Côte de Beaune
The Côte de Beaune is one of the main areas of wine production in Burgundy. It makes up the southern portion of the famous Côte-d’Or, a limestone escarpment that encapsulates both the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. The Côte de Beaune is a great place to try Chardonnay and pinot noir wines, which are the particular specialties of the vineyards in the area. While you’re there, be sure to visit the Hospices de Beaune, a historic piece of architecture lauded for its prestigious wines.
Côte de Nuits
The Côte de Nuits is the northern portion of the Côte-d’Or wine production region. This area is located near Dijon, extending to Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like the Côte de Beaune, the Côte de Nuits is known as one of Burgundy’s main areas of wine production. It’s famous for its red wines, specializing in the production of pinot noir. If you’d like to taste a fine pinot noir, there’s no better place to do that than the Côte de Nuits. One of the best wine production locations to visit in this area is the Château du Clos de Vougeot; once kept by Cistercian monks, the château is still a great place to learn about and taste wine.
Chablis
Located in the northernmost part of Burgundy, Chablis is a wine production region that produces wine exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. Known for their drier taste and richer flavors, Chablis’ Chardonnay wines are rather different and distinct from those produced in other regions. This is mainly due to the Kimmeridgian limestone soil of the region in which the grapes are grown. Chablis wines come in a range of quality levels, including Chablis Premier Cru, Chablis Grand Cru, Chablis, and Petit Chablis.
Côte Chalonnaise
The Côte Chalonnaise, located in Saône-et-Loire in eastern France, grows both pinot noir and Chardonnay grape varieties. Notably, there are no Grand Cru vineyards in Côte Chalonnaise, but the region still produces some very good wine. One highlight of this area is Rully, which is considered the birthplace of traditional Crémant de Bourgogne, so if you like a good sparkling wine, this is the place to visit.
Mâconnais
Burgundy’s final wine region, Mâconnais, is located in the southern part of Burgundy near its namesake town, Mâcon. Mâconnais mainly produces Chardonnay wines, but it also produces a smaller amount of pinot noir and gamay wines. The white wines of Mâconnais, though not as expensive as white varieties from other Burgundy regions, are still considered quality wines with soft, fresh, and fruity flavors.
Visiting any one of these best places in Burgundy to taste wine is a great way for wine connoisseurs to experience some of the finest red and white wines in the world. If you’re interested in visiting scenic French locations and learning about the history of some of the most historic vineyards in France, contact us to book one of our wine-tasting tours in Burgundy, France, aboard the Grand Victoria. Your palate will thank you!
