Burgundy - The Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais

The region produces more red than white wine. Its regional Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise AOC wines can offer good value and are frequently labelled simply as Bourgogne AOC. Its village and premier cru wines have risen in quality in recent years and can offer excellent value for money when compared to their Côte d’Or neighbours. There is a substantial number of sites classified as premier cru, but no grand cru. 

The premiers crus tend to be on the warmest, south-, south-east and east-facing slopes (good sunlight interception) with well drained limestone soils, producing riper fruit and wines of higher quality.

Bouzeron AOC – Wines bearing this appellation must be 100 per cent Aligoté, and this village is respected as the finest region for Burgundy’s second white grape.

Rully AOC – Rully produces more white wines than reds, with premiers crus for both. Just over a quarter of the appellation is premier cru. It is an important area for grapes destined for Crémant de Bourgogne.

Mercurey AOC – The largest producer of the communal appellations in the Côte Chalonnaise, producing significantly more red wine than white wine. Around a quarter of the vineyard area is classified as premier cru.

Givry AOC – Mostly red wines, over 40 per cent premier cru.

Montagny AOC – White wines only. Two-thirds is classified as premier cru.

Mâconnais is the region produces mostly white wines. Inexpensive regional wines are often labelled simply as Bourgogne AOC. The appellations in the Mâcon region are, in approximate order of quality, rising in quality and decreasing in size going from first to last is as follows:

Mâcon AOC – predominantly red (or rosé) wines, with a small amount of white.

Mâcon-Villages and Mâcon-plus named village (e.g. Mâcon-Lugny, Mâcon-Solutré) – whitewines only.

Named village appellations – Pouilly-Fuissé AOC, Saint-Véran AOC and Viré-Clessé AOC (along with the much smaller Pouilly- Vinzelles AOC, Pouilly-Loché AOC) are currently the only separate appellations in the Mâconnais, though more may be added. Wines from these appellations, especially Pouilly-Fuissé, attain a higher quality than Macon-Villages. For example, grapes can ripen more fully in the amphitheatre of Fuissé due to better sunlight interception and good drainage.