There could not a better time for Burgundy to host an elaborate wine tasting in India. With Diwali just around the corner, Vive la Bourgogne or “Long Live Burgundy” brought a little French exuberance to New Delhi’s wine lovers. Organised by Business France India, the event brought together renowned producers, showcasing an impressive repertoire of Burgundian wines and gourmet specialities.
The spacious hall at the Embassy of France, where I have attended numerous tastings over the years, had a distinctly different look this time. Freshly designed kiosks lent the venue a contemporary feel, adding to the ambience even before the first cork was pulled. Each elegantly appointed counter was hosted by a wine or gourmet food producer, making for an engaging showcase of Burgundy’s finest offerings. While Burgundy wines have featured at several tastings I have attended in India, this was my first experience of such an extensive, dedicated showcase of the region.
Burgundy: A region where location is everything
Burgundy is among the world’s most prestigious wine regions, and its complexity lies not simply in its producers or grape varieties, but in its extraordinarily detailed vineyard geography.
Unlike regions where a grape variety or producer takes centre stage, Burgundy is organised around climats and lieux-dits– precisely defined vineyard parcels, many recognised for centuries. Two neighbouring plots may differ in soil, exposure and microclimate, producing wines with markedly different personalities despite being separated only by a narrow path.
The principal grapes are Pinot Noir for reds and Chardonnay for whites, but there are a few others too, most prominent among them being Gamay for red and Aligoté for white.
Burgundy stretches roughly 250 kilometres from Chablis in the north to the Mâconnais in the south, and its wines evolve noticeably along that north–south axis. Cooler conditions in the north preserve freshness and austerity, while the warmer southern vineyards encourage riper fruit and a more generous, rounded style.
Understanding Burgundy’s wine hierarchy
Before highlighting the wines at the tasting, here is a simple guide to the region’s four broad classification levels:
- Regional appellations: Wines representing Burgundy or its wider geographical areas, such as Bourgogne, Bourgogne Rouge, Bourgogne Aligoté, Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits etc.
- Village appellations: Wines associated with particular villages, such as Beaune, Nuits St. George, Pommard, or may have the term “Villages” attached to the commune name eg. Côtes de Beaune-Villages.
- Premier Cru: Wines from specifically recognised vineyard sites within villages, considered particularly distinguished, e.g. Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Léchet.
- Grand Cru: Burgundy’s highest vineyard classification, reserved for a relatively small number of exceptional sites, e.g. the coveted Romanée-Conti Grand Cru from Domaine de La Romanée-Conti.
An important term to know particularly in relation to Burgundian vineyards is “Monopole” – which means a vineyard owned and cultivated by a single producer.
Importantly, these classifications describe geographical origins, not a guaranteed ranking of the wines in the glass. The producer and vintage remain crucial.
Also Read: Tastin’ France 2025: Persistent And Well Timed
Coming back to Vive la Bourgogne tasting
With so many labels on offer, it would be impossible to discuss every wine. Here are some of the noteworthy bottles from the tasting, arranged by classification for ease of following.
Regional wines: Burgundy’s accessible introduction
These wines offer a welcoming entry into Burgundy without necessarily commanding the prices associated with its more famous villages and vineyards.
Domaine Pierre Labet Bourgogne Pinot Noir Vieilles Vignes 2023 — An old-vine Pinot Noir representing the regional Bourgogne appellation. The Vieilles Vignes designation refers to “old vines” which can contribute additional depth and concentration.
Maison Ambroise Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits — From vineyards situated on the higher slopes west of the Côte de Nuits, an appellation worth exploring for those seeking Burgundy’s regional expressions.
Marchand-Tawse Coteaux Bourguignons 2023 — From a broad regional appellation that allows different grape varieties, including Pinot Noir and Gamay in red wines. This was a great variation at the tasting with its luscious red fruit shining distinctively.
Village wines: Discovering Burgundy’s personalities
This is where Burgundy becomes especially fascinating. Village names begin to tell a story, with each location bringing its own character to the wines.
Bernard Defaix Petit Chablis 2025 — A youthful Chardonnay from the Chablis area, where freshness, lively acidity and a crisp character are hallmarks of the regional style. As compared to a Chablis appellation wine, a Petit Chablis is usually more affordable too.
Dufouleur Frères Côte de Nuits-Villages 2023 — A Pinot Noir from the Côte de Nuits, the northern part of Burgundy’s celebrated Côte d’Or. The appellation offers an introduction to the area’s red-wine traditions.
Dufouleur Frères Nuits-Saint-Georges 2023 — From one of the Côte de Nuits’ best-known villages, associated with structured, characterful Pinot Noirs that can develop beautifully with age.
Domaine des Perdrix Vosne-Romanée 2023 — Vosne-Romanée is among Burgundy’s most illustrious villages, famous for Pinot Noirs combining finesse, fragrance and depth.
Château de Laborde Santenay ‘Altitude’ 2023 — A Chardonnay from Santenay, towards the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, a village that often offers interesting alternatives to Burgundy’s more expensive appellations.
Château de Laborde Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2023 — An old-vine expression from Gevrey-Chambertin, a village particularly renowned for powerful, structured Pinot Noirs.
Edouard Delaunay Meursault Le Village 2022 — A Chardonnay from the celebrated village of Meursault, known for producing generous, textured white wines with impressive depth.
Premier Cru: A step into distinguished vineyards
Premier Cru wines originate from individually recognised vineyard sites, often identified by their specific names on the label. These vineyards represent an important part of Burgundy’s heritage.
Bernard Defaix Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Léchet 2025 — A Chardonnay from a recognised Premier Cru vineyard in Chablis, where the region’s characteristic freshness and minerality meets greater complexity and ageing potential.
Domaine Jaeger-Defaix Rully Premier Cru Clos du Chapitre 2024 — From the Côte Chalonnaise region, this red wine comes from a walled vineyard entirely owned by the estate, offering a distinctive expression of Rully.
Château de Chamirey Mercurey Premier Cru Clos du Roi 2023 — A Pinot Noir from Mercurey, one of the Côte Chalonnaise’s most important red-wine appellations, with a reputation for combining fruit, structure and elegance.
Domaine des Perdrix Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Aux Perdrix 2023 — A particularly interesting wine from a quasi-monopole, meaning the estate owns almost the entire vineyard. It illustrates Burgundy’s fascinating tradition of individual vineyard ownership.
Albert Morot Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Clos de Bataillère 2024— The wine combined freshness and minerality with citrus, orchard fruit and delicate floral aromas. The palate was finely textured, with lively acidity and an elegant, lingering finish.
Albert Morot Beaune Premier Cru Les Agrigots 2023 and Les Teurons 2023 —Tasting these two wines provided an excellent opportunity to explore different vineyard sites from the same producer offering their own interpretations of Pinot Noir.
Edouard Delaunay Pommard Premier Cru Les Chaponnières 2022 — From Pommard, a village traditionally associated with firm, age-worthy red Burgundies. Les Chaponnières is one of its recognised Premier Cru vineyards.
Grands Crus: Burgundy’s most celebrated vineyards
Grand Cru represents the pinnacle of Burgundy’s geographical classification system. These wines originate from a small collection of historically distinguished vineyards, whose names have become synonymous with prestige and, often, formidable prices.
Maison Ambroise Corton Grand Cru 2023 — Corton is one of Burgundy’s most famous Grand Cru hillsides and one of the relatively few Grand Cru appellations producing red wines in the Côte de Beaune.
Labet-Dechelette Château de la Tour Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2022 — From the historic walled Clos de Vougeot vineyard, closely associated with Burgundy’s monastic winemaking heritage. Château de la Tour is particularly notable for having its winery within the vineyard walls.
Doudet Naudin Corton-Maréchaudes Grand Cru 2020 — From the Corton hillside, this Pinot Noir represents a specific vineyard location within the Grand Cru appellation. The 2020 vintage also offered an opportunity to encounter a wine with a little more bottle age.
Beyond traditional Burgundy
Not everything on display followed the conventional still-wine route. Two products offered an interesting change of pace.
Maison Ambroise Paul Grande Réserve Extra Brut 2022 — A sparkling Vin de France (not a Crémant de Bourgogne as one would normally assume), providing an alternative to the still reds and whites that dominated the tasting. This is a “zero dosage” wine made using méthode traditionnelle (traditional method)- the same way as Champagne is made. The blend is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and that gives the wine a lively acidity as well as a vinous palate.
Les Jamelles Spritz Citron-Basilic — A contemporary white-wine-based spritzer with lemon and basil flavours and a modest 5% alcohol content, aimed at a different, more casual drinking occasion. With the No-Lo wine revolution in the making, this spritzer can have good prospects especially in tropical climes of India.
Gourmet specialities from Burgundy completed the picture
A range of gourmet products from Burgundy, like the famous Dijon moutarde (mustard) spiced breads, honey from different ecologic regions, traditional anise candies with their origin dating back to the sixteenth century and more were also showcased at the event to make the Burgundian gourmet experience complete.
Burgundy and India: An opportunity waiting to be explored
Burgundy presents an interesting challenge in India. Its multitude of appellations, limited production from many individual vineyards and premium pricing can make it a difficult proposition for consumers unfamiliar with the region.
Yet, it would be simplistic to dismiss India as merely a price-sensitive wine market.
There is a distinction between volume and value. While much of India’s wine consumption remains concentrated in relatively affordable categories, a smaller but increasingly discerning audience is willing to pay for quality, provenance and exclusivity.
The challenge lies in connecting producers with knowledgeable importers and distributors who can do more than simply place bottles on shelves. Burgundy needs storytelling, education and opportunities to taste. Its wines are best appreciated when the consumer understands why one vineyard commands a different price from another, sometimes just a few metres away.
Engagements like Vive la Bourgogne are therefore particularly valuable in this context. They bring producers, trade professionals and wine enthusiasts closer together, helping demystify a region that can otherwise appear rather overwhelming.
The hope is that such engagements will translate into stronger trade partnerships, wider availability and greater consumer awareness. Burgundy may still be a niche proposition in India, but with the right introductions and a little education, it could well find a growing place on the tables of India’s discerning wine lovers.
