500 BC: Birth of the vineyard
5th century: Celebration of “the vine-covered hills” by Gregory of Tours
10th century: First period of growth, with “the wine of the monks”
14th century: Second period of growth, with the “Dukes of Burgundy”
18th century: Importance of the role of wine merchants (improvement in road network)
19th century: Opening of Burgundy canal, creation of railway line between Paris and Dijon, free trade treaty between the French Second Empire and Germany, Belgium, Holland and Great Britain.
20th century: Establishment of the Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées (AOC) system
When the vineyards were reorganised in the early 20th century, Burgundy wines found themselves in competition with others, leading to the introduction of a raft of legislation in 1905, 1919, and finally the creation of the INAO in 1935. This institute’s regulations helped boost sales, and still determine wine production conditions today.
The Burgundy wine industry represents*: 27,700 hectares divided across five major terroirs (from North to South):
- Chablisien and Auxerrois
- Côte de Nuits
- Côte de Beaune
- Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâconnais
An average production of : 1,530,000 hl : 61% white wines, 31% red (and rosé) wines and 8% crémants.
A wide range of wines : 100 appellations (55% white wines, 45% red wines)
*Source : Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB)
