Located in the central-eastern area of France sits one of my all time favorite wine regions named Bourgogne, also known as Burgundy. There are also small quantities of gamay and aligote grapes also grown in the region. However, when you hear some refer to a white Burgundy, they are talking about chardonnay from the region, while red Burgundy is pinot noir. Simple, right? Well, there’s a bit more you need to know about this beautiful, terroir-driven appellation.
Bourgogne has a very strict classification system that can sometimes be a little intimidating. However, if you know these key facts, you can navigate the region with ease. Bourgogne consists of five major areas, which include Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnais, and Mâconnais. Within these five diverse regions, there are over 100 appellations. Each of those appellations are placed in one of the four classification categories: regional wines, village wines, Premier cru or grand cru. And these four categories are geographically-determined, regardless of the producer.
About half of the Bourgogne wines you will come across are produced from regional appellations. Wines of this category will be labeled as a wine of Bourgogne. Village Burgundy wines are a great value because they are produced from grapes sourced from one of the 42 villages of Bourgnone. You will know it’s a village wine because the name of the village where the grapes were sourced will be labeled on the bottle. Premier cru and grand cru are your top tier, most prestigious, and sometimes expensive, Burgundy wines. And it’s always on the label.
Although there are only a couple of varieties used to produce these wines, Burgundian wines are extremely diverse. Terroir is not the only variable here. Pinot noir and chardonnay grapes can taste quite different depending on where they’re grown and how they’re vinified and aged.
Young or aged, Burgundian wines are some of my favorites to pair with food because of their subtle nuances in aroma, style, and characteristics. Pairing Burgundy with food also makes Burgundian wines, that can sometimes be intimidating, more approachable. Of course, French cheese pairings are always fun, but for me, it’s way more interesting to pair main courses. And while I certainly love pairing French wines with French cuisine, we shouldn’t be afraid to mix it up a bit! I sometimes drink Burgundy with Italian, Spanish or other Mediterranean cuisines. To get you started, here are a few great red and white Burgundies that will definitely get you excited about wine pairing.
2018 Bouchard Père & Fils Savigny-Lès Beaune
Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgnone’s oldest wine merchants in the Côte d’Or. This pinot noir is a really pretty, fruit-forward wine that’s slightly tannic, with a hint of smoky oak notes. This wine will pair beautifully with pork chops or a savory mushroom pasta.
2017 Joseph Drouhin Saint-Veran
This bone-dry chardonnay is an excellent choice to pair with food because of its bright acidity. This mouth-watering chardonnay will go great with a roasted chicken seasoned with Herbs de Provence, grilled salmon, or a spicy Paella with fresh seafood.
2018 Domaine Berthaut Gerbet Fixin
Combining the vineyards of Domaines Denis Berthaut and François Gerbet in the village of Fixin has brought about beautiful and complex wines. Red, fruit-forward, yet earthy notes on the palate make this red Burgundy really fun to pair. Enjoy it with short ribs with pappardelle pasta, lamb or a grilled Comte cheese burger.
Located in northern Bourgogne near Chablis, this appellation is small, but produces charming reds. and the estate is now growing grapes organically with natural yeasts. This elegant red pairs with hearty stews, steak salads, bbq or southern fried chicken, Jambalaya, or a crispy duck confit.
2018 Domaine Dureuil-Janthial Rully
From the village of Rully, this expressive white, medium-bodied Burgundy is lovely with seafood because it’s light on the palate. Its aroma is fresh, with slight hints of white flowers. Grilled white fish, seafood pastas, and chicken salads with summer vegetables will pair beautifully with this wine.
