Things You'll Need:
- Bottle of Chablis Bottle of white Cote de Beaune Bottle of white Cote Chalonnaise Bottle of white Maconnais
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Step 1
Understand the wine laws of Burgundy. In Burgundy, as in all of France, there are stringent wine laws that govern exactly which grapes can be grown where, and what the wines made from those grapes can be called. In Bordeaux, there are the laws governing Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In Burgundy, the two grapes that can be grown and made into wine that can legally be called a Burgundy are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Beaujolais is technically part of Burgundy, and the light red grape Gamay is grown there, but that is the only exception. If you drink a white wine from Burgundy, it will not likely say "Chardonnay" on the label, but it will be made up of 100 percent Chardonnay. That said, these Chardonnays can taste as different as night and day, depending on what part of Burgundy they are from.
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Step 2
Explore the north with Chablis. The northernmost part of the Burgundy growing region is called Chablis. It is situated away from the rest of the Burgundy and is somewhat isolated from any other Chardonnay growing regions. This isolation comes across on the palate as well. The soil is primarily limestone and the climate is cooler than the rest of Burgundy. The wines are, therefore leaner, minerally, and have more acidity. The Chardonnays from this area have more in common, flavor profile-wise, to a Sancerre than a Chardonnay from farther south in the same region. Open your bottle of Chablis and pour a taste. The aroma will remind you of the limestone the grapes were grown in, and the bracing acidity will be both refreshing and complex.
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Step 3
Move south to Cote de Beaune. Within the area known as the Cote d'Or is the area called Cote de Beaune. The Chardonnays grown here are massively different than the ones grown in Chablis and are the fullest-bodied and most intense of any grown in all of Burgundy, some would argue. The temperature is a bit warmer, the soil is clay and the growing areas are sloped and well drained. This makes for a heartier grape with less acidity. Pour yourself a bit of your Cote de Beaune and smell the full-throttle scent of honey and toasted nuts. On the palate there will very likely be hints of tropical fruit, baking spices and smokiness.
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Step 4
Find a bargain in Cote Chalonnaise. South of Cote de Beaune is Cote Chalonnaise. This area is not as exclusive as the Cote de Beaune but still produces some great white Burgundies at considerably lower prices. Much of the grapes that make up Borgogne Blancs come from here, and many houses that produce the sparkling Cremant de Borgogne also come from the Cote Chalonnaise. Open your bottle of Cote Chalonnaise and pour a bit for yourself. The scent will probably be reminiscent of the Cote de Beaune, only a bit less intense. Again, on the palate, the Cote Chalonnaise will echo the flavor notes and complexity of the Cote de Beaune but will whisper instead of shout.
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Step 5
Go simple with Maconnais. The Chardonnays from Maconnais are among the simplest and least expensive of any in Burgundy. That doesn't mean that they are necessarily bad, however. While there are gallons of quaffing wines that come from this region, there are just as many quality wines at competitive prices. The most famous white wines from this area come from Pouilly-Fuisse and Saint-Veran. These can sometimes be overpriced, so look for bargains from other areas of Maconnais. When you smell and sip your Maconnais, you will find a bouquet of ripe orange and honeysuckle.
