalities and all tastes can come together here to share their thoughts and experiences. For a greater diversity of input, a range of different formats can be uploaded, from video to photos, and from travelogues to tasting notes. And as a professional from the world of wine, your opinion will hold extra weight. In direct contact with the general public and the wider industry, this is a brand new opportunity and one not to be ignored.
The launch date for this space will be announced on social media, on the “News” page of the Bourgogne wines website, and in future editions of Bourgogne International.
To make your contribution, you will simply have to fill in a contact form, add your text and any attachments, and click to upload. Once accepted, it will be published on the site and available under your author’s profile.
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) invites you to a series of masterclasses for professionals and journalists. They will run on 15 July in Houston, on 17 July in San Francisco, and on 19 July in Napa. Hosted by Jean-Pierre Renard, trainer at the École des Vins de Bourgogne, they will shine the spotlight on those Bourgogne appellations that are still little-known on these markets. These masterclasses provide an ideal opportunity to discover some less familiar names from Bourgogne.
In parallel, the BIVB is also offering three “Train the Trainers” sessions, dedicated to wine educators only (WSET centers and sommelier schools). They will run on 15 July in Houston, 18 July in Seattle, and 19 July in Napa.
The @BourgogneWines account is retweeting one tweet per professional that reveals their favorite Bourgogne wine. They will be identified and can add additional information and advice.
In total, more than 100 wine store owners and restaurateurs have agreed to join in the fun!
Through this operation, the BIVB is seeking to promote certain wines that are still relatively little-known amongst the British public, but which are already appreciated by professionals. Furthermore, those establishments offering these wines will enjoy some extra visibility.
The 2019 vintage: flowering indicates a mid-September harvest
Flowering is well started everywhere in Bourgogne.
In the vines of Bourgogne, the first flowers were observed in the early days of June. However, cooler weather then arrived from the 4th of the month for a few days, slowing down progress. But things got back on track with the summery weather during the Whitsun weekend.
The estimated date for mid-flowering is similar to that of 2010, namely around 15 June, with slight variations depending on sector and varietal. Since the growth cycle of the vine is between 90 and 100 days from flowering to harvest, this means the region will be preparing to pick around 15-20 September. Vines for Crémant de Bourgogne wines should open the campaign 10 or 15 days earlier, from the first week in September onwards.
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Chablis Terroir at the Table.
Chablis wines invite you to Montreal for a unique, authentic, and highly convivial gourmet experience.
“Terroir at the table” is a partnership between a local chef who is proud to highlight the cuisine of Quebec, and the Bourgogne region with its legendary wines whose reputation goes before them.
On 15 July, chef Marc-Olivier Frappier from the Joe Beef Group and his team from the McKiernan will take their guests on a surprising bucolic adventure in the heart of Montreal. In attendance will be Grégory Viennois, Technical Director of the Domaine Laroche, and Kler-Yann Bouteiller, Bourgogne Wines Ambassador.
Les Ateliers Professionnels in Beaune
Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 October: From Terroir to Climats, the soul of Bourgogne wines
Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October: Tasting of Bourgogne wines and culinary companions
Rencontres avec les Bourgognes
September to December 2019
Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne
9-13 March 2020 – in Bourgogne
Abroad:
Chablis, Terroir at the Table.
Canada – 15 July
Tasting lunch featuring Chablis wines and local produce in Montreal
Bourgogne Wines Training Tour USA (see above)
USA – From 15-19 July
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Video
The People and the Wine: he second chapter in our film on winemaking is premier
Since the success of the first part dedicated to work in the vines, now you can enjoy the first images from our second opus, this time dedicated to harvesting and vinification. Educational yet poetic, this video highlights the expertise and actions of the region’s winegrowers.
Join us at harvest time in September for the release of the film in its entirety.
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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