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August 30, 2011

What Is Burgundy?
Burgundy is one of the major wine-producing regions that hold an AOC designation in France. However, over the years, I have often found that people are confused about what a Burgundy really is, because the name has been borrowed so freely. Burgundy is not a synonym for red wine, even though the color known as burgundy is obviously named after red wine.
Many of the world’s most renowned (and expensive) white wines come from Burgundy. Adding to the confusion (especially going back twenty-plus years) is that many red wines around the world were simply labeled “Burgundy” even though they were ordinary table wines. There are still some wineries, especially in the United States, that continue to label their wines as Burgundy, but these wines have no resemblance to the style of authentic French Burgundy wines.
It’s important to know the types of wine that are produced there. Burgundy is another region so famous for its red wines that people may forget that some of the finest white wines of France are also produced there. The three areas in Burgundy that produce world-famous white wines are Chablis, Côte de Beaune, and Mâconnais. The following chart will give you the breakdown of red and white wines production.

If it’s any comfort to you, you need to know that all the great white Burgundies are made from 100 percent Chardonnay. And although they are made very differently, they have one common trait- they are dry.

Source: http://www.delish.com/food/zraly-wine-blog/what-is-burgundy