Written on 19/05/2022
Understanding the Climat de Bourgogne
In the words of Bernard Pivot, writer and president of the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne support committee: "In Burgundy, when we talk about a Climat, we don't raise our eyes to heaven, we lower them to earth".
Indeed, in Burgundy, a climate doesn't mean the temperature in the sky, but the wine-growing terroir itself.
Climat refers to a parcel of vines that has been progressively and precisely delimited by the hand of man.
Each Climat has numerous geological and hydrometric characteristics, as well as special exposures. Each Climat is vinified separately from a single grape variety, and the wine produced takes the name of the Climat from which it is made.
The term Climat first appeared in writings dating back to the 16th century. At the time, it was synonymous with lieu-dit. A century later, it came into widespread use, embodying this new reference to place and characterizing the differences and hierarchy between Burgundy wines.
The personality of the Climat is obviously expressed in the wine , and changes with each vintage thanks to the know-how of the winemakers .
This Climat is particularly unique to the Burgundy region, since nowhere else in the world has such an intimate and precise link been made between a wine production and its place of production.
Climat is so unique to the region that the term was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 4, 2015. A guarantee of quality and exception, it adds even more value to the region's wines, enabling them to be passed on intact to future generations and gaining international recognition for their unique character. On the terroir, no fewer than 1000 Climats succeed one another along the thin ribbon stretching from Dijon to Santenay, south of Beaune, some of which boast prestigious, world-famous names such as Chambertin, Romanée-Conti, Clos de Vougeot, Montrachet, Corton Musigny...
Proof of the renown of these Climats, the Burgundy region doesn't hesitate to organize festivals around them throughout the summer season. It's another opportunity to celebrate the region's fine produce.
