Burgundy Wine Region Guide

Where Terroir Began

Burgundy is wine’s spiritual heartland, where the concept of terroir reached its purest expression. For centuries, Cistercian monks meticulously mapped these vineyards, identifying which plots produced distinctly different wines.

Understanding Burgundy Classifications

Regional (Bourgogne)

Entry-level wines from across the region, offering good value and introduction to Burgundian style.

Village

Wines from specific villages (Gevrey-Chambertin, Meursault, etc.), showing local character.

Premier Cru

Superior vineyards within villages, producing wines of complexity and distinction.

Grand Cru

The pinnacle - just 33 vineyards producing the world’s most coveted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Red Burgundy: The Pinot Noir Ideal

Nowhere else does Pinot Noir achieve such elegance and complexity. From the power of Gevrey-Chambertin to the finesse of Chambolle-Musigny, each village offers unique character.

White Burgundy: Chardonnay’s Home

The greatest Chardonnays come from Burgundy - Montrachet, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet. These wines balance richness with acidity, showing why Chardonnay earned its global reputation here.

Navigating Burgundy

Understanding Burgundy requires learning producers as much as vineyards. A great producer’s village wine often surpasses a lesser producer’s Premier Cru.

Explore Burgundy with Sommo

Use Sommo to decode Burgundy labels, understand the classification system, and discover quality producers at every price level.