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Bourgogne is the generic appellation covering those Burgundy wines produced from vineyards that do not have more location-specific titles. It was first created in 1937. A standard Bourgogne wine can be made from grapes grown in any one – or more – of 300 communes across Burgundy. Confusingly, Bourgogne is not only the name of this appellation, but also the French name for the Burgundy administrative region.
Unlike Burgundy's village appellations, which specialize in either red or white wine or a combination of the two, Bourgogne wine may be red, white or rose. It can even be sparkling, as in the case of Cremant de Bourgogne and Bourgogne Mousseux.
There are six Bourgogne appellations: Bourgogne, Bourgogne Aligote, Bourgogne Mousseux, Bourgogne Ordinaire or Grand Ordinaire, Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains and Cremant de Bourgogne. There are also two appellations for the region's eaux de vie: Eau-de-vie de Vin de Bourgogne and Eau-de-vie de Marc de Bourgogne. (© Proprietary Content, Wine-Searcher.)
Some of these titles may be suffixed with the name of the particular sub-region, village or vineyard where the grapes were grown. The six sub-regions which may be stated are: Hautes Cotes de Beaune, Hautes Cotes de Nuits, Cote Chalonnaise, Cote du Couchois, Cotes d'Auxerre and Tonnerre – the latter being created only in 2006 and covering a group of villages just east of Chablis. Four villages may be stated: Chitry, Coulanges-la-Vineuse, Epineuil and Vezelay. The four vineyard sites are: Cote de Saint-Jacques in Joigny, Le Chapitre in Chenove, La Chapelle Notre Dame in Ladoix-Serrigny and Montrecul in Dijon.
Each Bourgogne appellation may be followed by the color of the wine (Blanc, Rouge or Rose) as appropriate, and where it is not already implied by the appellation itself. For example, Bourgogne Rouge is produced almost exclusively from Pinot Noir and is distinct from Bourgogne Blanc, which is made mostly from Chardonnay. Wines like Bourgogne Tonnerre need no color statement, as the title is reserved exclusively for white wines. Bourgogne Clairet is specifically reserved for rose wines but is rarely used, as the term rose is more internationally recognized.
One key difference between Bourgogne wines and those made under Village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru appellations is that the grape variety used in the wine may be stated on the label. This has helped with the perception and marketability of Burgundy's wines in overseas markets, where varietal labelling is the norm.
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