Beaune, the second-largest town in the Côte d’Or, has been so closely associated with Burgundy’s wines that, for a time, and well before the 1936 appellation was granted, all wines from this region were called “Beaune wines.” Because it is also based in the heart of the wine trade industry, the area is one of the few that offers a unique mix of farming and commercialism.
The western side of Beaune is where the magic happens, as it is there where you will find the vineyards. The appellation has a high proportion of premier cru plots, with over 40 climats that stretch from north to south, basically uninterrupted by commerce or residential development.
The wines from Beaune are predominantly red, but the trend towards Chardonnay has sparked a new increase in white wine production. A happy medium between Pommard’s aggressive reds and Corton’s highly structured ones, Beaune’s reds are accessible and enjoyable by a broad spectrum of wine enthusiasts. Top Producers:Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Bouchard Pére et Fils
