Vin blanc de Bourgogne

White Burgundy, or Bourgogne Blanc, as it is often called, is made from Chardonnay grown in the Burgundy region of France. The other principal grape grown in Burgundy is Pinot Noir. Burgundy has had a long love affair with wine, starting around the 1st century AD with the Romans. Later, the Cistercian monks really put Burgundy on the map by crafting wines for the local aristocracy. Widely viewed as the most terroir-driven of French wines, Burgundy wines, both red and white are made from varieties that easily reflect the soil and climate they are grown in. Like a blank canvas, Chardonnay readily expresses subtle variations from vineyards that are a mere stone's throw from one another, this is part of what makes Burgundy so compelling and so expensive. As with other regions in France, Burgundy can range in price from expensive to reasonably affordable. Burgundy's vineyard sites have been carefully divided over the centuries into Grand Cru, Premier Cru, village appellations and regional wines (aka Bourgogne blanc). Some things to keep in mind when selecting white Burgundy: It's more nuanced than New World Chardonnay, this restraint is reflected in the alcohol as well, which often falls between 12.5-13.5%. Young white Burgundies have aromas of fresh apple and pear, citrus, mineral overtones and sometimes toasted hazelnut notes from barrel aging. Try white Burgundies with delicate seafood dishes, like poached salmon or scallops, roasted chicken or spring vegetables.