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ORIGINS OF THE NAMES OF BURGUNDY WINES
The entire world today is familiar with the lands of Chablis, Pommard, Meursault, Vosne, Chambolle, Clos-de-Vougeot, and others just as famous. Before this success, and lacking sometimes surprising appellations, we asked ourselves where the names of the greatest wines of this region came from.  

La Côte de Beaune

At the heart of the Burgundy vineyard one finds Nord d’Aloxe-Corton à Santenay, which at times produces among the greatest excellent red and white wines in the world.   

 

 

 Aloxe-Corton: Aloxe derives from the Gaulic "al", meaning "elevated place"; Corton was added at a later date.   The origin of this village is very old.
Corton: A Romanized toponym that indicated the existence of a rural domain (Curtis).
Corton-Charlemagne: The emperor Charlemagne possessed numerous vineyards and Corton-Charlemagne retains the historical relic. 
Montrachet: “Rachet” means "bald"; referring to a bald mountain, austere and denuded.
Bâtard, Chevalier and Puligny-Montrachet: In the Middle Ages the Lord of Puligny divided his lands among his children: the eldest son Chevalier, the daughters Pucelles and Bâtard.
Meursault: The name comes from a break separating the Meursault coast and the Beaune Coast.   This break, called the "Rat's Jump", in Latin "muris saltis", gave the current name to Meursault.   Its white wines, along with those of Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet, are among the “best white wines in the world”.
Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet: “Criots” means "chalk", and indicates stony and calcarous land. Pommard: Pommard derives its name from an ancient temple dedicated to Pomone, god of fruit and gardens

 

La Côte de Nuits
The most famous of the Nuits wines recalls Louis XIV.   His doctor, Fagon, having counseled the Sun King to have various glasses of Nuits and Romanee as a remedy; the entire Court wished to try it.  

 

 GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN.
“Here the Champs-Elysées of Burgundy begins.” Gevrey-Chambertin: Here the famous Nuits coast begins that produces almost strictly red wines.   The first classifications appeared in 1827-1831 and especially 1845. Each climate is judged as a function of its patrimony and aptitude.
At the same time, as recognition of the wines produced, the village of Gevrey obtained the right to call itself Gevrey-Chambertin in 1847.   This clever appellation is imitated by many Burgundy communities (Chambolle-Musigny, Puligny-Montrachet, etc.….).
Chambertin: The “field” (champ) of a certain “cradle” (bertin) became Chambertin. It was the favorite wine of Napoleon 1st. 
Chambertin-Clos de Beze: This parcel belonged to the monks of Beze Abbey who had planted the vineyard since 630.
Charmes-Chambertin or Mazoyères-Chambertin: “Charme” in Burgundy designated the formerly cultivated fields returned to the wild. 
Chapelle-Chambertin: A chapel of the monks of the Beze Abbey existed here.
Griotte-Chambertin: This derives from a place where wild cherries took root.
Latricières-Chambertin: Contraction of “la tricière” meaning a land of little value. 
Mazis-Chambertin: In patois, “mazis” means small houses.
Ruchottes-Chambertin: “Ruchots” means a place where boulders collect.  

 

 

MOREY-SAINT-DENIS.

Clos-Saint-Denis: This vineyard belonged to the college of Saint Denis de Vergy.
Clos de la Roche: A parcel located near boulders. Clos des Lambrays: It was in 1365 that for the first time the titles of the Abbey of Cîteaux appeared, with the name of a vineyard parcel at “Cloux des Lambrey”.
Clos de Tart: Created in the XII century, in 1142, by Cistertians: the Bernardines of Tart and the Abbey of Tart.    

 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY.
“This is located at the heart of the kingdom of red wines.”

Musigny: A Gallo-Roman settlement existed here, whose owner was named Musinus.  
Bonnes Mares: According to the most reasonable hypothesis, this name derives from the old French and Burgundy word marer (to cultivate). The Bonnes Mares have always been some of the best-kept wines.

 

 VOUGEOT.
“Derives its name from the small river: the Vouge.”

Clos de Vougeot: Created in 1110 by the monks of Cîteaux. In its center was erected the famous castle of Clos de Vougeot, headquarters of the illustrious brotherhood of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, founded in 1934.

 

 VOSNE-ROMANEE.
“The pearl at the center of the Burgundy necklace”.

Echezeaux & Grand Echezeaux: Derives from the Latin name casellum or casalis meaning "building".
La Romanée: Its name derives from the Roman wine culture.
Romanée-Conti: During the  XVII century, the court nobles began to be interested in Roman wine making.  In 1760, the prince Louis François de Bourbon-Conti and Mme de Pompadour had a dispute over this land. The prince of Conti seized it and the name of the area remains Romanée Conti.
La Romanée Saint-Vivant: This parcel belonged to the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Vivant in the XIII century
La Tache: Derives from land that was worked “à la tâche”, (by task), or in which work was paid by the tasks accomplished.  
La Grande Rue: Owes its name to its length, which connects the moutain to the village. It separates Romanée-Conti from La Tâche.  

 

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