The varietal,
is the type of grape that contributes to giving the wine its personality
This is all the more true in Burgundy, where the wines produced are single varietals as compared to elsewhere in France where the wines are made by blending several varietals.
Four varietals have, in different respects, anchored the reputation of Burgundy’s wines.
However, two varietals dominate: Pinot Noir, which has made the great red wines of Burgundy famous, and Chardonnay for the white wines. Aligoté is less prevalent, representing a mere 3% of the area under vine. The Gamay grape is the king varietal in the Beaujolais.
Pinot Noir, a red grape producing white juice, this varietal grows in compact, purplish-black bunches. The tight clusters of grapes are full of sweet, colourless juice. This is a most delicate and fragile varietal.
Gamay, is a very vigorous vine whose grapes grow in rather tight clusters, depending on the variety. This varietal thrives in the Beaujolais whose granitic soil produces crunchy, deeply coloured wines, whereas in the Côte-d’Or the wines are less exuberant.
Chardonnay, the varietal behind the world’s finest dry white wines produces beautiful, golden bunches of grapes which are rather small but are bursting with deliciously sweet juice.
L’Aligoté is a lesser-known white varietal that is more acidic than Chardonnay, making it ideal as an aperitif wine.
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