Burgundy Wine

Burgundy is generally recognized as one of the two best wine regions in France (the other being Bordeaux). It is justly famous for its red wines, but its white wines are equally deserving of recognition, with the better examples being among the best in the world.

The main wine areas within Burgundy are:

• Chablis. The most northerly of Burgundy's regions, it is known exclusively for dry white wines. A good Chablis is a true pleasure.

• Côte de Nuits. This is the home of the great red wines for which Burgundy is famous. There are also some whites produced as well.

• Côte de Beaune. Produces both red and white wines. After Chablis, the greatest white Burgundies are from here.

• Côte Chalonnaise. Considered a lesser district, it still produces some very good red wines and white wines.

• Mâconnais. This is the area around the city Mâcon, at the southern end of Burgundy. Wines tend to be cheaper and made for drinking younger, but good wines at reasonable prices can be found.

• Beaujolais. Technically, the Beaujolais area is not in Burgundy but is in fact immediately south of Burgundy, in the Rhone-Alps region. However, the Rhone-Alps is not otherwise a wine area, so the Beaujolais wines are generally grouped with the Burgundy wines. Wines from the Beaujolais tend to be fruity and inexpensive, with the Beaujolais Nouveau being the famous marketing campaign of selling young and immature wines for inflated prices. Nouveau aside, there are many pleasant wines are inexpensive prices from this area.

The following (courtesy Wikipedia) shows the various wine-growing areas of Burgundy, with the central picture showing the areas overall, and the side pictures showing expanded views.