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!
2020 is a year that has been playing with the nerves of everyone on the planet. And winegrowers in the Bourgogne region are no exception. With an historically early harvest start date, good organization was key to ensuring the wineries were ready to receive the first grapes on 12 August for the most advanced plots.
Our patchwork of plots lived up to this description with varying degrees of maturity randomly distributed throughout the vineyards, which were the result of different flowering dates of course, but also dependent on where rain – if any – had fallen throughout the season. Picking begins between 90 and 100 days from flowering, and the first juices are delicious, with great vigor. 2020 promises quality, but this vintage will definitely not be remembered as an easy one!
The white wines of the Meursault appellation usually have a golden color with hints of green or polished bronze, depending on the age of the wine. It is crystal clear and dazzling, with the odd flash of silver. On the nose, they suggest ripe grapes. Younger wines offer notes of toasted almond and hazelnut wrapped in vegetal, floral, or mineral aromas. They can also present touches of butter, honey, or citrus. They are rich and fatty on the tongue, with indulgent hazelnut flavors. A fine balance of unctuosity and vigor, across the full range of silkiness. Long and structured, Meursault whites need to mature and are ideal for laying down.
The Meursault appellation explored through its geology and geography:
Sommelier’s tips:
Its aromatic power and exceptional balance underpinned by fattiness and acidity make this one of the greatest Bourgogne wines, and as such, it is a natural winner with noble meats and fish with a fine texture.
Meursault transcends them without dominating. For example, fine cuts of veal or poultry in white sauce are enhanced by the smoothness of the wine and its long and distinguished acidity. It is wonderful with grilled shellfish and shellfish in sauce, such as prawns, lobster or crayfish, whose aromatic intensity and bite partner perfectly with the wine’s lively, supple balance. Even blue cheeses and foie gras make a magical match on first sip.
The Meursault appellation as seen by Dominique Lafon, manager of the Comtes Lafon estate in Meursault:
Did you know? The Meursault appellation also includes 10 hectares of Pinot Noir for red wine, including 1.27 classified as Premier Cru – a rare gem indeed!
Bourgogne wines holding up well despite a tricky international context
After an exceptional 2019 vintage, the pandemic made us fear the worst. While initial results for 2020 are better than expected, the crisis could last for some time now.
The first six months of 2020 have seen Bourgogne wines well represented across markets, despite volumes from the 2019 vintage being lower than those from 2018. This stability is, however, under threat from the global economic context linked to COVID-19, and by new trading conditions.
Stocks in the winery are in line with five-year averages and can satisfy market demand. But the trend for less wine drinking, particularly in France, is encouraging the industry to work together to better manage the ratio of supply and demand.
> Transaction volumes and sales from estates were down in 2019-2020 as a result of low yields from the 2019 harvest.
> Exports of Bourgogne wines during the first six months of 2020 were hit hard by the lockdown. But January, February, and June were very good in terms of volume.
> In France, Bourgogne wines are maintaining and even improving their position on modern circuits, in particular thanks to convenience stores and click-and-collect.
Get back into restaurants and enjoy 50% off the bill (excluding drinks) – that’s the message of the “Back to Restaurants” operation, launched by TheFork (formerly LaFourchette) and supported by Bourgogne wines.
Gourmet diners from 22 the countries where TheFork operates have two months, from 17 September to 17 November, to enjoy this offer and eat at their favorite restaurants for less.
Restaurateurs – it’s not too late to join the movement and boost your sales. According to a study conducted by TheFork, offering discounts can quadruple the number of diners visiting your establishment over the period of the campaign with a rise in frequentation of 50% over the months following the campaign. The study shows that even with discounts, participating restaurants increase their gross margin and overall sales.
The restaurant trade is a market that is very loyal to Bourgogne wines, and has suffered greatly during the pandemic. It is only natural that the Bourgogne wine trade would wish to offer their support through the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB). The BIVB is actively promoting the event and also providing significant financial aid, and promoting the operation across its network of winegrowers, market influencers, and the general public, in particular across the four key markets of France, the UK, Germany, and Belgium.
For the past decade, the Organisme de Défense et de Gestion management body for the Pouilly-Fuissé AOC has been working with the INAO to have Premier Cru wines from this appellation finally recognized. Nothing has been overlooked with the reputation, usage, and natural characteristics of each plot being scrupulously studied down to the tiniest detail.
This work has resulted in the classification of 22 Premier Cru Climats, representing 194 hectares, or 24% of the total Pouilly-Fuissé AOC. They are spread across the appellation’s four villages, namely Chaintré, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, and Vergisson.
Unlike the other Village AOCs from Bourgogne, those from the Mâconnais have never had any Climats classified as Premier Cru. The ODG management body of the Pouilly-Fuissé AOC was the first to request that the superior characteristics of certain plots should be acknowledged. The application for these plots to be upgraded to Premier Cru status was first lodged in 2010.
Hong Kong’s wine store owners, importers, E-commerce managers, and many more are invited on 21 October to attend an on-line masterclass. This one-hour event will explore a segment of Bourgogne wines that is under-represented on the Hong Kong market and will feature a tasting of four wines. The masterclass will be hosted by Bourgogne Wines Ambassador Ivy Ng.
This year, winemakers will be offering tastings in their cellars rather than in the town center, in order to ensure the safety of visitors.
On 24 and 25 October, the winegrowers of the Chablis and Grand Auxerrois regions will open their cellars from 10am to 6pm to welcome wine lovers for free tastings. The traditional Fête des Vins wine glass will be provided free of charge.
Participating wine houses and estates will also be offering tours and other activities for young and old alike, to make this weekend even more festive.
The baptism of the vintage, the banquet and parade of the Confrérie des Piliers Chablisiens, along with the traditional enthronements, will not be taking place this year.
The 160th Hospices de Beaune wine auction
This anniversary edition will take place on 15 November, with an exceptional pièce des Présidents.
Every year, the Hospices de Beaune estate holds its famous and historic auction on the third Sunday of November. For this 160th edition, the Hospices Civils de Beaune and the Château de Chambord are combining their talents to make the sale of the 2020 Pièce des Présidents charity barrel of wine a unique experience.
Firstly, in terms of the choice of wine: Ludivine Griveau, manager of the Hospices de Beaune wine estate has rigorously selected the best vines from the Climat Les Froichots on the Clos de la RocheGrand Cru estate.
Secondly, in terms of the container, as this wine will be aged in an oak barrel specially made from wood from the Chambord estate.
And finally, in terms of where the wine will be aged, as the buyer of the Pièce des Présidents 2020 will have the exceptional opportunity to see the wine matured in the cellars of the Hospices de Beaune itself.
All of this should encourage plenty of generous buyers to the sale.
All profits from the auction will be donated to two charities representing hospital workers in France:
- The Fédération Hospitalière de France (FHF)
- The Comité de Gestion des Oeuvres Sociales des Établissements Hospitaliers Publics (CGOS)
They will ensure the monies raised will be distributed to hospital staff and their families hard hit by the current pandemic.
To open the festivities, on Friday 13 November, journalists and wine professionals will be able to taste a wide range of Bourgogne appellations at the Fête des Grands Vins at the Palais des Congrès in Beaune. Unfortunately, due to the health crisis, the event will not be open to the public this year.
Several events have been organized for the press, with more information to follow in the October edition of the En Direct newsletter.
Four the fourth year in a row, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is supporting the development of the sommelier trade in Asia by sponsoring and taking a seat on the jury of the Best French Wine Sommelier in Asia competition.
From 15 September to 10 October, sommelier associations in 10 territories (Hong Kong, China, Macao, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Singapore) will be shortlisting two finalists per territory via a series of tests and trials involving Bourgogne wines. To help the candidates prepare for these events, the BIVB is organizing four masterclasses in partnership with Chinese, Taiwanese, Malaysian, and for the first time, Vietnamese sommeliers’ association.
Once selected, the 20 candidates will then go through to a second, more demanding masterclass, which will allow them to tackle some of the fundamentals of the sommelier’s craft, such as how to serve wines, and which food pairings to offer. It will also involve a briefing exchange so that candidates will be ready for the competition.
The semi-final and final of the will take place in December and due to the pandemic, will be screened online.
More information will be available in future editions of this newsletter.
Everything you need to know about the Chablis Climats!
The appellation’s 47 Climats revealed in just a few clicks.
The Chablis region is home to 47 Climats that can be mentioned on the wine label. There are 40 Chablis Premier Cru Climats and seven Chablis Grand Cru ones. And now, their secrets are revealed.
The Chablis Wines website has recently had a makeover, and includes a new section dedicated to the appellation’s Climats. In just a few clicks, you can access a wealth of information about the character, history, and legends of each one, thus becoming a true specialist in the appellation!
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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