Côte de Beaune
Cool continental
The southern half of the Côte d'Or, home to the great white Burgundies of Meursault, Puligny and Montrachet, and softer, perfumed reds.
Overview
About Côte de Beaune
The Côte de Beaune runs south from the hill of Corton, past the walled town of Beaune, to Santenay. It has more white wine than the Côte de Nuits: Corton-Charlemagne and Montrachet are Chardonnay Grand Crus, and Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet are its most celebrated villages. Its reds — Pommard, Volnay and Corton — are generally softer and more perfumed than those in the north.
Beaune is the region's wine capital, and the Hospices de Beaune charity auction is held there each November, setting the tone for the new vintage.
Hover a marker to see what's grown there, and click it to open that place. On a touch screen, tap once to preview and again to open. Bigger markers have more grapes linked to them.
France
Shaded: Côte-d'Or. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Cool continental
Cool and semi-continental, slightly warmer than the Côte de Nuits. Slopes vary in aspect, so the best vineyards are in the folds that catch the morning sun.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Limestone with more marl, particularly at the foot of the slope, which suits Chardonnay. Red-grape vineyards sit on the stonier soils.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
The Côte de Beaune follows Burgundy's pyramid, and its Grand Crus are mostly white.
Grand Cru
Corton (red), Corton-Charlemagne, Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and others (white).
Premier Cru
Many, especially in Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, Volnay and Beaune.
Village
Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pommard, Volnay and others.
Regional
Bourgogne and Côte de Beaune-Villages.
Within Côte de Beaune
Appellations
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to Côte de Beaune or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.