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Burgundy is one of the largest wine growing regions in France and, with the exception of Bordeaux, the most complex to understand.

Vineyards on the same slope can produce a wine that you will remember forever and a mediocre effort you would rather forget. This is one reason the terroir, the soil, sun and total environment of the grape vine, is so important in Burgundy wines.

The reds of Burgundy are made primarily from Pinot Noir grapes, except in Beaujolais and Macon in the southern part of Burgundy, where the Gamay grape is more popular. The Gamay wines tend to be lighter, more fruity and less likely to age well.

Burgundian whites favor the Chardonnay grape and many experts pick the Chardonnay from Burgundy as the perfection of this wine. Bouzeron, made from the Aligoté grape and St-Bris, Sauvignon Blanc, are local wines and these grapes are often mixed with Chardonnay to make table wines for local consumption.

The best wines produced in Burgundy come from grapes grown in Grand Cru vineyards - the Tête de Cuvée. These top quality areas are found in Chablis and the Côte d'Or. There, and in the Côte Chalonnaise, you'll also find the Premier Cru vinyards, a step down from the Grand Cru areas, but very excellent wines. A label with these names is a good indication that the Burgundy wine you're choosing will meet your expectations...but don't be afraid to try other areas. You can find nicely priced wines that are exceptional from any area in Burgundy...

The Burgundy Report - Bill Nanson is an amateur wine buff in the sense that he is not paid for reviewing the wines of Burgandy. He is also an amateur photographer since he is not paid for the amazing photos of Burgundy on his web site. The reports, blog, reviews and photos are anything but amateur in quality. Go take a look, you'll definitely bookmark this site.

Burgundy Wine Guide - The wine doctor introduces Burgundy wines with a general overview of the regions wines, grapes and classifications and a map for you to get your bearings. Then it's on to specific regions and reviews of wines that are top choices from each.

Wines of the World - Burgundy - The wine philosopher's guide to Burgundy is a resource that simplifies the complexities of Burgundy wines...where they grow, why the same grapes grown in the same region produce such a range of wines and how they are classified so you know which ones you're likely to enjoy.

Terroir France - Burgundy - Appellations, soil, climate, history and more on Burgundy and it's wines presented in pages of easy to understand text with graphics. The game is fun and the shopping area puts the wines at your fingertips if you live in an area where you can have wine delivered.

Tom Cannavan's Wine Pages - Burgundy - The best mix of wine lover and webmaster is here in Tom Cannavan's pages. The information on Burgundy is chatty and full of bits of information you won't find as clearly explained on other sites. He even makes terroir easy to comrehend...

Wines of Burgundy - A simple primer on Burgundy wines. It starts with a label and explains what you see. The details are all there, but put together based on deciphering the information that the label offers. A few specific wines are recommended, but with the info from the site, you should be able to pick a bottle and do your own review.

also see in Wines -> Red Wines

also see -> Alsace | Armagnac | Beaujolais | Bordeaux | Chablis

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