Burgundy
Parcels, soils and exposures create a finely grained map of terroir, from Chablis to the Mâconnais.
To get started
Taste Pinot Noir and Chardonnay separately, then compare two places: Burgundy rewards attention to small differences.
Key grapes
Pinot Noir — Finesse, red fruit and a clear sense of place. Serve it slightly cool and watch its perfume open in the glass; too much warmth accentuates alcohol.
Chardonnay — From crisp and mineral to broad and buttery. Compare an unoaked version with a barrel-aged one: the grape stays the same, while fermentation and ageing change texture.
Compare regions
Compare regions in the same country too: the same grape can produce different wines as climate, site and producer choices change.
Style descriptions are guides, not rules: vintage, vineyard, blending and maturation change the result.
