Côte de Beaune

The Côte de Beaune forms the southern half of the Côte d’Or escarpment, stretching from just south of Aloxe-Corton down to Santenay. It is topographically distinct from the Côte de Nuits to the north, with a more varied mix of gentle slopes, rolling hills, and exposures that favor both red and white grape cultivation. The region is celebrated for producing some of Burgundy’s most revered Chardonnays alongside highly regarded Pinot Noir.

The slopes in this zone are predominantly east and southeast facing, giving the vineyards optimal exposure to morning sunlight while preserving balance through cooler afternoon influences. This orientation is particularly favorable for Chardonnay, which benefits from the slower, more even ripening that enhances both minerality and aromatic complexity. Pinot Noir grown here tends toward elegance rather than power, with a supple structure and refined fruit expression.

Chardonnay dominates the Côte de Beaune’s vineyard plantings, especially in villages like Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, and Chassagne-Montrachet, where limestone-rich soils yield wines of precision, intensity, and age-worthy character. Pinot Noir remains highly significant in the northern stretches around Beaune, Pommard, and Volnay, where clay-limestone soils and slightly cooler exposures produce reds noted for their aromatic lift, fine tannins, and remarkable longevity. This dual excellence in both white and red wines is what makes the Côte de Beaune unique within Burgundy.

Among the villages, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet stand out for their iconic Chardonnay crus, including Montrachet itself, arguably the most celebrated white wine site in the world. Volnay and Pommard, by contrast, are benchmarks for Côte de Beaune reds: Volnay known for its silky finesse and floral aromatics, Pommard for its darker fruit tones and more robust structure. Together, they illustrate the stylistic breadth of the region’s terroir.

Wines from the Côte de Beaune are prized for their balance, clarity of terroir expression, and finesse. The whites often show a combination of richness and mineral precision, with flavors that evolve from citrus and orchard fruits to honeyed, nutty complexity with age. The reds, while lighter in body than those of the Côte de Nuits, reveal striking elegance and aromatic charm, making them some of Burgundy’s most seductive wines.

The Côte de Beaune is home to both Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards of international renown, reinforcing its reputation as one of Burgundy’s most important and multifaceted subregions. Its dual mastery of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir ensures that wine lovers find both profound whites and refined reds within a relatively compact stretch of vineyards.