What is my favorite wine region?

That’s a tough one. But one region I definitely love, is built on many centuries of wine making tradition, and produces elegant and aromatic Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays: Burgundy.

When I was studying for the French Wine Scholar, Burgundy and its wines were one of the most unexpected revelations. So much history and such complex layers in a single, well-balanced glass of wine seemed impossible. The Burgundians are so successful at glorifying the grape and the terroir. Try a sip of a Meursault and be impressed by its rich, creamy texture. Then uncork a Pulligny Montrachet and fall in love with the hints of warm butter, toasted almond and honey.

A wine region where history made the wine

How can two bottles of the same grape variety, harvested from vineyards just a couple of meters apart, behave so differently? My conclusion: it’s all down to the earth and history. One of the most important events in Burgundian history was the Napoleonic succession laws, which led to the subdivision of vineyard holdings, where growers had only one or two rows of vines.

The soil in this region plays an important role. Marl and limestone provide a Côte de Nuits, a firm structure with dark berries, earth and spice, providing a Pinot Noir experience like no other. Kimmeridgian marl in Chablis provides a powerful minerality and soft mouthfeel to counterbalance their bright acidity.

The desire to connect the wine to the place that produced it has resulted in climates. There are more than 1,000 climates, each one with its own history and taste. These terroirs of Burgundy have been inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.

One of the aspects I admire most about Burgundy is that patience is truly rewarded. When you leave a Burgundy age, you forget that you are drinking Chardonnay or Pinot Noir and you taste terroir.

One thing is for sure, around all those monasteries, the vineyards in Burgundy produce some of the most stunning and valuable wines in the world.