Bourgogne AOC

Technical Summary

• Classification: AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) — regional appellation
• EU Registration: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
• Geographic scope: Entire Burgundy wine region (Yonne to Mâconnais)
• Wine types: Red (Pinot Noir), White (Chardonnay), Rosé
• Hierarchy position: Base regional level; Village, Premier Cru, Grand Cru above

Regulatory Constraints (Verified)

Ampelographic Composition

Bourgogne Rouge:

• Pinot Noir: primary permitted variety
• César, Tressot: historically permitted in Yonne only

Bourgogne Blanc:

• Chardonnay: primary permitted variety
• Pinot Blanc: permitted in blend

Bourgogne Rosé:

• Pinot Noir

• Pinot Gris

• Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bourgogne, Art. 5

Geographic Delimitation

• Departments: Yonne (Chablis area), Côte-d’Or, Saône-et-Loire, Rhône (Beaujolais northern edge)
• Total regional vineyard: ~30,000 hectares AOC Burgundy
• Bourgogne AOC position: May be produced throughout region
• Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bourgogne, Art. 3

Yield Limits

Wine Type	Maximum Yield
Bourgogne Rouge	58 hl/ha
Bourgogne Blanc	64 hl/ha
Bourgogne Rosé	58 hl/ha

• Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bourgogne, Art. 7

Minimum Alcohol

Wine Type	Minimum Alcohol
Bourgogne Rouge	10.0% vol
Bourgogne Blanc	10.5% vol

• Source: Cahier des Charges AOC Bourgogne, Art. 8

Burgundy Hierarchy Context

Level	Example
Regional	Bourgogne AOC
Sub-regional	Bourgogne Côte d’Or, Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
Village	Gevrey-Chambertin, Meursault
Premier Cru	Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Grand Cru	Chambertin, Montrachet

Enological Implications

Evidence-Backed Implications

Single-variety requirement:

• Pinot Noir only for red (no blending unlike Bordeaux)
• Chardonnay only for white (with minor Pinot Blanc exception)
• Vintage and terroir character directly expressed

Declassification flow:

• Higher appellations can be declassified to Bourgogne AOC
• Provides quality flexibility for producers
• Young vines from Grand Cru sites may be sold as Bourgogne

Operational Observations

Quality variation within AOC:

• Significant quality range at Bourgogne level
• Source matters: Côte d’Or vs. Mâconnais vs. Yonne
• Top producers’ Bourgogne can exceed others’ village wines

Commercial positioning:

• Entry-level tier for Burgundy
• Price-sensitive market segment
• Important volume category for négociants

Frequent Compliance Risks

Varietal Violations

• Risk: Using non-permitted varieties
• Impact: Cannot be labeled Bourgogne AOC
• Mitigation: Vineyard registration verification

Geographic Sourcing

• Risk: Blending from non-Burgundy regions
• Impact: Fraud
• Mitigation: Traceability documentation

Yield Exceedance

• Risk: Exceeding 58/64 hl/ha limits
• Impact: Excess declassified
• Mitigation: Yield monitoring

Relevant Grape Varieties

• Pinot Noir — sole red variety
• Chardonnay — primary white variety

Key Producers

Quality Bourgogne from top producers often exceeds lesser village wines:

Négociants

• Louis Jadot: Quality range; reliable
• Joseph Drouhin: Historic; Beaune-based
• Bouchard Père & Fils: Major holdings
• Maison Leroy: Premium quality

Top Domaines (Bourgogne offerings)

• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: Grand Échezeaux declassified
• Domaine Leflaive: Outstanding white
• Domaine Ramonet: Premier Chassagne
• Domaine Roulot: Meursault benchmark

References

1. Cahier des Charges AOC Bourgogne

   • INAO
   • URL: https://www.inao.gouv.fr/

2. Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB)

   • URL: https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/

---

Last Updated: January 6, 2026