As many wine aficionados soon learn, Burgundy wine is made in a special region of France. In France, this region is called "La Bourgogne," translated in English to Burgundy.
Many wine experts agree that the finest grapes for dry red and white wines are harvested in Burgundy.
Wines from Burgundy receive appellations based on the specific type of vineyard in which the grapes were grown. Appellations include:
Surprisingly, some of the best grapes are harvested from tiny vineyards.
In Burgundy, red wines are made with the use of Pinot Noir grapes. However, in the southern portions of Burgundy, like in the areas of Beaujolais and Macon, the Gamay grape is utilized. If you enjoy a fruitier taste in your wine, then you may wish to consider a Burgundy made with Gamay grapes.
The Chardonnay grape is harvested to create the Burgundy region''s noble white wine. Renowned for its use in sparkling wines, the Chardonnay grape also makes a superior white wine.
For more common, table white wines, the Burgundy region uses the Pinot Blanc and Aligote grapes.
Based on the weather conditions during the grapes'' growing season, vintage wine ratings for the Burgundy region may vary from year to year, even though the region is renowned for consistently good wines.
Below is a list of some of the most highly rated wine-growers in the Burgundy region. The list runs in descending order, with the best-rated vintners and regions at the top:
Reading vintage charts will give you information on how a Burgundy wine was rated during any given year. Typically, Burgundy regions are rated using a 10-point system.
The general rating scale is as follows:
In addition to a numerical rating, Burgundy vintage charts will also provide information about when a bottle of wine should be corked. These guidelines are as follows:
These days, high quality Burgundy wines are more widely available than ever; even some supermarkets carry a selection of fine Burgundy wines. Other ways to purchase wines from Burgundy include: