The main varieties in Burgundy

Contrary to many wine growing regions, one of the particularities of Burgundy is the complete lack of the mixing of different grape varieties. There are two main varieties in Burgundy : Pinot Noir for the red wines; Chardonnay for the white wines.

The reputation of the Grands Vins fins de Bourgogne is based on two varieties alone : Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As early as 1866, Dr Jules Guyot in his book on viticulture of the centre north of France, wrote that: " the essence of the fine wines of the Côte d'Or, is the grape variety, the Pineau Noir or Noirien for the red wines; the Pineau Blanc or Chardenet for the white wines ".

Pinot noir

The Pinot Noir, has given birth to the Great Red Wines ever since the 7th century. It can be recognized by its small bunches of tightly clustered black grapes which give a pleasantly sweet juice. Oddly enough, it produces grapes with white juice i.e. colourless. The colour is only present in the skin and it is only during fermentation that the colouring matter is extracted to make the wine red.