Why Visit Burgundy? Part 4: The History

Clos Vougeot

Why Visit Burgundy?

The History of Burgundy Is Another Reason To Visit The Region

With so many wines available from all around the world and numerous wine break destinations to choose from, you might find yourself asking this question. The answers will take you on a journey of discovery from the thirsty monks, kings, and Dukes of Burgundy’s past to the colorful characters who live and work here to the present day. This part of our series of articles about Why Visit Burgundy looks at the rich and fascinating history of the Bourgogne region, how some of its most famous places came to be so, and how it became truly one of the world’s most outstanding wine regions.

Imagine a rich and intricately woven tapestry representing nearly two thousand years of history, with deep red and gold threads running throughout. These colors symbolize not only the royal lineage that dominated this part of France for hundreds of years but also its most revered product—Burgundy wine. Throughout wars, plague, and peaceful times, wine has been a constant presence here, much like religion. The connections between the two have always been closely linked, with many writers drawing heavily on religious symbolism when describing this region. For instance, Burgundian writer Pierre Poupin spoke of the exquisite village of Monthélie in religious terms, describing it as "prettily nestled into the curve of the hillside like the head of St John against the shoulder of Jesus".

Historic Villages and Vineyards

The village of Polmarium has existed as far back as the year 909, and later became Pommard. It takes its name from Pomona, the Roman goddess of vineyards and flowers. Similarly, the village of Rully in the Côte Chalonnaise is rumored to have been named after a wealthy Roman named Rubilius. Rully is now known for its quality red and white wines, as well as sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne, which it has produced since the 1800s.

The Corton Red and Corton Charlemagne White wines take their names from two emperors you may have heard of - Curtis d’Othon and the somewhat more famous emperor Charlemagne. These vineyards were a present from Charlemagne to the Saint-Andoche religious community at Saulieu in the year 775. Apparently, Chardonnay was chosen to avoid any unfortunate beard-staining!

Beaujolais, on the other hand, is a wine that owes its unique grape variety to one of the famous Dukes of Burgundy. In 1395, Philip the Bold declared that the ‘base and unfaithful Gamay’ should be kept firmly south of the Mâcon region to protect Pinot Noir’s reputation. Despite his order, enforcement did not reach Beaujolais in the far south of Burgundy. As a result, pockets of the Gamay grape continued to grow in the region, and it is still cultivated there today. When you visit Burgundy, you can see these places first hand and understand a little of their magic.

The influence of religion is significant in this context. Many of the most valuable plots of land were initially cultivated by monks. There is a well-known saying in Burgundy that ‘the habit does not make the monk,’ which is a nod to the history of the wine-loving monks of Burgundy’s numerous abbeys. For instance, the Clos Vougeot was first cultivated by the supposedly austere and abstemious Cistercian monks. Over approximately 200 years, they developed the land while based at the nearby Citeaux Abbey. Today, another group, the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, consider this hallowed ground their base.

Equally ancient is the viticultural history in the land around Couches, located near to Domaine de Cromey, which again was begun by monks as far back as the year 731. (Couches found itself situated near to iron ore works, and exhausted workers toiling in the hot conditions were often entitled to generous amounts of wine to help them through the day – though only at around 4% alcohol volume, well below what we would expect to find in wines today!)

The Monasteries of Burgundy

The monasteries also played a role. One particular monk called Bertin, who must have been fond of wine and likely had a great vineyard, is the namesake of the wine known as Gevrey-Chambertin. The village of Gevrey, situated in the Côte d’Or just south of Dijon, began using the name of its most famous vineyard, Chambertin, in its full name in 1847. Napoleon famously favored Chambertin wines above all others, although it is not recorded whether they aided his military campaigns.

Bresse Chicken

The commune of Volnay is named after the God of water, Volen. Around 1250, a chateau was constructed here by Hugues IV, which became a favored retreat for the Dukes, who gathered here to enjoy the good air and even better wine. This tradition continues to this day. Over the next 800 years, Volnay became extremely popular, with even Louis XI purchasing vineyards here.

Burgundy is known not only for its wine but also for its cuisine, which itself has a rich history. One example is the Bresse Chicken (check out our recipe and wine pairing ideas for Bresse Chicken here), also known as the Queen of Chickens, which comes from the area around Bourg-en-Bresse in the Mâconnais region, famous for its white wines. The market town of Louhans is considered the capital of the Bresse chicken producing region. The history of these chickens dates back to 1591 when records show that they were used to reward soldiers who fought to protect the land. Additionally, 60 years ago, the AOC mark was granted to the Bresse Chicken, securing its status.

But no exploration of Burgundy history would be truly complete without a mention of the Hospices (both the Hospices de Beaune and the Hospices de Nuits) which remain vibrant and important symbols of Burgundy history even to the present day. The Hospices de Nuits has stood since 1270, and the one at Beaune dates from the fifteenth century. A few hundred years later the hospitals began to build up wine holdings, which were given to them by wealthy local benefactors. Today, they symbolise all that is good about this region and the role that wine plays – as a celebration of local produce and generosity of spirit.

Why Visit Burgundy? To Stay at Domaine de Cromey and Bid at a Wine Auction...

The Hospices de Beaune currently has around 60 hectares primarily dedicated to the Pinot Noir grape, with some Chardonnay vines as well. Each year, on the third Sunday in November, the world's most famous wine auction takes place—the Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction. Did you know that you too could be a part of this unique experience? It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to an auction before – we’re here to help! If you attend with us, we’ll show you the way. We will participate in the pre-auction festivities in Beaune, taste wine at the Hospices' winery, experience the excitement of the auction, and purchase a barrel or two. After the auction, we will host our own annual Paulee banquet for guests and winemakers in the cellars at Cromey.

We hope we've answered all your Why Visit Burgundy questions, but if you can't visit Burgundy this year, consider joining one of our consortiums where you can buy a share of a barrel. Our wine expert, Dennis, will lead a team to attend the auction on your behalf. This approach allows you to benefit from his knowledge and expertise. Buying wine this way can provide great value for money, as the wines often increase in value by fifty or even a hundred percent by the time you receive them.

Why visit Burgundy? Because you can come and stay with us amongst the history and the vines! Our baronial manor house is situated perfectly to make the ideal base for your trip to Burgundy, to discover the historic wonders for yourself. You can hire bikes, take boat trips, attend cookery classes and live like lords and ladies – to book your Burgundy house party today, just follow this link: Booking Enquiry — Domaine de Cromey