Beaune

The ancient walled city of Beaune is the base for Burgundy’s wine business, with négociants, auctioneers and other industry tradespeople all working in support of the region’s wine trade. The actual wines are produced beyond the walls, in vineyards that climb the steep hillsides of the Beaune appellation.

Beaune wines are mostly red, made from Pinot Noir. Beaune boasts no Grand Cru vineyards, but it does have 42 Premier Crus sites recognized for producing particularly fine wines; their names typically follow Beaune’s on the labels. Unlike the Grand Cru wines of some nearby villages, these are relatively soft in style, though they provide a glimpse of those wines’ typical rich aromas and solid structure. Beaune Premier Cru wines can offer amazing value for Burgundy wines.