The vineyards of Bourgogne produce some great wines with a historical and international reputation. However, the region is not simply limited to its iconic appellations. In addition to its Village Premier Cru and Grand Cru AOCs, it also produces a range of wonderful Régionale and Village appellations to explore.
You will also find a full list of the Bourgogne’s Climats and lieux-dits on this page.
Check out the complete list of the 84 Bourgogne appellations.
However, your exploration has only just begun. Bourgogne wines have never before offered such high quality. Besides our range of internationally celebrated wines, try some of our lesser-known appellations where there are lots of surprises in store.
And for a fun way to find out more about the wines on offer, try out our “Which Bourgogne wine is right for me?” quiz, or check out Bourgogne Maps to take an interactive tour of the region.
Regional appellation ; Dénomination Géographique Complémentaire
VIGNOBLES DE CHABLIS ET DU GRAND AUXERROIS
31 juillet 1937
Reds and rosés - Pinot Noir.
Whites - Chardonnay.
Area under production*:
1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 m² = 24 ouvrées.
Whites: 20.02 ha.
Reds and rosés: 98.90 ha.
*In 2018
Appellation Régionale of the Auxerrois region (Yonne).
The words COULANGES-LA-VINEUSE may only be appended to the word BOURGOGNE in the case of red, rosé and white wines produced within the defined area of the appellation.
Producing communes: Charentenay, Coulanges-la-Vineuse, Migé, Mouffy, Jussy, Escolive-Sainte-Camille, Val-de-Mercy.
On the label, the words COULANGES-LA-VINEUSE must follow the word BOURGOGNE.
The wines are mainly red derived from the Pinot Noir grape. Lighter than the wines of neighbouring Irancy they are very pleasant during their first 3 or 4 years when they are enjoyed “on the fruit” (i.e. young). Some older vintages, however, seem to lead a charmed life. Their colour falls between ruby and crimson. Their aromas are dominated by cherry (there are numerous cherry orchards in the locality) as well as blackcurrant and strawberry. The taste is well-balanced, satisfyingly full in the mouth, of appreciable length, and without excess tannins.
The white (Chardonnay) is a traditional product still grown on the whole of the Coulangeois vineyard. Pale gold in colour, it exhales floral and mineral scents (white flowers). Its freshness has an edge of sprightliness. It runs deliciously through the mouth like water in spring time. As for the rosé (from Pinot Noir grape) comes a fruity wine with intense aromas.
Red: with its refined and discreet tannins and its delicately fruity notes, this appealing wine is a ready companion to light, plain, and not over-spiced dishes. It goes better, therefore, with white meats and grilled or fried fish, but one must not forget omelettes, fried eggs, stir fries, rice or noodles with grated cheese, and vegetable or onion tarts.
Cheese: pressed cheeses such as Comté.
Serving temperature: 14 to 16°C.
White: parsleyed cold ham (jambon persillé), turkey breast, most fish and shellfish, and goat cheeses as well as Comté, Beaufort, or Gruyère.
Serving temperature: 11 to 12°C.
Rosé: charcuterie, white meat, and grilled meats.
Serving temperatures: 8 to 10°C.
Coulanges-la-Vineuse is aptly named, given the importance of wine in its history.
Wine is abundant here but water is scarce. So much so that when a huge fire in 1676 destroyed 170 houses and 22 wine-presses, it was only brought under control by breaching all the wine-barrels.
The church was rebuilt with the proceeds of a tax on wine. Here, we are in the Auxerrois region, on the summit of a little rounded hill on the East-facing side of a bowl-shaped depression overlooking the left bank of river.
Coulanges-la-Vineuse and its associated villages (Charentenay, Escolive-Sainte-Camille, Val-de-Mercy, Jussy, Migé, and the delightfully-named Mouffy) were granted the right to an appellation of their own within the general appellation Bourgogne Coulanges-la-Vineuse (red, white, rosé) in 1993.
The excavation of a Gallo-Roman site at Escolives-Sainte-Camille has revealed evidence of the presence of vineyards in these parts 20 centuries ago!
The vineyards of Coulanges-la-Vineuse form part of the outer fringes of the Paris basin and overlie limestones of the Upper Jurassic (Portlandian, Kimmeridgian) or in places chalks of the Lower Cretaceous.
Appellations Régionales, explained by Jean-Pierre Renard