Burgundy Wine Guide: Villages, Crus & Where to Start
Region Guides · France
Burgundy (Bourgogne) is the region in eastern France where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reach their most celebrated expression, and its wines are classified by vineyard rather than by producer: from regional Bourgogne up through village, premier cru and grand cru. The smart way in is to learn a handful of villages, find a few good growers, and start at the regional and village level, where value still lives.
Burgundy to start with
Domaine Morey-Coffinet Bourgogne RougeCôte d'Or Pinot at the regional level$36
Sylvaine et Alaine Normand La Roche-VineuseMâconnais Chardonnay, great value$28
Lamblin et Fils Chablis Premier Cru ‘Vaillon’Premier cru Chablis under $40$38
Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Rouge “Les Longeroies”Marsannay from a top vineyard$77
What are the regions of Burgundy?
| Region | Known for | Key names |
|---|---|---|
| Chablis | Steely, mineral Chardonnay | Petit Chablis, Chablis, premier and grand cru |
| Côte de Nuits | The greatest red Burgundy | Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Marsannay |
| Côte de Beaune | The greatest white Burgundy, plus supple reds | Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Volnay, Pommard, Beaune |
| Côte Chalonnaise | Value reds and whites | Rully, Mercurey, Givry, Montagny |
| Mâconnais | Bright, affordable Chardonnay | Mâcon-Villages, Pouilly-Fuissé, Saint-Véran |
The Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune together form the Côte d'Or, the "golden slope," a narrow escarpment about 30 miles long. Beaujolais, just south, is often grouped with Burgundy but is its own world of Gamay; see our Beaujolais guide.
How does Burgundy's classification work?
Burgundy ranks land, not wineries. The same producer might make a regional Bourgogne, a village wine and a grand cru, each from different vineyards.
- Grand cru (about 1 to 2% of production): the 33 top vineyards, such as Chambertin, Musigny, Corton-Charlemagne and Montrachet. The label names only the vineyard.
- Premier cru (about 10%): hundreds of excellent named vineyards. The label shows village + "1er Cru" + vineyard, such as "Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons."
- Village (about a third): wine from a single village, such as "Meursault" or "Chorey-lès-Beaune."
- Regional (about half): Bourgogne Rouge, Bourgogne Blanc, Bourgogne Côte d'Or, Bourgogne Aligoté and others.
Burgundy's patchwork of vineyards, called climats, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
Why is Burgundy so expensive?
Because there's very little of it. Vineyards are tiny and split among many owners, yields are low, and demand from collectors worldwide keeps rising. Grand cru prices reflect scarcity more than pleasure. The good news: great growers make regional and village wines from the same care and often from vines just across the road.
Where is the value in Burgundy?
- Regional wines from top growers. A Bourgogne Rouge from a Côte d'Or domaine often beats a village wine from a big négociant.
- Lesser-known villages: Marsannay, Fixin, Chorey-lès-Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Saint-Aubin, Monthélie and Saint-Romain.
- The Côte Chalonnaise for reds and whites with real Burgundian character.
- The Mâconnais for Chardonnay. Our guide to the Mâconnais explains why.
- Chablis premier cru, which remains one of the great white wine bargains. See our Chablis masterclass.
What does Burgundy taste like?
Red Burgundy is Pinot Noir at its most transparent: red cherry, raspberry, rose petals, forest floor and spice, with light color, bright acidity and fine tannins. Côte de Nuits reds tend to be firmer and darker; Côte de Beaune reds softer and earlier-drinking. White Burgundy ranges from Chablis's lemon and oyster-shell to Meursault's richer hazelnut and butter. Our Chardonnay guide and Pinot Noir clones guide go deeper on the grapes.
How long should you age Burgundy?
Regional wines: drink within 2 to 5 years. Village wines: 3 to 10 years. Premier and grand crus: 8 to 20 years or more for top reds and whites from good vintages. Store bottles on their side at about 55°F. Our post on wine aging and cellaring covers the basics.
FAQ
What grapes are used in Burgundy wine?
Red Burgundy is Pinot Noir and white Burgundy is Chardonnay. Small amounts of Aligoté and Gamay are also grown.
What is the difference between grand cru and premier cru Burgundy?
Grand cru is the top tier: 33 vineyards making about 1 to 2% of Burgundy. Premier cru covers hundreds of excellent named vineyards, about 10% of production.
What is a good Burgundy for beginners?
Start with a Bourgogne Rouge or Bourgogne Blanc from a respected Côte d'Or grower, a Mâcon-Villages white, or a Chablis. They show the style at a fair price.
Why is Burgundy wine so expensive?
Tiny vineyards divided among many owners, low yields and strong global demand make top Burgundy scarce. Regional and village wines remain much more affordable.
Learn a few villages, follow a few growers, and Burgundy opens up. Shop Burgundy →
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Header photo: Ian Taylor on Unsplash
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