“The natural extension of the Côte de Beaune”
Between the Côte de Beaune in the north and the hills of Mâcon in the south, the vineyards of the Côte Chalonnaise extend over a length of 25 km and a width of 7 km. In this hilly landscape, the vineyards are preferably located on the southeastern slopes.
The vines have been growing on similar soils as in the nearby Côte de Beaune for 1000 years. They take advantage of hot summers and dry autumns, which allow the grapes to ripen easily. Several grapes are grown on these grounds, although Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate here too. The exception to the rule is the hamlet of Bouzeron, which has its own appellation and where only white wines are made from the very old grape variety Aligoté or Bouzeron.
The 5 wine-growing municipalities in the Côte Chalonnaise of which some produce 1er Crus are called Bouzeron, Givry, Mercurey, Montagny and Rully. This area is also very likely the cradle of the Crémant de Bourgogne. In 1822, winegrowers from Rully and Mercurey invited a young man from the Champagne region and the sparkling wine was born. Negociants also venture into this adventure in the Côte de Nuits. In 1975, the AOC Crémant de Bourgogne was finally created in the area.