Burgundy classification

In this comprehensive history of Burgundy's vineyards, 29 grape varieties are also described in terms of their suitability. Based on his own book, Lavalle then finalised the first systematic classification in 1861, which was also presented a year later at the Great Exhibition in London. The vineyards and wines were categorised into four quality classes: Tête de cuvée or Hors ligne, Première cuvée, Deuxième cuvée and Troisième cuvée. The system was later recognised in a slightly modified form by the agricultural authority in Beaune and was largely reproduced by the INAO in 1936 when the AOC classification system was introduced.

The system is already confusing for the normal wine consumer in Burgundy, but even more so outside France. In contrast to the various systems in Bordeaux, however, it is valid for the entire region. It takes into account the diversity of the terroir, which is particularly typical in Burgundy, where the smallest plots of land, often lying next to each other, differ greatly in terms of climatic conditions and the prevailing microclimate, the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil type, the slope and thus exposure (sunlight) and therefore also the quality of the wine. It is in this context that the term climat (site) was coined in Burgundy.

The Burgundian Climats were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. The VDP classification model introduced in Germany in 2012 (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) is based on the four-level Burgundy model.

Quality classes

In the classification system, each individual vineyard (Cru, Climat) in the Côte d'Or and Chablis areas is precisely defined (although this does not apply to the Beaujolais and Mâconnais areas), often resulting in the smallest vineyard areas. An extreme example is Nuits-Saint-Georges, where there are 40 Premiers Crus on 152 hectares of vineyards. The classification into quality classes is based on the criteria of authorised grape varieties, traditional winegrowing techniques, minimum and maximum alcohol content, maximum yield limits and typical style. The system is organised in ascending order into the following four quality levels, each with further fine gradations, with a total of 84 often very small appellations:

• regional appellation: in principle possible for all wines from Burgundy - 54%
• communal appellation: 41 communes = Villages - 34%
• Premier Cru: 562 sites (but no separate appellations) - 10%
• Grand Cru: 34 top sites/appellations in the Côte d'Or (33) and Chablis - 2%

The best sites in Burgundy are therefore classified in the first two levels "Grand Cru" and "Premier Cru", which only account for 12% of the area. Almost without exception, these form a long ribbon of vineyards that cover most of the slopes on the eastern edge of the Côte d'Or and face the sun in the morning. The commune of origin does not have to appear on the label for the Grands Crus, but is only indicated as "Montrachet" or "Bâtard-Montrachet", for example. Premiers Crus, however, are labelled with the commune of origin and cru class, for example "Chassagne-Montrachet - 1er Cru Morgeot". All Grands Crus are classified as a separate appellation. The quality system in the Beaujolais area is also based on the Burgundy model, but there are only three levels instead of four (no Grands Crus). The four quality levels:

Grand Cru

The first quality level is the "Grands Crus". The process of deciding which of the many vineyards should be assigned to this highest class was not finalised until 1984. This was based on many years of monitoring wine quality. The yield is limited to a maximum of 35 hl/ha, and the wines can generally be stored for at least five to seven years. With the exception of Chablis, these sites do not bear the name of the respective municipality. In the 19th century, however, many municipalities added the name of the Grand Cru vineyard to the place name. For example, Aloxe became Aloxe-Corton, Chambolle became Chambolle-Musigny, Chassagne became Chassagne-Montrachet, Gevrey became Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne became Vosne-Romanée.

This can be confusing, as the famous Grand Cru vineyard "Montrachet" (which is shared by the communes of "Chassagne Montrachet" and "Puligniy-Montrachet" in terms of surface area and for which no commune name is given) should not be confused with one of the many Premier Cru vineyards from the Montrachet communes.

The 40 top sites from the Cote d'Or (33) and Chablis (7) areas are separate appellations. Most of them are shared by several owners; in Clos de Vougeot, for example, there are 85 winegrowers. The famous Hospices de Beaune in particular has owned many Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites over the last 500 years thanks to donations and inheritances. The Grand Cru communes with the Grands Crus listed below:

Aloxe-Corton (Côte de Beaune): Charlemagne, Corton, Corton-Charlemagne

ChablisThe seven top sites are Blanchot, Bougros, Grenouilles, Les Clos, Les Preuses, Valmur and Vaudésir. One exception is Moutonne, which is not a Grand Cru vineyard. However, the name may appear on the label because parts of it are located in Grand Cru vineyards.

Chambolle-Musigny (Côte de Nuits): Bonnes-Mares, Musigny

Flagey-Echézeaux (Côte de Nuits): Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux

Gevrey-Chambertin (Côte de Nuits): Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze (also Clos de Bèze), Chapelle-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin, Ruchottes-Chambertin

Ladoix-Serrigny (Côte de Beaune): Corton, Corton-Charlemagne

Montrachet = Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet (Côte de Beaune): Bâtard-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet, Montrachet

Morey-Saint-Denis (Côte de Nuits): Bonnes-Mares, Clos de la Roche, Clos de Tart, Clos des Lambrays, Clos Saint-Denis

Pernand-Vergelesses (Côte de Beaune): Corton, Corton-Charlemagne

Vosne-Romanée (Côte de Nuits): La Grande Rue, La Romanée, La Tâche, Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant

Vougeot (Côte de Nuits): Clos de Vougeot

In the Grand Cru sites of Côte de Nuits, the classification applies almost exclusively to red wines (with the exception of Musigny, which also produces some white wine), while in the Grand Cru sites of Côte de Beaune, the classification applies almost exclusively to white wine (with the exception of Corton, which produces almost exclusively red wine).

Premier Cru

The second quality level (one should not be confused by the term "Premier") are the "Premier Crus". The yield is limited to a maximum of 45 hl/ha. This categorisation was not easy either: for example, parcels 2 to 8 and 13 to 19 of the Les Petits Epenots site in the commune of Pommard were classified as Premier Cru, but the rest were not. Some Premier Cru sites are of Grand Cru quality or even higher. A combination of commune and vineyard name appears on the label (in contrast to the Grands Crus). If the wine comes from several Premier Cru sites, only the text "Premier Cru" follows the commune name.

Appellation Communale/Villages

This is the third quality level of the Burgundy classification system. The yield is limited to a maximum of 50 hl/ha. It is labelled "Villages" (villages) or, for privileged ones, the commune. These are Aloxe-Corton, Auxey-Duresses, Beaune, Blagny, Bouzeron, Chambolle-Musigny, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chorey-lès-Beaune, Fixin, Flagey-Echézeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin, Givry, Ladoix, Maranges, Marsannay, Mercurey, Meursault, Montagny, Monthélie, Morey-Saint-Denis, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pernand-Vergelesses, Pommard, Pouilly-Fuissé, Puligny-Montrachet, Rully, Saint-Aubin, Saint-Romain, Saint-Véran, Santenay, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Viré-Clessé, Volnay, Vosne-Romanée and Vougeot.

If there are Grands Crus in these communes, these are used without commune names; the location speaks for itself, so to speak. Site names are permitted if they are given in smaller type than that of the commune.

Appellation Régionale

This is the fourth and lowest quality level of the Burgundy classification system. In principle, it can be used for all Burgundy wines. These are all appellation names beginning with Bourgogne, as well as Mâcon and Mâcon Supérieur (see under the keyword Mâconnais).

Further information

In France, there is a bewildering variety of classification systems for wines, vineyards and appellations. This is even the case within a single region, particularly in Bordeaux. These include those of Graves, Médoc, Saint-Émilion and Sauternes. See also the lists under Grand Cru and quality system.

Aloxe-Corton: From Louis Latour